BLUEFIELD – A Pennsylvania man is suing Frontier Communications of West Virginia after he claims it wrongfully made a delinquency report to credit agencies, which caused him distress.
Citizens Telecommunications Company of West Virginia is doing business as Frontier Communications of West Virginia.
Joshua Horne entered into a service contract with Frontier for residential internet service in August 2012 and had never held an account with the defendant prior to obtaining an account for the residential internet service, according to a complaint filed April 17 in Mercer Circuit Court and removed to federal court on May 23.
Horne claims he timely made all payments on his account from January 2013 and, despite payment by the plaintiff in January 2013, the bill from the defendant in February 2013 indicated that no payment was made in January 2013.
In March 2013, Horne received a statement from the defendant adding additional charges to his account for an account balance transfer, despite him never having had an account with the defendant previously, according to the suit.
Horne claims he attempted to resolve the billing discrepancy with the defendant over the course of the next years, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
At some point, the defendant began to report a delinquency on Horne’s account to the major credit reporting agencies and, even after he disputed the credit report by the defendant to the agencies, the defendant verified, continued and continues to report the delinquency to the major credit reporting agencies, according to the suit.
Horne claims he has experienced significant difficulties in attempting to obtain financing for the purchase of a home.
The plaintiff has suffered a loss of credit, loss of ability to purchase and benefit from credit, increased insurance rates, increased interest rates and the mental and emotional pain, anguish, humiliation and embarrassment associated therewith, according to the suit.
Horne is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by W. Blake Belcher of Brewster, Morhous, Cameron, Caruth, Moore, Kersey & Stafford.
Frontier is represented by J. David Fenwick and Elise N. McQuain of Goodwin & Goodwin.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 1:17-cv-03009
