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BEWARE OF COLLECTIONS AND FRAUD
This past February (2016) I received a letter from a collections agency (Southwest Credit Systems) saying I owed money on an account that isn't mine. I have NEVER done business with AT&T. I called the Southwest Credit Systems to see what information of mine was used.
When I called the credit systems, I started to think it was possibly a scam (especially when I called again the next day and the same exact person answered). I was able to get some information from them though such as the name of the person on the account (which SURPRISE wasn't even my name and also is a male English name--I'm a female with an Asian name), the address the service was at (which was in Texas...I have NEVER lived there), and the duration of the service (which was roughly May 2014 - June 2015).
First, I've come to the conclusion that it was specifically my SSN that was stolen because they sent the collections bill to my REAL address. However, my last name was misspelled. I guess when you provide an SSN for a service, as long it's an existing SSN the person will be clear to use the service. I was just confused because if AT&T had to verify the SSN, I would've hoped that they would've saw that the person's name (using the service) did not match my name AT ALL.
My second conclusion is that when the SSN was typed in, it's possible that one of the numbers was typed in wrong and ended up matching my SSN. But still, why can't they verify the names?
My name is a foreign name so I could understand how it could be mistaken as a male name. However, how did they not notice that the service name was COMEPLETELY different from the name connected to the social security number. Also, why is my last name being continually misspelled as I go through the process of reporting the fraud and getting the account removed from my SSN.
Just a reminder, I was not notified about this account until February 2016 when it was opened May 2014 - June 2015.
I called AT&T to verify they did business with Southwest Credit Systems and they did. They were also able to pull up the account. Then, I started the process of reporting ID Theft.
I'm also finishing up college so the last 4 years I lived in a different town than my home/permanent address but the college town is still in the same state as my hometown. However, that permanent address is used for all my billing purposes and it's the official address of residency (MY HOME). Each year I rent a different place during the school year because I've changed roommates or didn't like the property anymore. I can understand why this was normal for my credit report because each property management and utility service checks my credit to make sure I'm a responsible tenant.
As I waited for the Theft Affidavit to arrive in the mail I hadn't seen it come in for a week so I called to request to send another one in case it got lost in transit. They lady I talked to was very rude. Her demeanor made it seem like she thought I was lying. I physically don't have it here and I can't send my evidence without it. Then she responds well we sent it out on this date so it should've been there. I don't understand why you don't have it but I'll send a SECOND one out.
Finally receive it, filled it out and filed a police report. I included my bank statements and credit card statements from May 2015 - June 2015 like they asked. They both included the same permanent address to prove I've never lived in Texas during that time. The officer I talked to said it was out of their jurisdiction to investigate but he said typically when stuff like this happens unfortunately companies could care less about getting it solved so it could take some time. He was actually surprised that I got the name and service address out of them because most of the time when they get these cases they can't get much out of them (most likely for privacy reasons). I also set up fraud alerts for my credit report. The collections agency was already on the report and my credit score dropped about 100 points. I have never been late on any payments.
After the police report, an AT&T rep informed me that I could fax it for free at a local AT&T store if I didn't have a fax machine which I didn't. I included a cover page to call me or email me to confirm that they received the packet or let me know if they were missing anything.
I called them to confirm because I haven't heard back from them in about a week. They rep said they only received 2 pages and one was blank. This packet was about 12 pages long. They received the first page with my contact information and still didn't contact me to let me know they were missing pages. I was getting fed up that even the local store couldn't help me with faxing.
I found somewhere else to fax it and called to confirm they received it (March 2016). They received it on a Friday and said that it is ready to be processed. I assumed they wouldn't get to it until Monday because it's the weekend so I decided to wait.
I had begun to think it was resolved because Southwest Credit Systems hadn't contact me since. I just received a letter (April 2016) saying that they've concluded that I am responsible for the bill.
HOW?! I gave you the proof you asked for and it doesn't match the name of the man who used the service let alone it the service address (IN A DIFFERENT STATE). Unfortunately, I didn't see this letter until the 24th and it was dated the 14th. They warned me if the didn't hear from me by the 24th, further collection action will continue on this account. The 24th is a Sunday and they are only open Monday - Friday.
Now, I have to try to contact them as early as possible on Monday hoping that they haven't added more for collections on the account let it alone somehow replace the man's name with my name.
At this point, I'm in the process of finding a lawyer. I don't understand why this process is so complicated and long to resolve.
I've never done business with AT&T and I never will.
ATTBusinessCare
Community Support
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3.1K Messages
8 years ago
Hello @Notjack,
I'm so sorry for the trouble you've had with us. I'd like to help. Please send me more details in a private message.
Thank You,
Nancy T.
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IDTheftVictim
Contributor
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1 Message
7 years ago
Same thing happened to me!! It was an identity theft situation and I had faxed over the police report, the affidavit, and my landlords statement saying that I wasn't even living at the address at the time the AT&T account was opened. AT&T also sent me a letter dated Oct. 5, 2016 saying that after investigation, I was still responsible for the bill!!!! That means either they did not do ANY investigation, or they flat out did not recognize any government statements, i.e. Police Report and the affidavit! The letter asked me to respond by 10/15, when I was on vacation, so I called them after I got back from my vacation. And they insisted that the landlord’s statement has to be on a company letterhead!!! My landlord is an individual, not a company!! What they are asking is ridiculous especially when they are so many other statements proving that it was an identity theft situation!
