Interesting little insight from an ex-Afni employee that sheds some light on their corporate culture and attitude toward legal compliance. Although Afni may have online access to current and recent Verizon customer accounts, many complaints regarding Afni's collection of mid'1990s GTE accounts have claimed both that the consumer never had the debt, and that Verizon itself found no account in the consumer's name. Old closed GTE accounts purchased with Verizon's acquisition of GTE are likely not part of the current Verizon online customer account database, as is also supported by current Verizon customers who have also received Afni letters on alleged GTE/Verison debt. Afni might still, however, be using their access to the Verizon customer account database in skiptracing their old purchased debt, just as they might use other databases such as Accurint. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff241562.htm "Rebuttal UPDATE EX-employee responds Submitted: 4/13/2007 12:58:18 PM Modified: 4/13/2007 1:10:33 PM AFNI - Bowling Green office It just so happens I am a former employee of the above mentioned bad business - AFNI. Steve has queried how AFNI and Verizon are related. Well, I have the answer to that. Afni is actually a outsourcing company that handles several accounts including Verizon. At the call center where I worked, we handled current Verizon customer accounts for billng and prepaid service. Some additional accounts are AFLAC, and OnSTAR. AFNI has several centers strategically placed all over the US, with different centers specializing in different aspects of service. One of the aspects is bill collecting. So when Verizon tells you they don't know how AFNI got your information, that is a lie. AFNI has access to Verizon accounts because Verizon supplies them with access to those accounts. For someone to run a query of past due accounts and have a debt show up from 12 years ago means that someone somewhere categorized it as a bad debt. Just because it got wrote off as a tax break doesnt make the debt itself disappear. I am not disputing that the debt never existed. We all know they charge fradulently on a regular basis. I am simply stating that the information had to come out of Verizon's data base and they provided your information as someone who owed this debt. All that having been said, believe me when I say, they treat their employees just as badly as everyone else. They charge/overcharge customers for real/fradulent services and cheat/underpay the employees. I was personally part of action agains AFNI by the employees for shorting our paychecks for over 2 years - REPEATEDLY. Imagine being told you HAVE to work 10 hours of overtime every week, and then having your paycheck show you worked 40.2 hours. When you complained, you got reprimanded for your attitude and job performance. It was a nightmare, but like most individuals, I needed a job. The lawyers came to an agreement which allowed the employees to keep their jobs and get a portion of what they had been cheated back. Without records for every single day, it was a difficult thing to prove exactly how much in all everyone had been cheated. In hindsight, I wish I had not settled. The money might have ended up being the same, but it would have brought at least one aspect of their bad business practices to light. Not that it is any excuse, but the employees are overworked so much there, and underpaid, that it is amazing anyone ever gets good customer service. Amy - Bowling Green, Kentucky U.S.A."
Consumer complaint: re-aging, reporting past 7 years, and possibly collection on an account included in bankruptcy. http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/AFNI.htm "April 12, 2007 afni is reporting a debt to the credit folks that I owe 107 bucks to dish network. the open date they list in the report is 2001. I was not doing business with dish at that time my account with them was shut down in early 2000 or late 1999. I filled BK in the summer of 2000. and heard nothing from anyone the following years and now I have found it in my report I have been disputing this with the credit folks that it is not reported the right way and afni keeps filing that is is correct but now it seems that the account open date is 2003 on transition and 2001 on the others. I was instructed by my BK attorney not to pay any pre BK debts to refer them to his office after the court hearing. But I was never contacted by these folks ever that I recall until now or in the last year. this debt is over 7 years old and it seems that AFNI is rolling it forward so they can keep it listed in my credit report more then the allowed time."
I just loving reading Ontrack's daily commentary regarding Afni. It is helpful too since I have a dispute with them at this time also.
What I still find puzzling is why Afni appears to think that it can continue in its collection practices even as it is trying to grow the company as a general outsourced customer service business not restricted to collections. The bad will created by the former has got to hurt their relationships with their current or future business clients. Every time they harass a consumer to collect a debt not owed, they not only bias a consumer against any of their clients, but their actions are not even a secret, as the detailed consumer complaints make the scope of their activities visible to all on the Internet.
