Consumer complaint received 2022-12-04
Company: Atlanticus Services Corporation
State: PA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Sub-issue: Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement

Complaint:
Back on XX/XX/XXXX my car was broken into and my Phone, Bookbag and wallet stolen during a family event from a hotel parking lot. I reported it and got a temporary police report. I had to replace my license and closed the cards I knew were in there. XXXX weeks later I get statements from 2 cards Ive had over a year but never used. I immediately contacted both companies both cards were used on the same thing a XXXX XXXX. XXXX performed their investigation and determined they were fraudulent, Aspire is saying they were verified by the company XXXX. 

The request was put in by phone and email on XX/XX/XXXX, I never received a response until I filed a XXXX  complaint, in XXXX they send a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX and another dated XX/XX/XXXX. They had already started reporting my account as past due even during my dispute. After I received the XXXX  response, I mailed them out a packet of documentation which proves they were not my transactions, ( which I am enclosing ) asking to reopen the dispute and send me the documents they used from XXXX XXXX to deny my dispute. 

During this time I Also contacted XXXX on social media to see if they can just reverse the charges, they did verify that I do not have an account with them. I also filed a XXXX  complaint against them as well to get someone higher in their offices to respond and at that time the manager also verified my card could have been added to someone elses account and used, as he can see I do not have an account with their company. 

This company has ruined my credit XXXX points lost, which Ive tried very hard to improve and maintain due to me recently XXXX a XXXX and needing to back everything personally until I build a XXXX & XXXX score. The transactions were cash advances through an App into a bank account, at the time of the transactions I had over {$40000.00} in my checking account. I would not have needed to take a cash advance from a credit card I never used with an XXXX of XXXX  % through a company that charges I think I read its 7 % to send the transaction, Nor XXXX  my credit score for a {$25.00} minimum payment, now its a charge-off and sold account. Despite me sending them 3 more requests, one in XXXX XXXX mail with tracking and one in XXXX sent certified. They have not responded at all to any of these requests or inquiries. 

So in XXXX I disputed the account with all 3 credit bureaus by mail and online miraculously they verified the information as correct within 1 day Despite me sending them all the documentation I sent aspire as well. Yet Aspire hasnt responded back to me in months, still has not sent me the documents I asked for of how they verified their investigation and sold it to a collection agency. I do not know where to go from here. I need this fixed and its not right that Ive had 2 older cards closed due to this showing on my report and limits on another lowered because I now look like a risk even though every legitimate card is paid 100 % on time and paid down more than minimum each month, most even carry a {$0.00} balance. 

I tried reopening the disputes with the CRAs but its getting nowhere, they say to send in new documentation and even though theres over 40 pages nothing is changing. Since this incident we found out who took my bookbag and charges have been pressed by the state as they also signed and cashed 2 of my personal checks so they have XXXX XXXX XXXX  against them, XXXX for the checks and XXXX for the credit cards, sadly it was my ex-wife and her new boyfriend, neither have ever been on my accounts, she was the reason for my XXXX bankruptcy. ( we have been divorced since XXXX and I have had an incident with him in XXXX when he tried to XXXX  me with his XXXX  as well ). 

Since its abundantly clear by all my documentation that I did not make these charges, nor were either of them authorized to use my cards I shouldnt be the one suffering for this due to a Bank that either does not know how to investigate a dispute properly nor read consumer mail sent to them. If I am reading the laws about disputes properly, they have violated several things : It took over 6 weeks and a XXXX  complaint to even acknowledge my initial dispute not 30 days They have not given me the documentation I requested related to the transactions They have not followed up with me after I sent in additional supporting documentation The reported my account as delinquent despite being at a {$0.00} Balance prior to these charges This seems like a common occurrence with this company over XXXX XXXX  complaints for the same or similar things within the last year. Im sure there would be more if they were listed as Aspire and not the XXXX XXXX XXXX 
"

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation