ComplaintsforHelvey & Associates, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with ************ I *** not have a contract with the collection agency Helvey and Associates **** they did not provide me with the original contract as I requested.

  Customer response

  01/03/2024

  This item was removed from my EXPERIAN credit report within 6 hours of me filling a dispute with EXPERIAN. 

  Customer response

  01/04/2024

  Attached is the uploaded Experian dispute and results. 

  Business response

  01/12/2024

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you and completed a reasonable investigation, which includes a review of recorded phone interactions and correspondence.
  
  As a result of the final bill for utility services remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account in question to ********** for collection. On 09/26/2023, ********** mailed a validation notice to you at the forwarding billing address for you as provided by the original creditor which is the same address you provided with your complaint. This notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection, and identified the original creditor, balance due, and account number for the services rendered. This notice also provided you with options to dispute the debt and stated that unless you notified ********** after receiving the notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid and our information was correct. ********** mailed a second notice to you, on 10/31/2023, which provided you with notice of our intent to report the account to your credit. Written communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you, nor did we receive any notification from the National Change of Address database. We did not receive a response from you and the account was subsequently reported to the consumer reporting agencies.
  
  According to our records, on 12/13/2023, you called **********, verified your personally identifiable information was accurate, and paid the account in full during that phone call.Furthermore, the representative advised you during this call that your account qualified to be deleted from your credit and explained that the consumer reporting agencies may take thirty (30) days or more to update your report and that is beyond our control.
  
  Based on our investigation, it is our position we have identified you as the correct consumer for the subject account and have found the allegations in your complaint to be unsupported.
  Should you have additional information or documentation for us to consider that would further substantiate the basis of your complaint, we will be happy to review it.
  
  Thank you, again,for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc. 

• Initial Complaint

  04/05/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am demanding removal of this collection from Helvey and associates. I do not owe them the $657. This is reflecting on my credit report and it is deeply impacting my credit score. I have reached out for more information and for a verification but ***** enterprise has not been reachable from letters, phone calls, better business bureau, and consumer financial protection bureau.

  Business response

  04/13/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  Our goal at Helvey & Associates, **** is to help consumers achieve positive solutions in resolving delinquent accounts in a friendly, honest, helpful, and professional demeanor, which includes investigating potential errors or inaccuracies and reviewing recorded calls and/or correspondence. We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you. Additionally, due to your statements regarding the balance not being owed, we requested the original creditor complete an internal investigation to verify the personally identifiable information on file for you and the details that led to the placement of the account with **********, and to obtain documentation that would substantiate the collection account to you. The investigation is still in progress while we await additional information and/or verification from the original creditor. In the interim, however, it is our position that you are the correct responsible party for this account.
  
  The account in question is the final bill for utility services rendered to you at the corresponding service address of ********************************************************************************************************************************. The utility services were terminated from your name on 04/19/2022.
  
  As a result of this final bill remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account in question to ********** for collection. On 07/07/2022, ********** received a new address for you provided by the National Change of Address database which is the same address you provided with your complaint. Your change of address had a move effective date of April 2022 which aligns with the date the utility services were disconnected.  
  In addition to the final bill from the original creditor,********** mailed a validation notice (copy enclosed) to you, on 07/11/2022. This notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection,and identified the original creditor, balance due, and account number for the services rendered. This notice also provided you with options to dispute the debt and stated that unless you notified ********** after receiving the notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid and our information was correct.
  ********** mailed a second notice (copy enclosed) to you at the same address, on 08/15/2022, which provided you with notice of our intent to report the account to your credit. 
  Written communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you,nor did we receive any further notification from the National Change of Address database. We did not receive a response from you and the account was subsequently reported to the consumer reporting agencies. To date, you have not contacted ********** to discuss this matter. This complaint is the first interaction ********** has had with you. In your complaint, you mentioned ***** Enterprise.However, ********** does not have any affiliation with that company, nor is ********** familiar with that company.
  
  Based on our interim investigation, it is our position we have identified you as the correct responsible party for this account. Because there is no evidence of an error or inaccurate information, we believe we have reported all information accurately as required by data furnishers and have fulfilled our obligation as required by the law to investigate your dispute and will substantiate the collection account by providing proper verification of the debt.
  