Another example, using deception to evade validation request by consumer. They claim to have "documentation" that this debt is the consumers, but they can't possibly send a copy of the bill. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff244179.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/15/2007 11:02:17 PM Modified: 4/15/2007 11:02:00 PM Afni Received collection notice from a bill in 1998 ripoff BLOOMINGTON Illinois Company Afni Address: 404 BROCK DRIVE BLOOMINGTON Illinois 61701-2654 U.S.A. Phone Number: 309-828.5226 Fax: Boy do I feel like an a**! I got this notice about two weeks ago, but it got lost on my desk and I didn't see it until a couple of weeks ago. I have never received anything from a collection agency so I was/am really freaking out! It said I owe $201.63 from an old Verizon bill. I called Verizon and eventually got an automated message to call Afni. This is where I feel like a fool....I called them! I'm reading now that that is the last thing I want to do, what do I do now! I got a hold of someone quickly and she seemed nice enough but it just felt weird. I asked if I could have a copy of the bill and she said that it wasn't possible and started to read me off phone numbers and phone bill city abbreviations that I didn't recognize now but might have in 1997/1998! She told me that it would be best to just pay, that I could dispute it but that they had documentation that it was mine. The bill is supposedly from an address I lived at for a year in college but they had the city wrong. She kept on trying to get my checking account and bank routing information so that she could "postdate a check" but I felt too weird and said I would call her back. I'm such an a** I just wrote out a check but before sending it right now, I decided to google them and came across all this! I really don't know what to do now! I'm pretty sure I may have given her my home phone number but I didn't agree to pay the bill, I lied and told her that I was going to have to come up with the money first. I have printed out a copy of Bob from Iowa's sample letter but can someone please tell me all that I should do. I've never had a problem with my credit nor have I ever received any outstanding bills but I can't prove that it's not my bill, I'm supposed to send them a copy of a paid receipt from 1997/1998. Now I'm wondering about statue of limitations and such. Any help would be appreciated, we're screwed so many ways as consumers, I would love to prevent/fight back at least once. By the way, I ramble when I'm upset. sorry about that! Ellie Los Angeles, California U.S.A."
Either "misidentification", or re-aging. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff243987.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/14/2007 10:11:48 AM Modified: 4/14/2007 10:12:00 AM Anderson Fin Network, AFNI,Inc. Informed by my credit profile about collections, AFNI never billed me, havent had Alltel in 10yrs, Dont owe Alltel/AFNI. Ripoff Bloomington Illinois Company Anderson Fin Network, AFNI Address: 404 Brock Drive P.O Box 3097 Bloomington Illinois 61702-3097 U.S.A. Phone Number: 866-352-0479 Fax: Thank God that I have a credit watch through one of my credit card companies, or I would have never known about AFNI reporting to the credit bureau that I have an account in collections. It seems that I have the same problem many others have had with this collection agency. I never received any corespondence or billing from AFNI regarding this account. I have not had Alltel Phone services in 10 years, infact I do not owe any money to Alltel so inturn do not see where I could possibly owe AFNI anything. Then to top off this insult (AFNI) to honest collections companies, they had the audacity to mark my credit a second time two weeks after the first. Once for $1600.00 that I supposedly owe to Alltel and the second for $62.00 that I do not owe. Once again, no corespondence what so ever, or communication of any type. Companies like Anderson Fin Netwrok (aka AFNI, Inc.) should be investigated by Attorney Generals Office of IL and if found not to be in compliance with state or federal statutes governing collections, should not be allowed to operate a business in their state. Matthew chester, Virginia U.S.A."
Another "misidentification". http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff243589.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/11/2007 9:54:36 PM Modified: 4/11/2007 9:55:00 PM Afni Tried to collect a supposed telephone bill of $219.90 from a fictitious cell number. Bloomington Illinois Company Afni Address: afnicollections.com Bloomington Illinois 61702-3427 U.S.A. Phone Number: 866-308-1160 Fax: We recently received a letter from the aforementioned company, stating our account had been turned over to them for collections. On the back of the letter, they wanted us to provide them with a credit card number. The account that was supposedly delinquent had a phone number that we had never used. In addition, the supposed referral, Northwest Verizon, Inc., has never sent us a statement regarding this issue. Kim Nampa, Idaho U.S.A."
"Misidentification", OC reports no debt due. No validation, continued collection, on-going phone harassment, with severe damage to consumer's credit. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff243586.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/11/2007 9:27:56 PM Modified: 4/11/2007 9:28:00 PM AFNI-BLOOM They say I owe Charter Communications but neither can cough up an actual bill Bloomington Illinois Company AFNI-BLOOM Address: 404 Brock Dr. Bloomington Illinois 61701 U.S.A. Phone Number: 888-216-2408 Fax: I received a bill saying I owe Charter Communications $74. Knowing I did not owe money, I first called Charter. Charter told me they had nothing in their computer saying I had owed them money. Inturn I write a letter to AFNI, they're response was, we have received your letter. Please send us $74. I did not respond to their last letter. Though they have not sent me anything thing in the mail since, they call 3 times a day. This is ruining my credit. It is one thing stopping me from getting a mortgage. I could suck it up and pay, but I do not owe them. Monica Caro, Michigan U.S.A.
