CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS Charter, Charter Internet, Charter Cable, Charter Phone Sick of all the lies!!! Received a collections notice for something I had no prior knowledge of and had received no prior bills!!! Internet

I cancelled my account with Charter at the end of June. I called on July 23rd to find out my final bill balance since it was not mailed to me and was told my total, I paid it in full at that time. I was asked about the non-returned equipment and explained to the lady that I no longer had the equipment. To make a long-story short, my ex-boyfriend took the equipment and I had no idea what he had done with it.

I told the woman I was willing to pay for the equipment. We had a very in-depth personal conversation about my situation. She sympathized with me and said she was making a note on my account to give me 3 months to the date to return the equipment or pay the price of the equipment. So this would have made October 23rd, 2009 to be the final date of return or payment.

So, Saturday morning I receive a collections notice from CPA on behalf of Charter telling me I am "seriously past due" and need to either return the equipment or pay the purchase price. I have NEVER had a problem with paying bills in the past, I have great credit, and thought I had handled this situation all ready. I was furious that this was turned over to collections.

I called Charter first thing Monday and talked to a woman named Ann in Billing. I explained what had happened to her at least 3 times and she kept telling me that basically I NEEDED to return the equipment and I wasn't allowed to pay the fee unless I was re-connecting my service. At this point I just wanted to pay for it and get it over with. I want nothing to do with my ex and that mess. The lady was a complete idiot and was terribly rude. I honestly think a 10 year old would be smarter than her. She was basically telling me that I wasn't allowed to pay for it. I had to return it, or it was going to be reported against me forever. At this point I was yelling and basically in tears. I asked to speak to her supervisor. Instead, she HUNG UP ON ME!!

So I called back, but this time I asked for complaints. I was forwarded to a Jane in retention. She tried to tell me that she probably didn't hang up on me but that they were having power failures. I told her otherwise. She apologized multiple times. While she was much more understanding of the situation and told me I could just pay and get it over with if there was no way for me to reach the equipment, I was still told to call and talk to the collections agency. And that there was nothing she could do further.

Of course you can't reach anyone at the agency listed by phone, you have to write a written letter. Basically I am completely fed up. I have the money to just pay it and get it over with, but I don't want it reported against my credit because it was absolutely 100% NOT my fault. I was originally told it wouldn't be turned over to collections until after the October date listed above, and was never given ANY warning whatsoever. I had not heard one thing, no e-mail, no bill in the mail, no phone call, nothing than a collections bill??

I will NEVER use Charter again. I will sign up for direct tv or dish network before I EVER go back to them. What a joke.