Consumer complaint received 2023-02-22
Company: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
I have been dealing with identity theft and its repercussions for over 8 years now at least. I first noticed this account with the original creditor prior to XXXX. I tried contacting them, however, they would not speak with me because I couldn't verify the security questions they were asking. I asked them to close the account as fraud, to which they still said they couldn't speak with me because I couldn't be verified. This account was soon after removed from my credit report, so I assumed it was canceled. 
Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX, I received a citation for a lawsuit for another fraudulent debt, which got me to start checking my credit report. I noticed XXXX as one of the negative accounts. I contacted them via phone and certified mail ( XX/XX/XXXX ), to which they told me the debt was sold to XXXX XXXX and gave me their contact information. I had asked XXXX for verification of debt via the letter, but they said it was sold to XXXX XXXX XXXX 
I filed an identity theft report with the FTC in XX/XX/XXXX, listing this account as well as others that were still appearing on my credit report. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent two letters in the same envelope via certified mail to XXXX XXXX. The first letter was asking for full validation/verification of the debt as well as notifying them of the dispute due to identity theft. The second letter in the envelope was for a cease and desist after they sent the validation/verification. I also included the identity theft affidavit from the FTC, as well as a police report from XXXX when I had another identity theft incident in regards to false unemployment claims filed under my name. I never heard anything, nor received a validation/verification from XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX I did, however, receive the signed return receipt showing that XXXX did receive the letters. 
In late XX/XX/XXXX, I received a citation of lawsuit from XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. in XXXX, TX at my po box . I responded to this within the required timeframe in early XX/XX/XXXX with the lawsuit answer, along with the identity theft report from the FTC. Copies certified from the court were sent to XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. via certified mail. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I called to the original creditor to gain more information. They again referred me to XXXX XXXX. I called XXXX XXXX to ask why I never received the debt validation/verification as requested from the letter send on XX/XX/XXXX. They confirmed receipt and said they forwarded everything to another organization named XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX and I would need to ask them why it was not sent. XXXX gave me the number to XXXX XXXX, which I called. I asked the same thing of XXXX XXXX, to which they said that anything would have been sent to the local attorney handling the case, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. and gave me their number. I contacted XXXX & XXXX, XXXX, and from what little they would tell me, it does not appear that the letters were ever sent down to them. They have asked me to re-send everything to them via email so they can start an identity theft packet. They also kept asking for a Police report. In the past when I called XXXX Police to ask how to proceed with the credit card identity theft, they advised that the FTC report trumps any report they would be able to take since the FTC is the federal level official agency to report the issue to. 
My issue is that XXXX never fulfilled the requirement to sent a full validation/verification of the debt and pass the issue onto others, who then say they never received it. In the midst of all of this, I have been on different medications from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and attempts due to the identity theft and different bill collectors saying they are coming for my house and my property. Under the advice of the Texas DMV, I replaced my driver license in XX/XX/XXXX after I found out that my license, social security number, phone number, email address, and other identifying information was found on the Dark Web. Due to multiple data breaches over the years, Ive had to set up credit bureau blocks with XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. Ive had to set up active credit monitoring with those three companies. Ive had to file identity theft reports with the State of Texas and the IRS. My life has been difficult and Im trying to find an end.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief