AT&T will bill you even if you cancel the installation

I had asked AT&T to come and install internet at my apartment back in August 2014. When the installer came to inspect the telephone system in the building, he said he would have to drill a hole in my window in order to get a wire through from the basement and into my unit. I did not want them to do that, so I cancelled the installation. He had me talk to someone from their HQ to confirm cancellation and then he left without leaving anything behind or giving me any equipment. Later I receieved several bills asking me to pay $214.33 for equipment fees. Since then I have spoken to many of their representatives to clear this issue, and each time they  said they would resolve this matter and yet here we are, a year later and still going. They passed off my bill to a collection agency and I have been harrassed for months now via phone and mail, and each time, I had to call AT&T. This collection agency has been threatening to lower my credit score if I do not pay in full. I spoke with another representative today regarding this and he had assured me, just like others before him, that within 7-10 business days it will be resolved and I'd be cleared of all charges. If my credit score goes down even a single point because of this, Who knows how many people are being swindled into paying for a service or an item they did not receive.

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