I never thought AT&T is such a scrupulous company that would suck people’s blood like this. The debt collection firm of Franklin Collection Service, Inc is not any better! Everyone I talked to on the phone was rude. Everyone talked to me as if I owed some money so they could be rude to me? When in fact, it was their employees being careless enough to allow accounts being opened with false identities. Instead of improving their internal systems, they hassle innocent people like me!! How would they respond sensibly? Do I really have to take AT&T to court?!
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vramesh012
Contributor
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1 Message
5 years ago
A new collection account with 11 ATT MOBILITY was added to your TransUnion credit report.1
Collection
I received today from Credit karma credit sit and I called the collection company Diversified consultants and told that 6500+ is completely fraud bill. Since we left USA since nov 2013 and the collections says there is a bill from ATT from feb 2018. Last year we had some identify theft and I filed a report to Police in Fremont online. and the bank has freezed the account. Since some body knows the SSN they have done fraud look like
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Bheaden
Contributor
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1 Message
5 years ago
I also just checked my credit Karma score and saw a collection from 11ATT mobile and ERC. Stating I owe $765. I only have cell and internet with them and are all current. It was put in collections in January. I do not know where this bill came from. I believe it is fraud as well.
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ATTBusinessForums
Administrator
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26.2K Messages
5 years ago
Hello @Bheaden,
Thank you for your recent posting. We appreciate your participation within the Business Community. I would be happy to help. In order for me to research your issue, I will need to verify some information. Please send me a private message by clicking here: https://soc.att.com/2XO8Qnt
And include the following details:
Thank you,
Nancy
AT&T Social Media Manager
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iletdown
Contributor
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1 Message
5 years ago
Same thing happened to me, and has been happening to me for over a year now. I have given them every single thing they have asked for proving my identity was stolen and I still got the letter saying, "After our investigation you still owe the money". So I gave up. Screw them. My credit score is still very high because I had impeccable credit before hand. They are a terrible company and are only interested in getting paid even if it is off the backs of the innocent. I have never had an account with AT&T for anything and I for sure will never have one now. Which is a shame for them because my company that has 7 branches recently needed a new internet provider and we went with another choice without even comparing.
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ATTBusinessForums
Administrator
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26.2K Messages
5 years ago
Hello @iletdown
Thank you for reaching out on our Business Community. I want to apologize for the poor customer experience you had thus far. If you still need help, I will be more than happy to have someone take a second look. Please private message me by clicking here the following information, so I can further assist you.
Contact Name:
Contact Number:
Contact Email:
Account in question:
Thank you.
Chris
Social Media Manager
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joseluissa
Contributor
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1 Message
5 years ago
same thing happened to me, and has been happening to me Since 2018 . I have not done business with AT&T for last 14 years, now they got mi in collection for little over then $260 [Per Guidelines: Keep it Relevant and Appropriate].
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ATTBusinessForums
Administrator
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26.2K Messages
5 years ago
Hi Jose. If you can please reply to the Private Note we sent, we can help look into this. - Julie R.
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Liv_maz112
Contributor
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3 Messages
4 years ago
Hi, same is happening to me. How did you get this resolved. I tried the fraud department from AT&T, but for some reason I’m just on hold forever and never get through to anyone
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ATTBusinessForums
Administrator
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26.2K Messages
4 years ago
Hello @Liv_maz112,
Thank you for your recent posting. We appreciate your participation within the Business Community. I'm sorry to read about the issues with your account. I'll be more than happy to take a look at this and be of some help. Please send me a private message by clicking here (https://soc.att.com/2O6aE7s) and be sure to include the following details so I can help:
Business or Residential:
Account Details:
Contact Name:
Contact Number:
Email Address:
Thank you,
Lisa
Social Media Manager
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kmwith
Contributor
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1 Message
4 years ago
Yes this same thing just happened to be and I disputed it with my Credit Company. I have never had AT&T before in my life and all of a sudden my credit drops 100 points and it says I owe $1,100 even though i've never used them as a company before. Hopefully my Credit Company gets it resolved, but who knows.
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ATTBusinessForums
Administrator
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26.2K Messages
4 years ago
Hello @kmwith,
We take the privacy of personal information very seriously. Please send us a private message by going here:
https://soc.att.com/2RGByWY, so we can assist you with your issue.
Lisa Y.
AT&T Social Media Manager
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Liv_maz112
Contributor
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3 Messages
4 years ago
Hi,
Here is my recommendation: Dispute the collections account with the credit office that reported it - I used Credit Karma to do this. They removed the account from my score 3 weeks after I filed the dispute. I don't think AT&T is doing a single thing to correct things. They actually asked me to MAIL them all my personal information in a letter to them (SSN, birth date, evidence of residence, copies of utility bills, copy of passport, copy of drivers license and on and on..). Seriously.... As a victim of identity theft, they then expect us to mail our complete identity information to an addressed labeled "fraud department". Maybe the letter should be tagged with a pretty bow also, since it's almost Christmas, and the identity thieves like gifts too? I ended up faxing all the information instead, that was two weeks ago, and I haven't hear a WORD back from them. Nothing. Zip. Disappointing to say the least. I will NEVER be an AT&T customer, and I make sure to warn all my friends and family also.
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ATTBusinessForums
Administrator
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26.2K Messages
4 years ago
Hello Liv_maz112,
Thank you for reaching out to us here within the Business Community. I am terribly sorry for this experience and would like to help.
I will need to gather some information. Please send me a private message by clicking here:
Please include the following details:
Full Name:
Address:
Preferred Contact #:
Email address:
Thank you,
Kathy V.
Social Media Manager
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