Collection Agency After Comcast

We’re through the looking glass here, people.

A Minnesota collection agency is finding itself in the awkward position of having to collect from one of its own (former) clients. And if I were a better journalist (er, “journalist”), I wouldn’t let my bias show through when I tell you how happy I am that it’s Comcast that’s got the short end of the stick on this one.

(I love how Comcast’s bills all seem to be generated by some rural Latin America market or Egyptian bazaar. You’ll start out with some quoted price that’s ridiculous, Comcast will let you think you’ve haggled them down, and then you have to call back every three months or so to renegotiate. I’m also amused at my own outrage over this — as if Bravo and HBO were protected necessities and not ridiculous luxuries though if you need to email me about Ramona’s crazy eyes or Bethenny Frankel’s alleged relateability you totally should because I have a lot to say.)

Time Warner Cable had hired Minnesota-based Lindy’s Collection Service back in 2006 to — just as it says on the tin — collect past due accounts. Time Warner soon found itself sold to Comcast who, in July of 2010, decided to pull its contract with Lindy’s. Comcast, with its history of crazy rate-setting, may have assumed that everything was negotiable and decided that it didn’t need to pay Lindy’s for the full amount of the contract. Lindy’s is now suing Comcast.

Lindy’s alleges that Comcast, as part of its contract with the collection agency, agreed to pay a $5 return fee for all accounts closed. Lindy’s believes Comcast closed 62,842 accounts when it canceled its contract. Lindy’s is also seeking $50,000 for “33 percent of all past-due payments collected.”

Comcast, of course, is saying that Lindy’s misunderstood its own contract (because of course that’s what Comcast said) and is misrepresenting the relationship in the suit. Comcast wants the suit dismissed and wants Lindy to be responsible for any attorney fees and other legal costs that Comcast may incur.

The lawsuit recently moved from Brown County District Court to federal court.