west bay acquisitions Hollywood Video false claim Cranston, Rhode Island

Like several other people I see on this site, I received a letter over the weekend from West Bay Acquisitions LLC stating I owe $31.84 to Hollywood Video for unreturned video games and dvd rentals from May 2009.  I found this strange, because Hollywood Video never told me I had accrued any late fees, and I certainly do not have these items in my possession.  I googled West Bay Acquisitions and found all of the complaints here as well as an article in the LA Times dated 2/20/2012 about this. 

Every claimant disputes the charges, as do I.  I called WBA and spoke with Joe Santos.  He told me he would mark the account as "disputed" and that I did not have to send the dispute in writing, which is contrary to what the letter requires.  I am sending them a dispute letter anyhow, to cover myself.  Initially, I was just going to pay the $31.84 as not to chance messing up my credit, but then I saw all of the other disputes and decided against sending them anything.  I do not have these items, and I will not pay for them.