I would like to know the answer too. Anyone here know what is the right answer. I'll do some research in Google and get back to you if I find an good answer. You should email the people at Discover Card as they probably can answer it..

Anywhere in the chain did you contact Comcast directly and let them know you have receipts for the returned equipment?..

Are both of the TL's reporting with the same account number?..

The equipment fee's do not seem to be adding up, I would not consider the information provided as propper debt validation unless I am missing something..

As for the service, the previous poster is correct in that they did not refund you the service. The charges for the service were "charged off" or sold to the CA..

So essentially they are showing that you no longer owe comcast for the service but rather owe this CA for the service..

Additionally, I would be asking them why it is showing that you have new charges when your account was clearly closed at this point in time. Looking just at the 08/2009 bill they justify 180.00 for the equipment and they justify 135.59 for the service; whats the 44.41 for? late fees?.

Looking at the 07/2009 bill:.

Previous Balance: 258.65.

Unpaid Balance (Due Now): 258.65.

258.65 = 258.65 [OK].

New Charges: 121.94.

Total Amount Due: 380.59.

121.94 + 258.65 = 380.59 [OK].

*Charges and Credits*.

Digital Classic (Credit for 28 Days): -11.69.

Digital Starter (Credit for 28 Days): -55.04.

Showtime (Credit for 28 Days): -16.21.

Comcast Internet (Credit for 28 Days): -41.29.

*Total Charges and Credits: -124.43*.

(-11.69)+(-55.04)+(-16.21)+(-41.29) = 11.69+55.04+16.21+41.29 x (-1) = (-124.23) [OK].

Now from here it gets screwy.

These credits show up on this bill, and we know you have a previous balance due. When you add the current charges to the previous due you get exactly whatthe bill is stating the total amount due is, but the credits on this months bill have not been applied yet..

When you apply the credits to the total ammount due you come up with:.

(-124.23)+380.59 = 256.36.

256.36 does not = the unpaid balance due now on this bill of 258.65.

Nor does it = the previous balance due on the 08/2009 bill of 135.59.

If you apply the credits instead to the balance due now:.

258.65 + (-124.23) = 134.32.

This does not = the total due amount on the 07/2009 bill of 380.59.

Nor does it = the previous balance due of the 08/2009 bill of 135.59.

If we assume the credits on this bill were already applied on the previous bill than the OP would have to had made a payment of $245.00 (380.59-135.59=245) between 07/2009 and 08/2009 which there is no record of on either bill..

There seems to be insufficient data to propperly prove the ammounts they are claiming the OP owes in my oppinion...

The supervisor at Comcast told me the 135.59 was a credit for my prior months service. Because the prior bill is dated for a time period after I had already canceled Comcast, so they were refunding me for having pre-billed me, or something like that. I let them know that I have the receipts for the equipment, but they told me that they can't do anything, since the return of the equipment isn't marked in their computer system. That's ridiculous enough as it is. I have to go into a Comcast center to show them my receipts. The 44.41 Isn't for anything in and of itself.

They credited me with 135.59, then charged me with 150 and 30. That equals out to 44.41, what they then charged me with. It's not a charge off, or if it was meant to be, they did this bill totally wrong, because they definitely credited me with 135.59 before charging me 180 for services. Bottom line is that none of the charges make sense! Don't even get me started on the fact that they are charging me for Showtime... which I've never gotten! I wish I could see what the 258.65 past due was for, because I've NEVER had a bill that high for one month and I've NEVER been late on a bill at all.

The TLs are showing up on EX as almost consecutive numbers xxxxxx05 and xxxxxx08..

I'm confused beyond belief...

It is clearly marked as a charge off and yes it does show as a credit because it has to and here is why..

Comcast charges you 135.59 for services, you don't pay it for whatever the reason (not saying you should have - hence the w/e the reason part).

So they charge it off (as your bill shows by your own delaration see below cut and paste).

"Charge Off Account (Principals): -135.59".