  While the premise of your complaint is the account balance is not owed, you did not include any other details, evidence, or documentation to substantiate your claim. This documentation should provide and substantiate your place of residency during the time the past-due balance was incurred, an attestation verifying that you did not live at the service address nor did you authorize the service to be connected in your name for another individual, and include an FTC Identity Theft Report. Supplemental documentation that will be necessary to help resolve the account in question may include a police report,a court order, account statements, proof of payment, and/or other documentation that would establish that this account is not owed or that the account is not yours. The ************************ (FTC) provides detailed steps and/or actions that need to be taken to resolve identity theft for certain types of accounts, such as utility accounts. You can find that information here: *************************************.
  
  In the interim and/or absent the receipt of such documentation from you, the account will remain active, owing, and disputed and will be reflected on your credit file accordingly.
  
  We understand this can be a frustrating experience, so please do not hesitate to contact **********. Our representatives will be happy to assist you and/or guide you in completing and/or obtaining the necessary documentation to substantiate your dispute.
  
  Thank you, again, for contacting ********** and we look forward to helping you resolve the balance due.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, ****
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 4, 2022, I filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.This is regarding an account opened at *********** to whom Helvey & Associates LLC represents.On June 8, 2022, the Bankruptcy judge ordered *********** to refrain from ever sending me bill statements or debiting any value from my checking accounts.However, ****, instead of complying with the law and returning our deposit, did something worse; sold the account to the collection company "Helvey and Associates ***** Helvey sent me a collection letter on October 24, 2022, for the balance of $101.47 made out to ***********. So I called ****** and spoke with an employee named ********, to whom I explained all about the wrongdoings of ****; also, I gave her my BK case number, which, at that time, the Federal Court had already "Discharged."******** said that she would investigate and that she would call me back later; however, she never called me back. But on February 7 of this year, I received a message from my bank alerting me about an account reported to my credit report as a "charge-off." I immediately called Helvey and spoke again with ********. I complained to her about her company's wrongdoing in reporting my account to the credit companies under the such terrible status that had greatly hurt my credit score. All this despite all my business accounts being under bankruptcy laws. But ******** started mocking me and refused to help me.Based on all this background, I have requested all Credit bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian, to completely remove this illegal information from my credit reports because The Federal Bankruptcy laws protect me as a citizen of this country from the abusive practices of companies like *********** and Helvey & Associates and from employees as unprofessional and disrespectful of the law as *****************I want to thank you in advance for your positive attention to my request.************ F ***************** My Bankruptcy # is: *****************

  Business response

  03/25/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  Your complaint appears to be a duplicative complaint that you submitted to the ***** on 03/06/2023, for which we addressed and responded to on 03/21/2023. I have enclosed a copy of the complaint for your reference.
  
  As we previously stated, our goal at Helvey &Associates, **** is to help consumers achieve positive solutions in resolving delinquent accounts in a friendly, honest, helpful, and professional demeanor,which includes investigating potential errors or inaccuracies and reviewing recorded calls and/or correspondence.  We sincerely regret that your interaction with ********** did not leave that impression.
  
  We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you. Additionally, we requested the original creditor complete an internal investigation to verify the personally identifiable information on file for you and the details that led to the placement of the account with **********, and to obtain documentation that would substantiate the collection account to you.We also requested verification of the amount, if any, that was adjusted or written off the account balance due to your bankruptcy petition filed on 05/02/2022 and discharged on 08/10/2022.
  The original creditor has been delayed in responding to our request. Due to the delay, we requested the account be deleted from any consumer reporting agency files to which we have submitted information. You may reference ************** Form control # *********.
  
  Our records do indicate that the utility services were disconnected from your name on 06/28/2022 but we do not yet have the reasoning for the disconnect. The original creditor assigned the account to ********** for collection on 09/09/2022 which was after your bankruptcy was discharged.
  
  As previously stated, due to the delay in responding to your request, the account has been deleted from your credit file. We apologize for the delayed response and hope you find the above-mentioned resolution satisfactory.  Please do not hesitate to contact ********** should you have any questions regarding this account or wish to discuss this matter further, in the interim. We look forward to working with you on resolving the balance owed, if any, once the original creditor responds to our request.
  
  Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, ****
  

  Customer response

  03/30/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  

  Because it contains false or altered information, but above all, erroneous actions from Helvey such as not removing the ENTIRE report from my credit report and only changing the status from "Charge Off" to "In Collection". Should I say "thank you" to them?

  What is wrong with these people? They identify themselves as "lawyers." Do they understand the Federal Bankruptcy Laws?

  
  

  I am going to send my response to this letter, so, could you please let me know how long I have to respond?

  Thank you for your help in this matter.

  ************ ************

  Business response

  04/05/2023

  Thank you for your additional communication on this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  Unfortunately, your rejection does not contain any new information or supporting documentation that would prompt another investigation of your complaint.
  
  Our response to your BBB was a shortened version of our response to your CFPB complaint, however, the facts provided in both responses were the same.
  
  ********** identifies itself as a debt collector in all communications and we have evidence to support this standard operating practice, including copies of written correspondence and recorded phone calls.
  
  It is important to note that we responded to your CFPB complaint on 03/21/2023. The information you obtained on your credit file is dated 03/20/2023 and would not reflect the deletion of the account in question as explained in our complaint response as it can take the *************************** seventy-two (72) hours or more to process the request. If after checking your credit again, you still find the account in question appearing on your credit, you may contact the *************************** and reference the ************** Form control# ********* as provided in our response to your CFPB complaint. 
  
  We regret that we have been unable to resolve your complaint and hope you understand our business position.  Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc.
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  COLLECTION AGENCY is violating the Customer Name, they removed it from one bureau and did not removed it from rest of the bureaus. This is not mine, please remove this PAID Derogatory/Collection immediately.

  Business response

  03/30/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you and completed a reasonable investigation, which includes a review of recorded phone interactions and correspondence. As a result of the investigation, we regret to inform you that we are unable to fulfill the request to have the account in question deleted from the consumer reporting agency's files to which we have submitted information. We are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information, thus, it is not within our discretionary control to delete a credit tradeline that has been accurately reported. The ********************************** (CDIA) has specific requirements for collection agencies which include the requirement that paid-in-full collection accounts remain on the credit file and not be deleted.
  
  To date ********** has not requested any deletion from your credit file; however, the consumer reporting agencies may have deleted it from your credit file per their internal policies.
  
  As a result of the balance remaining unpaid, the account was subsequently placed with ********** for collection by the original creditor. ********** mailed the validation notice, on 11/08/2019, to the last known billing address for you as provided by the original creditor. This notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection, and identified the original creditor, balance due, corresponding service address, and account number for the services rendered. This notice also stated that unless you notify ********** within 30 days of receiving that notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid. Written communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you, nor did we receive any further notification from the National Change of Address database. We did not receive a response from you and the account was subsequently reported to the credit bureaus.
  
  On 04/30/2020, you called **********, verified your personally identifiable information on file was accurate, and advised that you paid the original creditor directly that very same day, on 04/30/2020. You provided the payment method and confirmation number for your payment to the original creditor. During this interaction, the representative explained to you that the account would be updated as paid in full on your credit file.
  The original creditor reported your payment to **********. In acknowledgment, the payment information and updated status of your account were furnished to the *************************** on 05/05/2020 and ********** mailed you a letter confirming your account was paid in full on 05/06/2020.  
  
  On 01/27/2023, ********** received a letter from you (copy enclosed) demanding we cease and desist and that you rescind all payments made to **********. However, you did not pay ********** directly nor was ********** making active attempts to contact you since the status of your account was paid in full. A cease-and-desist request does not prohibit the furnishing of information to your credit file.
  
  As previously stated, based on our investigations, it is our position that we have identified you are the correct consumer for this account and are reporting accurate information by furnishing all information required of collection agencies by reporting your account as paid in full.
  
  Should you have additional information or documentation for us to consider, we will be happy to review it. This documentation should provide and substantiate your place of residency during the time the past-due balance was incurred, an attestation verifying that you did not live at the service address nor did you authorize the service to be connected in your name for another individual, a court order,police report, account statements, and/or other documentation that would establish that this account is not yours. The ************************ (FTC)provides detailed steps and/or actions that need to be taken to resolve fraudulent activity for certain types of accounts, such as utility accounts.You can find this information here: *************************************.
  
