Product: Debt collection

This complaint concerns Credence Resource Management LLC ( CRM ) and its repeated violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), and Texas defamation laws. Despite providing CRM ample time and multiple opportunities to address these issues, they have failed to correct their violations or cure the harm done. My final correspondence notified CRM of my intent to make a claim on their surety bond if they did not act to resolve these issues before formal complaints were filed. CRMs disregard for my requests has left me no choice but to seek the CFPBs assistance. 
Detailed Sequence of Violations : Unauthorized Debt Reporting Without Prior Notice XX/XX/year>. 
On XX/XX/year>, CRM reported an alleged debt on my credit report without notifying me or verifying the debt, violating FDCPA requirements for pre-reporting communication. CRM failed to provide any notice before reporting it to the credit bureaus, depriving me of the opportunity to dispute it before it damaged my credit. 
Failure to Provide Timely Debt Verification Notice ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ) Under FDCPA, a debt collector must send written notice of the debt within five days of the initial communication, detailing the amount owed, the creditor, and my right to dispute the debt. CRM failed to provide this verification notice until XX/XX/year>, which I received on XX/XX/XXXX, XXXXwell after the debt was reported. This delay prevented me from disputing the debt before it affected my credit report. 

False or Misleading Representation of an Identity Theft Claim ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ) In their correspondence, CRM falsely claimed to have received an identity theft report from me, despite no prior communication. This misrepresentation seems intended to justify their collection actions without proper debt validation, in violation of the FDCPAs prohibition on deceptive practices. 
Failure to Allow Reasonable Waiting Period Before Reporting Debt ( 12 C.F.R. 1006.30 ( a ) ) CFPB Regulation F, 12 C.F.R. 1006.30 ( a ), requires that debt collectors either communicate directly with the consumer or wait a reasonable period ( typically 14 days ) before reporting a debt. CRM breached this requirement by reporting the debt on XX/XX/XXXX without notification or a waiting period, exacerbating the harm to my credit. 
Unfair Collection Practice in Requesting an Identity Theft Affidavit ( 15 U.S.C. 1692f ) Instead of verifying the debt, CRM requested that I submit an identity theft affidavit for a debt I had no knowledge of. This practice is both unfair and unconscionable, seemingly designed to pressure me into acknowledging a debt without proper validation, which is prohibited under the FDCPA. 
Continuing Collection on Disputed Debt Without Verification ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) ) After I discovered and disputed the unverified debt on my credit report, CRM continued its collection activities without suspending action to validate the debt. The FDCPA mandates that once a debt is disputed, all collection activities must cease until verification is provided. CRMs continued pursuit without verification is a direct violation of this statute. 
Ample Time Given for Resolution I initially provided CRM with ample time to cure their violations and remove the unverified debt from my credit report. Despite clear communication and repeated notices, CRM did not take corrective action. I explicitly informed CRM that failure to act promptly would result in formal complaints, including a claim against their surety bond if these issues were not addressed within a reasonable timeframe. CRMs disregard for these requests, and their continued non-compliance, has left me no choice but to escalate this matter with the CFPB. 
Damages and Updated Demand Due to CRMs refusal to address these issues, I initially issued an invoice demanding {$12000.00} for damages related to FDCPA, FCRA, and defamation under Texas law. With the confirmation of additional violations, I have issued an updated demand of {$17000.00}, accounting for the original damages and additional confirmed violations. 


Invoice Summary : Original Demand : {$12000.00} ( Defamation, FDCPA, and FCRA Violations ) Additional Violations Confirmed ( XXXX x {$1000.00} ) : + {$5000.00} Total Due : {$17000.00} This complaint outlines CRMs repeated disregard for consumer rights under federal law and the harm their actions have caused. After allowing CRM ample time to resolve these issues, I now seek the CFPBs intervention to hold CRM accountable and prevent similar conduct in the future. Thank you for your attention to this issue.