Now according to the computer you still owe 135.59 - hmmmmm, how do we remove that since we sold the debt.....

Supervisor: "credit the $135.59 with the notation charge off account".

Now there billing cycle still claims you owe a 44.41 for God knows what (cause we certainly don't, and prolly Comcast either).

I am not saying it makes any sense - but it is a charge off.

As for what the supervisor says, well I still have a couple marks on my CR because two entities told my PoA not to worry about it it has to be a mistake .... than reported it to a CA or CRA.

This post has been edited by.

Tryn2getup.

: 07 January 2010 - 12:03 AM..

You're not understanding....

They credited me with 135.59. They DID NOT charge off my account at that point. They did not charge it off, because they then charged me with 150 and 30 for equipment (again, returned equipment). The 44.41 is for NOTHING in and of itself. It's for the owed remainder after the credits and the charges afterward..

-135.59 (supposed credit).

+150.00 (equipment).

+30.00 (equipment).

=44.41 (gobbledegook).

Again, I spoke to Comcast, and they told me it was a credit, not a charge off, because I was worried about that going on my credit. They told me it was a credit for the previous services they had charged me for incorrectly (i.e., billing me after the date I told them to cancel). I obviously don't believe much that comes out of their mouths though. But it makes zero sense to me that this was meant to be a "charge off" since they then charged me with more... and had it end up coming out as 44.41 rather than 180.00..

Regardless of charge off/credit/insane Comcast billing practices, I need serious help as to what direction I should take now. Again any help is greatly appreciated...

I do understand what you are saying, and I know it does not make sense.....

But your bill says differently than what the rep and what you are saying..

Your bill clearly states:.

"Charge Off Account (Principals): -135.59".

Charge off is defined as:.

"When a debt is considered uncollectible and is removed from active accounts, and when the balance due is removed from the record of the creditor€™s assets. Payment may be demanded in full or negotiated to a lesser amount, or the account may be sold to a collections agency.".

As Cited:.

Http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&saf...e%3A+charge+off.

The same ammount has been turned over to a collection agency - i.e. your debt has been charged off.

The 44.41 could be an eronious charge, late fees or other charges that are not part of principal of the debt and for w/e reason not being turned over etc....

If anyone else has any other explanation please do chime in.

______________________________________________________________________.

As for the direction on what to do.....

1.) You can request that comcast investigate the situation under the rights furnished to you by the FCRA ( 623 Responsibilities of furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies). In this request you can provide copies of your receipts showing that you had returned the equipment and request that the account be withdrawn from the CA..

- if after the investigation they find you did not owe anything at all they will probably withdrawl the account from the CA in my oppinion. If they did not, I am sure they could get in trouble for selling a debt that did not really exist..

- if you owed money for the service and not the equipment they are likely to leave the service portion with the collection agency..

- if you owe money for both this will accomplish nothing..

2.) you could dispute the account with the CRA and provide a copy of your receipts for the equipment in the CRA dispute as proof that the equipment was turned in since the CA is reporting the service and equipment seperately this may allow you to dispute 1 without immediately tampering with the other..

- the affectiveness of this may depend greatly on the amount of information provided on your equipment receipts. Does it have your account number on it? date? Signature of person accepting equipment? Is it hand written or professional in appearance?.

I would not consider what they EAS sent you debt validation..

I am aware of what a charge off is. What you're not seeming to understand is that the 44.41 is for nothing. Whatever sort of accountant they hired needs his head examined, because the whole thing is screwy. It makes no sense for this to be a charge off because they then charge me with 150 and 30, ending up as a positive 44.41 balance. I mean, they would have cut into their own profits (if I even legitimately owed this) with their wonky math this way. It makes zippo sense.

Their records just make zero sense, so I have no idea where to begin, or who to go to..

But can anyone out there answer me the question of whether or not it is legal for a CA to split 1 account into 2 please? I would really like to know that. I would assume it would violate some very serious laws, basically opening another account in someone's name without their authorization, effectively making their credit look twice as bad..

