Dealing with Abusive Collection Agencies - Telus/CBV commiting fraud, what to do to stop it?

Telus/CBV commiting fraud, what to do to stop it?

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Topic: Telus/CBV commiting fraud, what to do to stop it?

Posted By: swartz
Subject: Telus/CBV commiting fraud, what to do to stop it?
Date Posted: 28/July/2011 at 11:37am

Will try to make it short:

2006 - Got cellphone as a gift. Signed up for Telus cellphone at a booth in a mall for month-to-month service. Specifically said no contract. Did not sign anything at the time. Evetythign was good.

2006-2007 - was getting poor service, dropped calls, unsent/undelivered msgs, and random small fees ($0.50 - $2.00) for services I did not request. Complained, removed fees, etc. They blamed my phone. Bought another one (from a friend). Still month-to-month.

End of 2007 - had enough of Telus and "billing issues", called to cancel. Telus rep told me that I can't as I'd owe them money for 12 months of 3-year contract remaining (WHAT???). I argued, complained, asked for proof of said contract. After 3 months, finally got some manager to email me the "contract agreement". What I got was an empty form with my name on it and 3-year term printed in. NOT SIGNED BY ME!!! I called back, explained. After some delay was told that it did not matter (WHAT???) and that we still had a valid contract. HUH? I was getting angry at this point. Said I'm done with them and that they better send me proof of any contract existing or consider this matter settled.

Started monitoring my credit score on quarterly basis just in case. No marks for two years. No calls, no letters from collectors. Nada. Thought all was well.

Fall 2010 - went to apply for line of credit. BAM! Credit report had a mark from CBV for $360+. WHAT???? Even if, hypothetically, there was a contract it should've only been $20 x 12month = $240 in cancellation fees. WTF?

Called Telus - after days of being getting voicemails and call-forwards, they said they no longer had the account and the dispute was with the collection company. They could not provide itemized bill for $360+. Called CBV, told them the facts. They said I still owed money, refused to remove the mark. I asked them to provide proof (contract, recorded conversation, anything). They said they will send it. All I got was a bill from CBV. Never got any proof of contract, called 3-4 times over the course of last 6months requesting proof every time. Each time they said they have mailed it. It was just a bill from CBV with a single item owing. No proof. Gave up calling them.

Earlier this month pulled up my credit report, just got a copy of it this week. CBV has upped the owed amount to $600+. WHAT??????????? This is a goddamn FRAUD.

Called both Telus and CBV again. Telus is no longer interested and forwards me to CBV. CBV rep didn't care for facts, was very rude and condescending. Just basically screamed at me saying I still owe them money for Telus. Refused to remove the black mark from my otherwise perfect credit profile.

I'm at dead end. I called Equifax/TransUnion to dispute, they say there is nothing they can do. It's between CBV and myself.

What are my options at this point? Govn't agency? Mediator? Small claims court? Who do I sue? Telus? CBV?

Would really appreciate any advice. Thank you.

Replies:

Posted By: frustrated-guy
Date Posted: 29/July/2011 at 11:05pm

Hi,

I am not a lawyer, thus my advice is worth what you are paying for it, but you could do as you suggest gov agency mediator, small claims

you could file a complaint wiht your provincial gov consumer affairs dept, with the competition bureau (federal gov) http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/frm-eng/GH%C3%89T-7TDNA5" rel="nofollow - http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/frm-eng/GH%C3%89T-7TDNA5 ,

better business bureau, but your best bet may be small claims court. Some provinces have a mediation process prior to small claims court that is part of the small claims process.

As you can prove you did not sign the contract, Telus does not have a leg to stand on. Also if you did not sign they have no legal right to pull credit report and would be violating most provincial consumer affairs legislation in this regard as no one can pull your credit report without your authorization (authorization is given in the contract if you signed it, but you did not). By pulling your credit report they lower your score harming you.

You could sue telus and cbv in court and win. Several canadians have sued collection agencies for harassment and won. It may be worth trying suing Equifax and Transunion as well as they are causing damage to your credit score by refusing to correct incorrect information.

document when cbv call, date, time who, what they said, keep all mail from cbv, and the copy of the unsigned contract

get copies of both your equifax and transunion credit scores so you can see what is written

You can look for cases of people suing collection agencies at this site http://canlii.org/en/index.php" rel="nofollow - http://canlii.org/en/index.php

Provincial courts also have online case histories that you can search.

Good luck

Posted By: administrator
Date Posted: 30/July/2011 at 1:15pm

Google Shawn Hall at telus and call him directly. Also try Steele on your Side on CTV television.

Use social media and post the story out of their Facebook account facebook.com/telus

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Administrator
Mark OMeara
Author of Let Go and Heal: Recovery from Emotional Pain
https://LaughSingWrite.com - http://bit.ly/heal2024

Posted By: administrator
Date Posted: 22/August/2011 at 7:47am

Please note that this is a forum for student loan issues.... not for cell phone issues....

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Administrator
Mark OMeara
Author of Let Go and Heal: Recovery from Emotional Pain
https://LaughSingWrite.com - http://bit.ly/heal2024