Dish Network
Collection Letter for $16.05 Return Shipping Charge After Refund
- 06-11-2012
- 35
In Feb I moved and cancelled my Dish Network account (my contract was over.) The representative informed me I had to climb on my roof and remove the satellite and return it along with the other equipment or I would be charged. I asked, "Why they could not send out an installer to remove the satellite and pick up the equipment?" I was informed that the installers were not allowed to received returned equipment but she would send me a couple boxes and mailing labels for my convenience.
I was informed that after I return the equipment, Dish Network would refund me any unused money on my account.
I returned all the equipment in one box in Feb and received my refund in March for all unused money on my account.
Now on June 11, I receive a collection letter from Afni Inc letting me know I owe Dish Network $16.05 or "We may furnish information about the account to the credit bureau." I called Afni Inc and spoke with Mark (employee # 64352) to find out why I owed Dish Network $16.05 and he informed me that it was the shipping charges from the return of my equipment. At first he said the charges were ($15.00 for shipping and $1.05 for taxes) when I questioned why there was taxes on shipping, he changed his story and said the $1.05 was for "Misc Adjustment Charge".
When I questioned how they could have sent me a refund of over $55 in March and then send me to collections 13 months later. He stated that the shipping charges were not put on my account until April. This was 3 months after I returned the equipment.
Seems like a great way for Dish Network and Afni Inc to collect a lot of money without much trouble as most people would not have any paperwork from over a year ago for equipment they had returned. And majority of people would just pay the $16.05 to keep from having a blemish on their credit report. If you multiply it by the hundred of thousands of customers that have cancelled their account, that is a lot of easy money.
Seems to me Dish Network and Afni Inc have them a great little scam going here.
Company: Dish Network
Country: USA
State: Illinois
City: Palatine
Address: Dept 0063