  In the interim and/or absent the receipt of such documentation from you, the account will remain paid in full and disputed and will be reflected on your credit file accordingly.
  
  We regret that we are unable to fulfill your desired resolution and hope you understand our business position. Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc. 

• Initial Complaint

  03/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am not liable for this debt with HELVEY & ASSOCIATES ********* and I do not recall or have contract with **** ENERGY CAROLINAS. Please, I demand this account to be deleted from my credit report.

  Business response

  03/18/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector. 
  
  Our goal at Helvey & Associates, **** is to help consumers achieve positive solutions in resolving delinquent accounts in a friendly, honest, helpful, and professional demeanor, which includes investigating potential errors or inaccuracies and reviewing all correspondence and/or recorded interactions. As such, we have reviewed and considered the information provided by you.
  
  In regards to your liability for the account in question, it is our position that you are the correct responsible party for the account. The original creditor provided you with utility services at **************************************************************************************************************************. These services were disconnected from your name on 01/30/2022. As a result of the final bill remaining unpaid, the account was assigned to **********. In addition to the final bill from the original creditor, ********** mailed a validation notice to you (copy enclosed), on 04/25/2022, to the same last known billing address for you as provided by the original creditor. This notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection, and identified the original creditor, balance due, and account number for the services rendered. This notice also provided you with options to dispute the debt and stated that unless you notified ********** after receiving the notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid and our information was correct.
  ********** mailed a second notice to you at the same address, on 05/31/2022, which provided you with notice of our intent to report the account to your credit.  ******* communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you, nor did we receive any notification from the National Change of Address database. We did not receive a response from you and the account was subsequently reported to the ****************************
  
  On 11/22/2022, ********** received your notice (copy enclosed) to cease and desist communication with you regarding the account in question. ********** took action to honor your cease-and-desist request and has not attempted to contact you since. However, a such request does not require that ********** stop reporting and/or delete the account from your credit file.
  
  On 12/06/2022, we began receiving, investigating, and responding to multiple dispute inquiries from the *************************** for which you originally disputed the account history. However, you claimed identity theft in your subsequent communications to the **************************** Due to your claims of identity theft, we requested the original creditor complete an internal investigation to verify the personally identifiable information on file for you and the details that led to the placement of the account with **********.
  
  On 12/13/2022, you mailed a letter to ********** and requested verification of the subject debt. Although the validation period had expired and you previously had requested we cease communication with you, we did request documentation from the original creditor that would substantiate the collection account to you and assist in achieving resolution.
  However, the original creditor has delayed responding to our request. Due to the delay, we requested the account be deleted from any consumer reporting agency files to which we submitted information on 12/21/2022,thus, the account should no longer be appearing on your credit file.  
  
  As previously stated, due to the delay in responding to your request, the account has been deleted from your credit file. However, the balance is still active and owing to the original creditor.  If, after reviewing this information, you still believe that you are not liable for the debt the original creditor and/or ********** will require additional documentation from you to substantiate the basis of your dispute.This documentation should provide and substantiate your place of residency during the time the past-due balance was incurred, an attestation verifying that you did not live at the service address nor did you authorize the service to be connected in your name for another individual, a court order, account statements, and/or other documentation that would establish that this account is not yours.
  
  We understand this can be a frustrating experience, so please do not hesitate to contact **********. Our representatives will be happy to further assist you and provide guidance in completing and/or obtaining any additional documentation to substantiate the basis of your dispute if deemed necessary.
  We look forward to working with you on resolving the balance owed.
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates

• Initial Complaint

  03/03/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  received a notice that I have a collection from HELVEY ASSOC on my credit report. It says it was opened on 08/03/2020/06/28/2017 for $0.00 with account number starting in *******/******* that I am not aware of nor am I responsible for. I never went into business with this company or signed any agreements with them so they should not be reporting anything on my credit. This is a violation of my rights as a consumer according to the **** and FDCPA.I would like for this collection to be removed asap or I will file a CFPB and FTC report.

