CI Host, Fidelity Credit Management dishonest debt collection - turned over to collection without any contact for 4 years for account that had been canceled BedfordBedford Texas

More than 4 years ago I helped a small company set up a website using CI Host as the web hosting provider. CI Host's service was very poor - lots of downtime and horrible customer service. Before the contract was due for renewal, I moved the website to another hosting provider and canceled the account via phone.

After not hearing from CI Host in 4 years, on May 25th 2007, I received a debt collection notice from Fidelity Credit Management claiming I owed CI Host over $525. Close to $400.00 of this was for one year of hosting, and over $125.00 was accrued interest.

I contacted Fidelity to explain that 1) the account was the responsibility of my client and not me personally, and 2) the account has been canceled and no services were rendered. The representative that I spoke with was very rude right from the start and told me the account was my responsibility since I was listed as a technical contact. I was also told that unless I had faxed CI Host a specific form, the account had not been canceled correctly, and thus I was responsible for a year's worth of hosting.

In addition, even though this is a debt of my client, the representative told me if I didn't pay then the unpaid debt would go on my credit report.

I then tried calling CI Host, hoping to find more information. They were equally unhelpful, saying then had no information on my account and referring me back to Fidelity.

I have come across at least 3 other cases online where CI Host / Fidelity Credit Management are trying to collect claimed debt from several years ago. In each case, the person received a debt collection notice around May 25th 2007 for an old debt. In each case the person thought the account had been canceled, but CI Host / Fidelity Credit Management claims that account was not canceled in the correct way.

CI Host and Fidelity are clearly in cahoots to try to fleece ex-customers out of money by threatening to hurt their credit reports.

Chris
Takoma Park, Maryland
U.S.A.