Is there a way to get out of paying money that you owe to a company if the company does not appear to be legit

Question

The company is InPhonic and they are telling me I broke a contract with them I didn't know I had. I looked them up on the Better Business Bureau and their registration with the BBB was revoked a year ago due to a large number of unanswered complaints. There are over 3,000 complaints with this company in the past 36 months. Is there anything I can do to get out of paying this? I have a good credit score and they are already threatening to report it.

All your answers have been very helpful so far...I will update when I get a chance to do all this filing...

Answer 1

Politely ask them to send you a copy of the contract, so that you may see it. There is a possibility that they bought a contract from another company, and you do owe the money. If they refuse, or you find that there is no contract, try contacting the three major credit reporting companies, and tell them what is happening. Then if InPhonic reports a problem, they'll have your side of the story first.

Answer 2

It really depends on the merits of your individual case. It sounds like the company is a poor one but most collection agencies have lots of complaints too. I would contact them and reference that you have checked with the BBB and that you are going to contact the state regulatory agency to lodge a complaint against them regarding their business practices. The FTC is also a good place to go. Also always dispute the debt with them and you can even place information in your credit file if they report negative information and the credit bureu will investigate the matter.

Answer 3

By law, dont they have to show you any contract that you have with them? Tell them you want a detailed statement from them with dates..make copies of any correspondense w/them and if they do report it to the credit agencies you can have it all placed in there as a rebuttal..I'd include the BBB reports also...more and more companies are doing this nowadays...also, maybe you should look into whether or not someone opened an account w/them in your name...Sorry I couldnt help more...Good luck

Answer 4

Contact both the FCC and your local Attorney General to file complaints, go to the following site to include your complaint among the other thousands and which hopefully will result in a good strong Class Action against them : http://www.mobiletracker.net/archives/2006/06/09/inphonic-rebate
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/consumerism/rebate_madness04.html Send off a letter to the "company" term used very loosely, that follows the format of the sample letter here.

Also place your complaint, in writing with the BBB in your area.

Further be very wary of an affiliate of this Inphonics company, VMC Satellite which from all indications is acting as a "Parent" company and treating its satellite subscribers identically to Inphonics practices and wheresmyorder.com as sited on the Attorney Generals site of California in a complaint against them: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff161603.htm , http://www.my3cents.com/companyReview.cgi?compid=299&subcat=10

A company called Fonecentral was in operation in 2004-2005...who wants to bet this is one in the same! http://public.findlaw.com/mboards/webx.html?[e-mail]4rthj%5E0@.ef26e02 Dozens of complaints with exactly the same scenario taking place as Inphonics customers now.

Check this site (if you've not yet done so) http://inphonic.rebatestatus.com/contactus.aspx It is supposedly to allow Inphonics clients to check status of their rebates and to see if they are in the processing cue. Also, go to this site: http://www.fatwallet.com/t/54/526061 and place your story there...some people here have claimed that once their story hit this site...there was action (although how successful this is for everyone who uses this method is hard to say).

The information at this site: http://classactiondefense.jmbm.com/40court_decisions/ will be of interest, a Class Action Suit against Inphonics has been filed and a ruling made as of November 22,2006 to centralize the hearing to the District of Columbia ... there are 4 putative lawsuits as well as several "tag-along suits" which will be placing discovery on the rebates issue and it's almost impossible lengthy requirements for obtaining. Perhaps this process won't take very long (you can only hope) but it is in the courts now and must be acted upon or tossed out...doubt the latter will occur however.

Should you be threatened with collection...determine who it is that is doing it. Inphonics? AT&T or Cingular? etc. If Inphonics...simply indicate that you are still awaiting the supposed rebate, as are many thousands of people according to your research and that you wish to await the ruling of the Class action lawsuit against them regarding this exact situation. Until this ruling is brought down, you trust they will not be foolish enough to pursue any credit reporting against you as any such attempt will be met with legal action of your own against them. Further, should they continue to contact you about this matter, harrass or threaten in any way, you will contact your legal representative who will be instructed to deal with this harrassment under his best judgement. Any incorrect, erroneous or falsified information that is placed on your credit report due to any negligence on the part of Inphonics or it's staff, shall be further cited within all legal proceedings that such falsified credit damage creates. Then proceed to take down names and titles/positions of the people you speak with, the dates you spoke to them and what you were told.

(They don't need to know you don't have a lawyer, aren't planning on involving your lawyer or whatever...it's all in how you talk the legal-eze) and if they grow even a thin slice of brain, they'll not proceed with anything against any client until they've got their act together and the Legal ruling has been finalized.

All the best with this...taking on giants or those who think they are...can suck but you will all win, although you may not ever see your rebate...this company will die...the next time it resurfaces tho...hopefully no one will be interested. :) and consumers will be even better at protecting themselves.

Take care and good luck.