They moved to another state after a Verizon Wireless bill collector threatened to blow up their house, a couple who formerly lived in New Mexico has said.

ABC News reported on Thursday that Al Burrows, 45, formerly of Las Cruces, said a second bill collector threatened him after a first collector had already given him 90 days to pay a $308 bill.

ABC News also said that Burrows has filed a lawsuit against Verizon in a New Mexico court.

Adding the company declines to comment on pending litigation, a Verizon Wireless spokesman said, "I can say the alleged behavior is inappropriate and we take such allegations very seriously."

The alleged threat distressed him and his wife, forcing him to change his door locks and then move to another state, Burrows further said.

It was also reported that Burrows said when he first called Verizon to complain, a customer service representative allegedly accused him of fabricating the story. He said Verizon has not yet apologized.

ABC News further said that the lawsuit, if it proceeds, would force Verizon Wireless to defend itself against the type of accusations sometimes made against third-party debt collectors. (With Inputs from Agencies)