The CMI Group, Inc. Debt Collection Complaint

The CMI Group, Inc. Debt collection department,

Other (phone, health club, etc.) Disclosure verification of debt Not given enough info to verify debt California

I received a bill from - - - company - 2015, - months after I terminated service in - 2015. I wrote back multiple requests asking for a detailed summary of charges since at the time of termination I was told by the rep, I was owed a credit since I was billed a month in advance per their billing cycle. Surprised when I received a bill but no explanation of charges. Mailed multiple requests asking a detailed summary of charges. Never received anything. Next thing I know, I receive a letter from a collections agency on behalf of - -. I called them finally to try to get to the bottom of the situation. Was told they received my requests for a detailed summary of charges and had mailed one out but I never received it. I then asked what the charges were for and the collection agency said for close out fees. Please note I was not on any type of contract with - - but on a month to month basis. I also informed the rep over the 5 years I was a - - customer, I never was notified of any close out fees on a month to month service basis. The rep then put me on hold and transferred me to a manager. The manager was rude, cut me off multiple times and said they will be reporting me to the credit bureau. How is this fair and is this not against the law? A consumer is asked to pay a debt blindly with no explanation of charges whatsoever, no response to multiple requests of a summary of charges and then told the fees are for close out service fees that I was never made aware of? Is this illegal? How is a consumer to protect themselves and their credit against companies like this? What can be done here to protect me, the consumer?