This is the letter I sent the collection agency, which explains the issue : XXXX XXXX, 2016 Credence XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX : INVALID COLLECTION CLAIMS FOR XXXX XXXX XXXX To whom it may concern : Last month, I was told I had to pay my overdue XXXX XXXX XXXX bill in order for my service, which was turned off, to be restored. I paid {$250.00}, which XXXX person told me was the amount due, but my service was not restored. When I called back, I was told that that money was used to pay for an old bill and that I still owed more money. Nobody could tell me what the {$250.00} went to, and my service was never restored. 

I did not owe anything on any " old '' bill. XXXX XXXX XXXX would not have issued me a new phone and phone number if I still owed money on an old bill. 

But it appears that my {$250.00} went to pay that non-existent old bill. I believe this is so because in XXXX, I got a bill from Credence, offering to settle a {$250.00} bill for {$100.00}. Assuming that this was an overdue notice letter for my then-current bill, I ignored it, as I 'd just paid that bill. I did n't notice whether the amount listed was the same as I 'd just paid. I just assumed any discrepancy was an error. Now, as I look at that XXXX letter, I see it has an old account number, XXXX, for an account that had long been paid in full and on which I owed nothing -- certainly not {$250.00}. 

Today, I got a new letter ( enclosed ) stating that I owe an additional {$470.00}, again, with no explanation of what this bill is for, but with my current account number, XXXX. It would be impossible for me to owe this amount, as I just paid {$250.00}, which I was led to believe was going toward the payment of my current account. Also, my phone has been turned off for a month, and I did n't owe this much previously. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX must prove that I owe the money it claims I owe. I dispute both amounts. 

I would like to resolve this amicably, but to be on the safe side, I 'm forwarding all this information to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 