Sorry if I seem frazzled but this/these are my only baddies... beside a 30 days past due on a Discover credit card from several years ago. I just don't know how they can get away with this crap!!..

It does not have to make sense.

It does not have to add up.

It does not even have to be accurate or in the OC's favor.

A lot of time companies make flase claims that so and so owes money because they are greedy, stupid, ignorant, or plaine screwed up..

As for the claim not even adding up in the OC's favor - mistakes are made to get the company money, some are simply made due to incompetence..

The simple fact of the matter is that not all of these claims are true or accurate and sometimes it's just a mistake. Thats why the FDCPA, FCRA, and other Acts, laws, rules and regulations exist to protect consumers..

________________________________________________________________________________.

______________.

I am pretty sure that it is not a violation of any rule or regulation to split the accounts as you said considering the following".

1.) your account was closed before you were charged for the equipment, hence the final bill not being the last bill..

2.) one account contains payment due for a physical item while the other contains payment due for serviices rendered.

3.) There is insufficient data to prove that comcast does not log these seperately as subaccounts to your primary account number..

OK silly question... did you do that? It seems like if you have documentation of the return, and Comcast is the OC, you have little to lose by going straight to them with the receipt and saying WTH? If you fix it with the OC, the CA will fall easily. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding...

I'm not sure I would jump to the conclusion that the account has been sold. 1) it's fresh paper and 2) most utility companies hold the paper for at least twelve to eighteen months before selling it off..

As to the billing issues, I have to wonder whether OP has a receipt that should have been given at the time of the equipment return. I know that TimeWarner issues a receipt that includes the serial number of each item returned and the date that it was returned (and to which of their locations). [At one time, I had three or four of their boxes and got rid of some of them] I also know that the S/N (at least with TWC) is listed on the install paperwork (or any exchange if equipment is changed out during a service call) and so steps should have been taken to ensure that they matched up....

As to the FINAL BILL language, that is usually what appears on the first statement after service has been terminated and various credits have been applied. It has been MANY years since I completely terminated a service with a cable provider, but I seem to recall that the last one I had NOT named Time Warner allowed a set number of days after the call to DC service to get the equipment returned to them. I would imagine most carriers are the same way since the signal itself can be canceled rendering the equipment useless thirty seconds after the call to DC services....

Cable/communications billing tends to be screwy because they basically bill it in advance instead of AFTER the service has been used. As an example, my TWC bill shows the following:.

And describes as one of the services....

Taxes are then also assessed on the total amounts to arrive at a balance that (in my case) was due towards the end of January..

Given how fresh the cessation of service appears to be, I have to wonder if OP has their statements from the past year (and if not, whether they can be viewed online). If so, then it will be far easier to piece this together and resolve by using those copies and looking at the macro picture instead of a micro image presented by only one or two statements..

This post has been edited by.

Centex.

: 07 January 2010 - 01:00 PM..

OP has twice stated they are in possession of those receipts. That's what is confusing me most of all. Why attack one CA (which might be replaced by another) when you can just take proof of return straight to Comcast? That is the big bulk of the amount claiming owed...

Another issue not covered by the billing information shown here are the various regulatory fees and taxes. And if there were any late fees assessed, then that is likely another five to ten bucks by the cable provider..

I would focus on Comcrap moreso than the third-party. First, Comcrap still owns the paper and second, THEY are the ones with the executive staff to whom OP NEEDS to be communicating with, either in person or by phone (and I am not talking about the 800-dial-a-CSR). Every utility or communications provider has a public affairs liaison. You should have seen how quickly I had a phone call back the time I hand-carried to TWC's office in Austin a copy of my PUC complaint that requested an expedited hearing..

The equipment issue is one that is ONLY going to be resolved by going in and providing a copy of the receipt in some manner...executive offices will likely accept a fax copy since it SHOULD be legible..

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE PHONE! At least not if you want this resolved QUICKLY!..