  Business response

  03/10/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you and completed a reasonable investigation. Based on our investigation, it is our position we have identified you as the correct consumer for this account.Because there is no evidence regarding an error or inaccurate information, we believe we have fulfilled our obligation as required by law to investigate your dispute and have reported all information accurately. As a result of the investigation, at this time, we regret to inform you that we are unable to fulfill the request to have the account in question deleted from the consumer reporting agency's files to which we have submitted information. We are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information, thus, it is not within our discretionary control to delete a credit tradeline that has been accurately reported. The ********************************** (CDIA) has specific requirements for collection agencies which include the requirement that paid-in-full collection accounts remain on the credit file and not be deleted.
  
  The account in question, as appearing on your credit file, is the final bill for utility services which was disconnected on 05/01/2020. As a result of the final bill for utility services remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account in question to ********** for collection.
  On 10/19/2020, ********** mailed a validation notice to the forwarding address on file for you as provided by the original creditor. This notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection, and identified the original creditor, balance due, corresponding service address,and account number for the services rendered. This notice also stated that unless you notify ********** within 30 days of receiving that notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid. Written communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you,nor did we receive any notification from the National Change of Address database. The account was subsequently reported to your credit file.
  
  On 05/24/2021,the original creditor reported that you paid the account in full directly to their organization. As a result of this action, ********** furnished the payment information and the updated status of your account to the *************************** on 06/06/2021.
  
  On 04/12/2022, we received, investigated, and responded to a dispute notification and inquiry from one of the *************************** for which you claimed a partial payment was accepted and the account was paid in full. We verified your personally identifiable information on file was accurate, including your current address at the time to which we previously mailed the validation notice and your former address which matched the service address for the account in question, and we verified the account was accurately reported as paid in full.
  
  As previously stated, based on our investigations, it is our position that we have identified you are the correct consumer for this account and are reporting accurate information by furnishing all information required of collection agencies by reporting your account as paid in full.
  
  Should you have additional information or documentation for us to consider and to further substantiate the basis of your complaint, we will be happy to review it. Otherwise, the account will remain paid in full and disputed and will be reflected on your credit file accordingly.
  
  We regret that we are unable to fulfill your desired resolution and hope you understand our business position. Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc. 

• Initial Complaint

  03/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This Company is reporting an unauthorized collection on my credit report. I have never had a contract with them, and I've never gotten a notice from them. They do not have any binding contract with my authorized signature including my full name. I've asked them to send me validation forms with my authorized signature and they haven't done so since I've requested the information. I'm asking for this false collection to be removed immediately from my credit report.

  Business response

  03/08/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you and completed a reasonable investigation. Additionally, we requested the original creditor complete an internal investigation to verify the personally identifiable information on file for you and the details that led to the placement of the account with **********, and to obtain documentation that would substantiate the collection account to you. 
  As a result of the investigation, we regret to inform you that we are unable to fulfill the request to have the account in question deleted from the consumer reporting agency's files to which we have submitted information. We are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information, thus, it is not within our discretionary control to delete a credit tradeline that is accurately reporting.
  
  Per the original creditors policies and/or procedures involving termination of utility service, it is the responsibility of a residential customer to request termination of utility service directly with the original creditor and provide a forwarding address for the final bill.However, the service was disconnected, on 03/29/2022, when the new tenant requested service at the corresponding service address. The original creditor emailed the final bill to you at ************************ on 03/31/2022 since you had previously signed up for the e-billing service.
  As a result of this final bill (copy enclosed) remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account in question to ********** for collection. In addition to the final bill from the original creditor, ********** mailed a validation notice to you (copy enclosed), on 06/20/2022, to the last known billing address for you as provided by the original creditor. This notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection, and identified the original creditor, balance due, and account number for the services rendered. This notice also provided you with options to dispute the debt and stated that unless you notified ********** after receiving the notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid and our information was correct.
  ********** mailed a second notice (copy enclosed) to you at the same address, on 07/25/2022, which provided you with notice of our intent to report the account to your credit.  ******* communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you, nor did we receive any notification from the National Change of Address database. We did not receive a response from you and the account was subsequently reported to the ****************************
  
  We acknowledge receiving your written correspondence on 02/06/2023, however, we subsequently started receiving indirect dispute notifications and inquiries from the *************************** which required additional review to determine if you had provided additional details and/or documentation that would support the premise of your dispute. The additional communications delayed the completion of our investigation and our response to you.
  
