I give up - I paid the Verizon bill again and mailed my $300 check
Judge Broomfield granted the Verizon motion for discovery stay, he didn’t think that I deserve to find out WHY Verizon continued to claim that I owe $105 + interest. It looks like I’ll never be able to show the world what God damned liars attorney Coffey and Verizon Director of Financial Services Greg Fong are.
I am defeated.
I sent my $300 check to Coffey right after the hearing and I hope they won’t kill me like they killed Dorothea.
I posted the filings at CreditCourt and the e-mails at Fight Back. I don’t feel much like fighting anymore. Maybe I’m just tired, was up all night summarizing their lies for Judge Broomfield. Why did I bother?
Pay your bills TWICE, or three times, pay whatever these criminals demand.
If you’re dealing with a collector, you have a good chance of prevailing. But when you deal with scummy original creditors like Verizon, Sprint, Directv, etc., there is apparently NO law prohibiting the collection of disputed debts. I haven’t found a law yet that applies - maybe there’s state law that applies to creditors who are not collectors. California may have something useful.
Of course the FCRA prohibits the reporting of incorrect data, but I don’t have a private right of action until after I disputed with a CRA and they continue to report without a notice of dispute. Often, the notice of dispute is ignored by FICO scores and I really can’t take the stress, worrying about a new collection being reported while in escrow—been trying to buy real estate. They would NOT be liable for damages until AFTER they verified in response to my disputes. I can’t afford to take that risk.
A collection would not only kill the deal, but also destroy my reputation for closing as promised. This isn’t the big city here and every agent would know that I couldn’t get my financing because of a collection.
And I sure don’t need to have credit lines lowered or closed or interest rates increased due to the information on my credit report. That’s what happened to Dorothea and many others. I posted not long ago about a client who lost his home in the floods after Katrina and recently Citi closed his credit card because of “too many inquriries.” He had to move, get utilities, buy a new car ...
So, if your credit is important, don’t move and pay your bills again and again and again as long as they do NOT report derogatory data.
Once a collection is reported, paying it without having the written guarantee that they’ll delete after payment is the worst move. But if they don’t report yet, it’s best to give these extortionists what they want before they seriously hurt you.
I really didn’t believe this could happen. It seemed so easy, some very basic algebra, producing the cancelled check and the uncashed refund check, what can go wrong?
Posted by Christine on 04/26/2006 at 07:31 PM
2003 Suit (appealed, Experian filed credit reports on PACER) • Verizon Wireless - billing fraud • Court - rulings - procedures • (3) Comments • Permalink
Gosh Christine. I’m sorry it came to this. It just goes to prove that there’s really no justice to be found for everyday people.
Unless you have a ton of cash lying around in a legal fund somewhere, you wind up smacked down with the words “why did I even bother” coming from your lips.
I admire you for sticking it out as long as you did.
Heather, I’m not done with Verizon, it’s just so aggravating to have to pay your bills twice.
I’m going to send out another press release, send copies to the Verizon executives and directors, and then there still is a chance that I’m actually permitted to amend my complaint and to argue the FDCPA claims.
And if not, there’s the APPEALS court. The 9th circuit court of appeals has often ruled in favor of consumers. It may take a few years, but I’m in this for the long run.
I’m just glad I had $300 available and don’t have to go hungry and I can still pay all my bills. I know what it’s like when that’s not so.
“It just goes to prove that there’s really no justice to be found for everyday people.”
That is why I publish. People need to be able to see how corrupt America is and maybe one day they’ll care enough to do something about it. They kicked out the British, why do they condone the corporate fraud and exploitation?
The problem is of course that the people who really get hurt don’t have the power and money to do anything. Maybe some wealthy person will sue and use my court filings to establish how Verizon steals. You never know ...
Hello I stumble on to this site and I am shocked! I too am a victim but kind of different from some that I have read. I received a collection notice from a collection agency that I owe verizon almost 4,000 dollars in fees from various of accounts. None of the accounts were authorized or open by me. I filled a police report and contacted the credit bureau. I then contacted Verizon claim department to notify them and that’s when the BS started. They needed me to send them proof of residents. They told me a utility bill would be applicable as long as it showed the date’s the service was opened. I told them I did not have a utility bill in my name because I lived at home with my mother. The lady at verizon told me then I would need to get a notarized letter from my employer showing my address and the dates at the time of service. So I got that info to them. They told me the only thing I would need would be a Soc verification and they would be able to then take it of my credit. So a month went by and I called them back. The Verizon represented told me they would need a utility bill. I explain to her the last time I spoke to a verizon rep the told me I could use my notarized letter because I did not have a utility bill in my name. She went on to say if I don’t have a utility bill I would be liable regardless. I sent them all kinds of proof trying to prove to them. Stuff like tax returns showing my address and dmv licences ems bills miscellaneous bills all with dates and time. None of these items could be used for proof witch is the only proof I have. Yea they in the business for telephone services but the know the business of screwing folks over too obvious!
