So, I've posted this to the Lenovo forums and will follow up with them by phone on Monday, but thought I'd ask folks here for advise on how to pursue this. I have worked for years to build by credit rating back up, and am terrified of anything that could ill-affect it now. Here's the story:
On February 5th I ordered a bluetooth keyboard from Lenovo. Immediately after ordering I realized I could have purchased on Amazon for a few bucks more but had it delivered in two days instead of 2-3 weeks from Lenovo (their slow shipping is a separate story...). I called Lenovo customer support within minutes and they told me the order would be cancelled. I didn't expect a refund immediately, but assumed the issue was resolved and went ahead and order a keyboard from Amazon.
Fast forward two weeks and I get an email saying the Lenovo order has shipped. I contact them via Twitter DM and they acknowledge their mistake. They tell me to refuse shipment when it arrives so it can be returned. I live in an apartment building where packages are placed in a central location, and in any case, packages arrive while I'm at work. Refusal is impossible, and I tell them this. I ask what to do --- no response. I tell them I'm going to be disputing the charge with Amex if I don't hear back.
I hear nothing so I dispute the charge.
A month later I get an email from accounts payable at Lenovo asking why I hadn't paid for this item (clearly they don't communicate with customer support). I explain why in an email. They don't reply.
This friday I get a letter from a DEBT COLLECTION agency telling me I have 30 days to reply over this "debt." (Of course, it arrives Friday, is dated 7 days earlier... anything these firms can do to make it harder for you to meet the requirements).
I've read up and know there are ways to dispute debts like this in writing, hopefully preventing them from ending up in your credit report. But I can't believe I'm even at this point, over a $75 charge no less.
Sadly, I am willing to just pay the firm to make this go away (though I know even if I do that sometimes the problems don't go away). I CANNOT have a nick on my credit report. If this was just Lenovo bugging me I could continue trying to return the keyboard. But now that it's in the hands of a debt collection firm (I'm not sure if they are simply collecting for them or have bought the debt? That might be relevant here), it's a whole new ball game. Keep in mind this all happened in less than 2 months. I suppose let this also be a warning if you plan to deal with Lenovo for anything. I'm a longtime Thinkpad buyer but never again.
What do folks think is the best course of action here?
EDIT:
Several people have pointed out I should have taken more initiative to return the item. I am willing to concede that. I felt that Lenovo was screwing up so it was on them to offer me a way to return. Whether that was right is debatable. In any case I obviously would have pursued that much quicker if I had any idea this would result. I may have been naive. BUT, at this point my ONLY CONCERN is avoiding this affecting my credit rating. I have spent years getting it back up and can't fathom it going down 100 points again. My problem is that I don't trust Lenovo to resolve this ONCE a debt collection firm is involved. And if I just pay the firm (which I am more than happy to do) that would apparently actually ensure it DOES end up on my credit report? I could dispute the debt, but honestly I would prefer to just pay it -- but according to several posters here once a DC firm is involving disputing is my best bet? I do not want to have to take this up with each rating agency. This seems so easily solved since I'm willing to pay whomever, but that doesn't appear to be the case...
Submitted March 31, 2019 at 11:34AM by metsoh https://ift.tt/2WE3JoP