  As previously stated, based on our and the original creditors investigation, it is our position we have identified you as the correct consumer for this account. Because there is no evidence of an error or inaccurate information, at this time, we believe we have reported all information accurately as required of data furnishers and fulfilled our obligation as required by the law to investigate your dispute based on the information that you provided to date and substantiate the collection account appearing on your credit file.
  
  Should you have additional information or documentation for us to consider, we will be happy to review it. Otherwise, the account will remain active, owing, and disputed and will be reflected on your credit file accordingly.
  
  We hope you understand our business position. Thank you,again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc.

  Customer response

  03/09/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  There is no valid validation form attached with my signature like I asked . That is NOT my address . Those documents are inaccurate and do not belong to me . Please remove this debt or provide validation forms with my authorized signature binding me to this debt thanks .

  Business response

  03/14/2023

  Thank you for your additional communication on this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  Unfortunately, your rejection does not contain any new information or supporting documentation that would prompt another investigation of your complaint. There is no requirement by law to provide a signed agreement for services and typically none exist for utility accounts as consumers can request service be established online through the original creditors customer portal or by calling the original creditor.
  Although the required information was provided to you in the validation notice and the validation period expired on 07/25/2022, our original response to your complaint included a copy of the final bill from the original creditor which serves as verification of the debt in question and substantiates the collection account on your credit file. This verification provided you with the name and address of the original creditor, the services provided, the dates on which the charges were incurred,and the amount of the debt.
  
  Should you have additional documentation to substantiate your dispute and subsequent complaint, we will be happy to review it. This documentation should provide and substantiate your place of residency during the time the past-due balance was incurred, an attestation verifying that you did not live at the service address nor did you authorize the service to be connected in your name for another individual, a court order, account statements, and/or other documentation that would establish that this account is not yours. In the interim and/or absent the receipt of such documentation from you, the account will remain active, owing, and disputed and will be reflected on your credit file accordingly.
  
  Again, we are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information. Because there is no evidence of an error or inaccurate information, to date, we believe we have reported all information accurately as required by data furnishers and have fulfilled our obligation as required by the law to investigate your dispute and substantiate the collection account by providing proper verification of the debt.
  
  You may find it helpful to review some of the information provided at ***************************.
  
  We regret we have been unable to resolve your complaint and fulfill your request to have the collection account deleted from your credit file, and look forward to working with you and helping you achieve a positive solution in resolving the delinquent account.
  
  Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc.
  

• Initial Complaint

  03/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I do not have a contract with HELVEY & ASSOCIATES *** nor was I made aware of any debt sent to them. This debt the claim I owe was settled with ************ I would like for account xxxxx** to be removed from my credit report.

  Business response

  03/10/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you and completed a reasonable investigation, which includes a review of recorded phone interactions and correspondence. As a result of the investigation, we regret to inform you that we are unable to fulfill the request to have the account in question deleted from the consumer reporting agency's files to which we have submitted information. We are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information, thus, it is not within our discretionary control to delete a credit tradeline that has been accurately reported. The ********************************** (CDIA) has specific requirements for collection agencies which include the requirement that paid-in-full collection accounts remain on the credit file and not be deleted.
  
  As a result of the final bill for utility services remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account in question to ********** for collection on 12/26/2019 and we first furnished the account to the *************************** on 03/05/2020.
  
  On 10/22/2020, you called ********** to discuss your intent on paying the account in full. During this interaction, you requested the account be deleted from your credit file. The representative explained our reporting obligations and advised that once the account was paid in full ********** would update the *************************** with the payment information but the account would not be deleted.
  On 10/27/2020, you called ********** to ask to whom you would make the check payable. The representative provided you with the information to include with your payment.
  On 10/29/2020, we received a personal check from you in the mail for the full balance owed.
  The payment information and updated status of your account were furnished to the *************************** on 11/07/2020. 
  
