CHARLESTON — A Charleston man says Credence Resource Management engaged in illegal debt collection activities.
George Hampton claims he incurred a debt at AT&T when he purchased a cellphone and he was led to believe he would receive a free phone if he signed a new contract with AT&T, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Hampton claims he ended up canceling the transaction with AT&T that very same day and received a full refund for the transaction and confirmed on multiple occasions the debt no longer existed
The defendant later notified Hampton it had purchased this false debt stemming from the canceled AT&T transaction and demanded payment of the $514.18 false debt, according to the suit.
Hampton claims he contacted the defendant on multiple occasions to inform it the alleged debt was false, but the defendant made no attempt to verify the veracity of the alleged debt in question and sent letters demanding payment, as well as reporting the false debt to credit reporting agencies.
The defendant's conduct has caused Hampton damages.
Hampton claims the defendant attempted to collect a debt, despite him not owing anything and the defendant having no right or empowerment to collect money from the plaintiff.
Hampton claims the defendant's actions violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Hampton is seeking compensatory damages. He is represented by Troy N. Giatras and Matthew Stonestreet of the Giatras Law Firm in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 23-C-945