Erroneous collection, with severe credit damage. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff243400.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/11/2007 12:02:15 AM Modified: 4/11/2007 12:02:00 AM A F N I - AFNI filed a collection account from 11/2004 for $26 on my credit report on 4/2007 BLOOMINGTON Illinois Company A F N I - AFNI Address: PO BOX 3427 BLOOMINGTON Illinois 61702 U.S.A. Phone Number: Fax: I have a credit monitoring subscription for the last year or so and got an email this week that i got negative information on my credit report checked to see what that is and saw AFNI about a nextel account that was closed in 2004 that i dont owe money to they only reported it to Experian and equifax not to transunion(yet?)what can i do to get this off i am willing to pay even the stupid $26 and not be busy with this garbage. I run a few businesses and dont have time to be busy with this nonsense.What can I do the easiest way. I currently have mortgage on my house, car loan and credit cards and never had a late payment ever. my score dropped from 740 to 646 Sam LAKEWOOD, New Jersey U.S.A."
The only reason that Afni would close an account on information provided by the consumer over the phone is if the party they dunned was erroneously identified, and that could be determined from the consumer's identity information. Further evidence of sloppy "skip-tracing". It remains to be seen if in fact this case is closed. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff231090.htm "Update Submitted by the original author Submitted: 4/5/2007 10:26:58 PM Modified: 4/5/2007 11:02:22 PM afni removed my name and case# cancelled any further action to collect. i contacted a service rep a few weeks ago, i told him whatever he needed to know or find out about me and they cancelled any further action to collect and that i would not be bothered anymore about this letter i got from them. so for me thats all i needed to hear, case resolved, thanx for the advice from all. Neil - El Paso, Texas U.S.A."
Afni is collecting on an account obtained from Cingular. It appears that Cingular transferred the account, or at least the consumer account information on it, to Afni even though it was included in bankruptcy, discharged, and therefore illegal to collect or sell under federal bankruptcy law. This supports similar cases seen in Verizon/Afni accounts, where it appears that account data for large batches of OC debt is transferred electronically, without regard to the reason for writing it off. Accounts IIB, or even consumer disputes where the OC reversed charges and the consumer continued as a customer in good standing, are showing up in Afni's hands years later as "bad debts". The OCs may not be selecting accounts based on whether they were actually bad debts, but just, en-mass, dumping complete files of all written off charges on Afni for whatever they can get, and leaving it up to the consumers, sometimes even their current customers, to deal with the mess. Afni may be collecting on all account information transferred to them, without regard to how the OC has coded the write-off. Validation was intended to resolve such disputes by referal back to the OC, but Afni generally refuses to validate. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff242156.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/3/2007 12:44:20 PM Modified: 4/3/2007 12:44:00 PM Anderson Financial Network ripoff Attempting to Collect a debt that was included in bankruptcy Bloomington Illinois Company AFNI Address: 404 Brock Dr Bloomington Illinois 61702 U.S.A. Phone Number: Fax: I filed bankruptcy in 10/2005. It was discharged on 3/2006. I included in that bankruptcy 3 cell phone companies, T-Mobile, Cingular Wireless & Sprint. I received a bill in the mail from Cingular Wireless. I looked at the bill and thought that was a mistake until I saw my name on it. I put it aside to check on the situation another day. I just happened to get copies of my credit report today and see the company Anderson Financial Network and see a bill for Cingular Wireless on my report. That didn't make any sense to me because I had included Cingular in my bankrupty proceedings. The amount is incorrect and the account number they have on file for the bill. I am thoroughly upset because this has brought my credit score down dramatically. I was looking on the internet in search of this company name when I stumbled onto your site. I am taking the advice you gave another young lady regarding the same company. I would like to know how can it be possible that Cingualr did not receive my discharged information regarding their company? Is there something that I can do right now to get this outta here. I have been on the phone with Cingular Wireless and they do not have the account number on file that Anderson has as well as my discharged bankruptcy letter. Please, Please Help Me! :-( Shamika Baltimore, Maryland U.S.A."