  As previously stated, based on our investigations, it is our position that we have identified you are the correct consumer for this account and are reporting accurate information by furnishing all information required of collection agencies by reporting your account as paid in full.
  
  Should you have additional information or documentation for us to consider and to further substantiate the basis of your complaint, we will be happy to review it.Otherwise, the account will remain paid in full and disputed, and will be reflected on your credit file accordingly.
  
  We regret that we are unable to fulfill your desired resolution and hope you understand our business position. Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc. 

  Customer response

  03/10/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  I have never spoken with this company nor pay by check. It sounds like you have the wrong information or account 
  
  

  Business response

  03/13/2023

  Thank you for your additional communication on this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  The account in question is the final bill for utility services at **************************************************************. The service was disconnected on 10/03/2019 after which the final bill was generated by the original creditor. As a result of the final bill remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account to ********** for collection.
  
  Unfortunately, your rejection does not contain any new information or supporting documentation that would prompt another investigation of your complaint. In your original complaint, you seemingly acknowledge settling the account in question; however, your interactions were with ********** directly. ********** records and retains phone interactions and can substantiate the information we provided in our prior response to your complaint, including that you verified your personally identifiable information during the phone calls, thus, further verifying that you are the accurate responsible party for the account in question.
  
  We regret that we have been unable to resolve your complaint and fulfill your request to have the collection account deleted from your credit file; however, as previously explained, we are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information. Because there is no evidence of an error or inaccurate information, based on the information you have submitted to date, we believe we have identified you as the accurate responsible party for the account in question and have reported all information accurately as required by data furnishers by reporting your account as paid in full and disputed.
  
  We hope you understand our business position.  Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  02/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  This business has a debt collection listed on my credit report but will not communicate with me about it. I've attempted to contact them through email on 8/29/22 and been ignored. They claim to have debt for me from ************ but *********** has no record of this and the portal they have for *********** customers to pay doesn't work when I enter my information.

  Business response

  03/08/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector. 
  
  Our goal at Helvey & Associates, **** is to help consumers achieve positive solutions in resolving delinquent accounts in a friendly, honest, helpful, and professional demeanor, which includes investigating potential errors or inaccuracies and reviewing recorded calls and/or correspondence. We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you. The investigation is still in progress while we await additional information and/or verification from the original creditor. In the interim,however, it is our position that you are the correct responsible party for this account, and have included evidence to support our position.
  
  The account in question is the final bill for utility services rendered to you at ************************************ in *********, ********. This service was disconnected on 04/30/2021.  As a result of the final balance owed after disconnect remaining unpaid, the original creditor assigned the account in question to ********** for collection. On 07/20/2021, ********** received an updated address for you from the National Change of Address database with a move effective date of 04/2021 which aligns with the month and year the utility service was disconnected.
  On 07/22/2021, ********** mailed a validation notice to you at the new address of *****************************************************************************************. The notice advised you that the account was placed with ********** for collection,and identified the original creditor, balance due, corresponding service address, and account number for the services rendered. This notice also stated that unless you notify ********** within 30 days of receiving that notice that you dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof, ********** would assume the debt is valid.
  ********** mailed a second notice to you at the same address, on 08/25/2021, which provided you with notice of our intent to report the account to your credit.  ******* communications mailed to you were not returned and assumed to be received by you, nor did we receive any additional notification from the National Change of Address database. We did not receive a response from you and the account was subsequently reported to the **************************** To date, you have not contacted **********, directly, to discuss this matter. We have no record of your emailing **********, as you stated in your complaint. If you would kindly confirm what email address was used and the date you sent the email, we would be happy to investigate further.
  ********** did, however, receive an indirect dispute notification and inquiry from one of the *************************** for which you disputed the current balance/amount past due and stated you vacated the service address on 04/31/2021. ********** reviewed, investigated, and responded to the inquiry on 04/28/2022 verifying the personally identifiable information on file was accurate, including your current address at that time and your previous address matching the service address for the account in question, and the account information was accurate.
  
  Once we receive the additional information from the original creditor, we will mail the information to the address you provided with your complaint.
  
  
  We regret that you encountered problems with the original creditors payment portal. We have included some additional payment options for you.
  
  Online:                 www.helveydukepay.com ******** Division
  To pay online as a guest, you will need to use the service address information and verify your identity.
  
  By Phone:            ************** or contact the original creditor directly.
  
  By Mail:                Helvey & Associates, ****
                                  **********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************; Warsaw,** 46580-3420
  
  
  It is important to note that upon paying your account in full, ********** will report the account as paid in full to the **************************** We are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information, thus, it is not within our discretionary control to delete a credit tradeline that has been accurately reported. The ********************************** (CDIA) has specific requirements for collection agencies which include the requirement that paid-in-full collection accounts remain on the credit file and not be deleted. It may take 30 days or more for your credit file to be updated with the paid-in-full status; however, if you contact ********** directly, we would be happy to try and expedite the update to your credit file.
  
  We hope you understand our business position. If you should have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please contact **********. Our representatives will be happy to assist you.
  Thank you, again, for contacting ********** and we look forward to helping you resolve this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  *********************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates

  Customer response

  03/08/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  

  The helveydukepay.com site does not pull up an account for any of my information and I can not contact the business through phone due to the time difference.

  Please just send me an account number through email so I can pay the balance on your website. *********************** 

  
  

  Business response

  03/13/2023

  Thank you for your additional communication on this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  While it is not a standard business practice to communicate with individuals using direct email correspondence, ********** did accommodate your request for additional account-related information to be emailed to you at ************************
  
  If you did not receive the subject email, please be sure to check your Spam folder.
  
  We hope you find the information helpful and understand our business position.
  Thank you, again, for contacting **********.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, Inc.
  

  Customer response

  03/16/2023

   Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

  
  

  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  These ppl collect for ************ My account went into collections because I was hospitalized from a stroke. I settled it after I got out of the hospital. I can no longer speak because of my stroke. I had a friend reach out to them and manager out to lunch with no call back as promised. 6 months go by and my brother calls, surprise no one into help. My credit is hurt over their negligence and lack of compassion. If they were in ********** Id be in their office everyday. Im considering paying them a visit

  Business response

  03/01/2023

  Thank you for notifying ********** about this matter. Please be advised this communication is from a debt collector.
  
  Our goal at Helvey & Associates, **** is to help consumers achieve positive solutions in resolving delinquent accounts in a friendly, honest, helpful, and professional demeanor, which includes investigating potential errors or inaccuracies and reviewing recorded calls and/or correspondence. We have reviewed and considered all information provided by you and completed a reasonable investigation.
  
  Your first correspondence with ********** was a direct email from you on 04/28/2020 requesting that the account be deleted from your credit file due to being hospitalized for months. According to our records, we can confirm that a relative called **********, on 04/30/2020, to discuss the account on your behalf. However, we are unable to discuss your account information with a third party without your direct consent to do so. The representative explained this requirement to your relative. You subsequently emailed ********** after our interaction with your relative but did not authorize us to disclose your account information to the relative or any other third party.
  
  While it is not a business practice of ********** to communicate with consumers using an email platform, in response to your emails to ********** and your request to communicate in writing due to your inability to speak, ********** mailed you a letter (copy enclosed) advising you of our legal and contractual obligations and business position regarding the account appearing on your credit file.
  
  The ********************************** (CDIA) has specific requirements for collection agencies which include the requirement that paid-in-full collection accounts remain on the credit file and not be deleted. While we are obligated, at a regulatory and contractual level, to report accurate information and it is not within our discretionary control to delete a credit tradeline that has been accurately reported, due to a recent policy change your account did qualify to be removed from your credit file. It is important to note that the *************************** may take up to 30 days or more to update consumer reports and this is beyond our control.
  
  While there is room for speculation as to the intent behind your statement regarding visiting **********, I can confirm that we take the safety of our employees very seriously and will not hesitate to notify proper authorities should we feel that such safety may be in jeopardy.
  
  We regret your feelings towards ********** and hope you understand our business position as it relates to legal and contractual obligations.
  
  Wishing you continued healing.
  
  Sincerely,
  ************************
  Director of Compliance and Corporate Training
  Helvey & Associates, **** 

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