Consumer complaint received 2023-06-12
Company: Penn Credit Corporation
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
My name is XXXX XXXX, and on XX/XX/XXXX, at approximately XXXX XXXX, I was contacted by a XXXX XXXX from Penn Credit company at my personal cell phone number of XXXX. She asked for me by name, and I stated yes, she then asked me " for security purposes " to verify my address in " XXXXXXXX XXXX ". I asked at that point if she were from a collection agency- she responded yes.. I asked the name of the company- she responded Penn Credit- and when I asked for a good call back number, she said the one on your screen and promptly hung up. 
I then called back to that number and spoke to a XXXX XXXX - she properly identified herself, along with her company - and I also identified myself by name, and last 4 of SSN, she properly gave me the XXXX XXXX, and disclosed the debt was from XXXX XXXX XXXX for a total of {XXXX}. 
I explained to XXXX that not only was the previous representative rude and unprofessional by hanging up on me abruptly, she violated the law by providing me Personal Identifiable Information ( PII ) by providing me a portion of my address without fully identifying me. 
PII is defined as : information : ( i ) that directly identifies an individual ( e.g., name, **address**, social security number or other identifying number or code, telephone number, email address, etc. ) or ( ii ) by which an agency intends to identify specific individuals in conjunction with other data elements. 

Address INCLUDES my City and State. There are multiple cases in the courts at present regarding this issue and collection agencies. 

I explained to XXXX that this was a clear violation of my rights as a consumer. Her response was that their compliance department had cleared them to say that. My response was just because a department within the company she works for SAYS its okay, does not make it legally okay. Texas is very restrictive on these issues, and the attorney general has made it clear to agencies to tread within the boundries of the law. 

I also advised XXXX that this is a disputed debt, and has been disputed with XXXX XXXX XXXX in person at the XXXX, Texas location repeatedly. The fact that XXXX XXXX XXXX sent a disputed account out for collection will be submitted as well. 

As someone who managed one of the largest collection agencies for over 30 years, these violations and issues shook me to the core. You can not cavalierly break laws and act unprofessionally just because " { your } compliance office " says its okay.

Hanging up on an initial contact and being unprofessional is almost unforgivable in todays regualtion F envirionment I would think.

In closing, Penn Credit violated my rights as a consumer on two fronts. 
1 ) Rude and Unprofessional behavior by representative XXXX XXXX by hanging up on me after asking for a call back number, 2 ) Voilation of my rights as a consumer by XXXX XXXX by illegally giving out a portion of my address ( PII ) without properly identifying me. 

I will comment their representative XXXX XXXX for following all protocols. 

I will accept, as a settlement of these violations the sum of XXXX along with an apology letter signed by both XXXX XXXX and her direct supervisor. 

The FDCPA allows for XXXX per violation, so I am not seeking the full amount due to me, or the costs of attorneys fees on both sides. 

I can be contacted by management at Penn Credit at XXXX, or by email at XXXX Thank you

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation