Afni, Inc. Bogus Collections, Liars, Fraud, Do not pay these people. Ripoff Bloomington Illinois

Afni is probably one of the most reputable debt collectors out there. The only reason there are allot of posts out here about them is because they purchase old Debt, like yours for instance.

And they can collect on it until you pay or send a letter stating to cease communications.. It is only 7 years that they can report it to your credit.

Be aware of a nasty game these bottom feeders play. posting bogus negative information on your credit report to force you to pay them so that you can get your good credit rating back. Many of them do it and the big credit bureaus enable this tactic as they are more concerned about their profits than the accuracy of the info they report. so when these companies post negative info. the credit bureaus post the info "as is" in your credit file without bothering to verify it.

You might want to monitor your credit reports over the next two months to confirm that they aren't messing with your credit.

FIRST - Read the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm.

SECOND - send a certified letter, return receipt requested, to the DEBT COLLECTOR to dispute the debt and request written validation of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such validation or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor. Also, include a statement stating that you do not wish to be contacted again until you receive all the written debt validation information you have requested. In your case you want to clearly state that this is NOT YOUR DEBT and you should specifically ask for the following documentation:

What the money you say I owe is for;
Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;
Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;
Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;
Identify the original creditor;
Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account;
Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state;
Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent.

THIRD - Once you received the written validation information requested, contact the CREDITOR (who owns the debt) via certified mail to resolve the matter.

It is important that communication between you and this debt collector be in WRITING! So, I wouldn't not talk to them, EXCEPT to obtain an address for sending a certified, return receipt requested letter to dispute and demand validation of this alleged debt. Do not discuss any other aspect of this matter with them and do not agree to any form of payment or settlement. Make it clear you only want a mailing address to send a certified letter.

Thanks for all the good advise. I just did a credit check and, luckily for them, they did not touch my record.

Chris Noth, perhaps you should read my report again. I stated that I NEVER had an account with Sprint Long Distance. In fact, the supposed date they listed on the collection was when I was 19 years old. When I was 19, I was going to college and still living at home with my parents. I never opened my own phone service until several years later.....and it wasn't with Sprint.

And it's not an identity theft issue because Sprint told me they had no record of my name.

This is a bogus claim, bottom line.