Dispute a repair charge and signature sent to collections in WA

Question

An air conditioning repair company in Washington attempted to troubleshoot my AC without success. The technician assured me there would be no charge since no diagnosis or repair was made, but three months later, I received an invoice for the incomplete service. Despite leaving a voicemail disputing the charge, I never received a callback. Now, two years later, the invoice has been sent to collections, and the agency has contacted me 14 times. Additionally, the work invoice contains a signature supposedly accepting the charges, which is not mine. I sent a detailed email disputing the validity of this invoice to the collections agency but worried about the lack of resolution.

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

This situation is incredibly frustrating, especially when you were told there would be no charge and now face aggressive collection attempts over something you didn’t agree to. In Washington, you have the right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to dispute a debt that you believe is inaccurate or unauthorized. Since the signature on the invoice isn’t yours and you were never informed of a charge, that raises serious concerns about the validity of the debt. 
 
You've done the right thing by sending a detailed email to the collections agency disputing the charge. Keep a copy of that message and any evidence showing you didn’t authorize the work or sign the invoice. You should also request written verification of the debt from the collection agency, which they are legally required to provide. Include in your written dispute that the signature is not yours and demand that all collection activity stop until they prove the debt is valid. 
 
If they continue to contact you excessively or refuse to provide verification, you can file a complaint with the Washington State Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Federal Trade Commission. You might also consider sending a formal cease-and-desist letter to the collection agency. You have the right to fight back when you’re being pursued for something you never agreed to, especially when false documentation is involved.

Q: Dispute a repair charge and signature sent to collections in WA