Problem Solver: Charter Collections Dispute

By Dianne Derby
Anchor
Published: October 13, 2008

A letter from a collection agency is enough to make most people pay a past due bill. But what if the bill wasn’t yours but your credit was in jeopardy? A 19-year-old Upstate woman says her credit was threatened for a Charter Communications bill that was not hers. Our Dianne Derby helped correct the mistake but found out it could easily happen to you. Find out what to do if it does in this 7 On Your Side Problem Solver.

“I think it’s crazy that they can do this,“ said 19-year-old Kimberly Johnson.

Johnson can’t believe Credit Protection Association collection agency is threatening her credit for a Charter Communications bill she says she doesn’t owe. Her mom Becky has been trying to help her daughter before it’s too late. When her mom called the collection agency…

“She transferred me to a mailbox that told me if I wanted to dispute this claim to send her copies of her driver’s license, a copy of any supporting documentation,“ said Mrs. Johnson.

7 On Your Side asked Charter to help. Charter sent Becky a copy of this letter from the collection agency saying the account had been closed and her credit report had not been affected.

“I’m relieved but puzzled there’s still the question to how they got her name and social security number,“ said Mrs. Johnson.

Becky says Charter nor the collection agency could answer that question for her. 

Compass of Carolina Consumer Credit Counseling Director John Reid says it’s likely a case of identity theft. He also says collection agencies will do whatever it takes to track someone down…
“Whether it’s the phone book, directory assistance, the Internet, if they find someone even with a similar name they’ll call with the hopes of getting the right person,“ said Reid.

And Reid says if you have a common name it’s worse.

“If you’re James Smith you’re going to have to defend yourself quite a few times,“ said Reid.

As Becky showed us defending yourself for a bill that isn’t yours can be tough to do.

Charter Communications tells us customers with identity theft concerns should ask to speak with the company’s security resolution team.

The FTC says you can do the following to correct identity theft:
    -Ask the three credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert in your file but be aware it may delay your ability to obtain credit.
    -Ask a creditor in writing for copies of documents related to accounts opened using your personal information.
    -For more information click here.