Another attempt to collect a debt from a consumer who does not owe it. Consumer had lived at the address Afni claims is associated with the bill, but not at the time the account was active. Additional evidence that Afni is dunning consumers based on attempting to match past addresses, and then replacing the alleged account name from the OC with names found via address matches. Afni's claim that they need to find who made the last payment indicates they are uncertain that this consumer is even associated with this account, as that would not even be an issue if her name was actually on the account as it was obtained from the OC. Their dunning is fishing. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff243893.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/13/2007 4:52:56 PM Modified: 4/13/2007 7:35:52 PM Afni, Verizon California Inc. sent me to collections of Afni collections after 8 years!! Ripoff Bloomington Illinois *Consumer Comment ..STAY OFF THE PHONE Company: Afni Address: PO Box 3427 Bloomington Illinois 61702 U.S.A. Phone Number: 866-308-1160 Fax: Afni is trying to pin a $215 phone bill on me 8 years after the fact! Not only that, but they gave me the dates of when these charges were made and I wasn't even living at the residence then!! Does any one know if there is a time limit on how long a business can collect from an individual? I mean, it's been almost a decade! The weird thing is, The original company, Verizon California Inc. could have very easily contacted me with this charge 8 years ago! I have always been listed and my parents kept the same address for 30 years!! What is going on here? I told them they need to find records of who made the last payment on this account and that is the person they need to go after. Afni. Inc. did tell me that I could claim "identity theft" which I may have to do. Should I call their number and talk to someone in regards to doing this?? I have made NO PAYMENTS on this, but have talked with two agents at the Afni Inc. collections office. Can anyone give me some information on how to handle this? It is absolutely not my bill and I absolutely will not pay for it. Susan Des Moines, Iowa U.S.A."
Another old "Verizon" debt. Consumer has been, and still is a current Verizon customer in good standing. Verizon claims they sold all the records on this batch of debts to Afni. If so, then Verizon may not be able to legitimately validate, even separate from the issue of whether they could ever validate old GTE records. Afni cannot legitimately validate even if they received those records en-mass from the OC, since they are not the original creditor. They cannot "confirm" based on records that are not their own business records. Afni's collection tactics are consistent with their knowing that they cannot obtain validation, as they have been evading doing so (see above: "we can't send a copy of a bill, but we have documentation that it is your debt"), and have been reported to have sent "validation" with no indication it was obtained from the OC, or indeed, where it was obtained from. http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff244023.htm "Category: Collection Agency's Submitted: 4/14/2007 2:28:55 PM Modified: 4/14/2007 2:29:00 PM AFNI, INC - Verizon Pennsylvania Sent bill from 9 years ago - I cant prove is not mine. Ripoff Bloomington Illinois Company: AFNI, INC Address: PO Box 3427 Bloomington Illinois 61702-3427 U.S.A. Phone Number: 866-307-9197 Fax: I received a letter from Afni, Inc.-Verizon PA on 4/3/07 stating that I owed them $294.30. My wife called Afni to check on it and they said it was from May of 1998. I have had 5 other Verizon accounts since that one. Why would they open new accounts if I owed them money? And why have they waited 9 years to do something about it? My wife also called Verizon and they said that they had sold all records of this account to Afni and all Verizon could tell her was that it was just sold Dec of 2006! So I don't know who's more at fault! After reading other reports on here I have filed complaints with MD (state I live), PA, and IL Attorney Generals and I copied and pasted a letter I found on here that I'm going to send to Afni first thing tomorrow morning. Don't know what else to do from there, any idea's let me know. I'll keep you posted. Thomas Oakland, Maryland U.S.A."
AFNI is due to drop off my Experian report 4/30/07 per the last Experian credit report I obtained, which was last week. I have held off suing them (they are on all three reports w/different dates and have refused to respond to my properly worded DV/ITS letter) because I am waiting to see if they re-age the one supposed to come off this month. I am actually hoping they do, that would be great evidence of their blatant violations of the law.
In order to sue based on erroneous reporting on your credit reports, you must have disputed thru the CRAs on which they are reporting in error, and they must "verify" the erroneous information. Since they have not "validated", have you disputed the errors thru the CRAs? If so, they would be liable both under FDCPA for continued collection, assuming the validation request was timely, and under FCRA for the erroneous reporting. It also appears from other consumer reports that sometimes the re-aging happens in response to their CRA dispute, when they update their TL.
Disputed thru CRAs months ago and of course they "verified." Then sent DV/ITS letters and they ignored them. Works for me.
In what manner is their reporting erroneous? 1) Not yours. Never had an account with alleged OC. 2) Not owed. Had an account with OC, but believe no balance due, possibly you even verified with OC. 3) (1) or (2), but can't determine since they have not provided validation.
Another complaint, no clue what the debt is. http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/3894/page/7 "1 days ago by Will Simon I just checked my credit report and found that i owe AFNI $ 116 from what debt I don't know I decided to google the name and I stumbled here, also there's another claim from a company called CACH LLC so anybody with number for both these companies or know where I can complain about these guys? "
