Consumer complaint received 2022-04-04
Company: SUNRISE CREDIT SERVICES, INC
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I would like to submit a complaint regarding the debt collection practices of Sunrise Credit Services , Inc . The timeline is as follows : XX/XX/XXXX - I discovered a debt collection on my credit report. 
XX/XX/XXXX - I initiated a phone call to the debt collector listed on my credit report, Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. During this phone call, the following information was exchanged : Sunrise identified the debt amount of {$630.00} to XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX for a mobile phone, tablet, hotspot, or wireless service. 
Sunrise stated the original debt was {$390.00} for equipment that was not returned. 
Sunrise stated that the last payment on the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  account was in XX/XX/XXXX. 
o ( I will note here that our account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was on autopay. The bill in XXXX was paid through autopay. It would stand to reason that if there was a future bill, it would have been paid through autopay. ) Sunrise stated that the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  account was listed closed as of XX/XX/XXXX. 
I informed Sunrise that we moved to XXXX XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX, and at that time ( XX/XX/XXXX ) we changed our mobile service from XXXX XXXX XXXX to XXXX. At this time, our account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was closed. 
I informed Sunrise that I had no knowledge of the alleged debt and had never received any communication from either XXXX XXXX XXXX  or Sunrise. 
I informed Sunrise that when we moved to California, we set up a six-month mail forwarding from our address in Kentucky. We never received mail from either XXXX XXXX  XXXX or Sunrise. 
Sunrise verified the contact information they had for me. 
o The email was correct. Sunrise stated that they had sent an email on XX/XX/XXXX. I informed Sunrise that I checked my email while I was on the phone with them, and I had no correspondence from them at any point, including in junk or trash. 
o I corrected the mailing address. I informed Sunrise that as we were on the phone, I checked on XXXX the address Sunrise provided ; it is not an address that exists. ( The United States Postal Service states that if mail is not addressed correctly, it will be returned to sender if a return address is provided. ) Sunrise could not provide any dates on which they had mailed a letter to the nonexistent address. 
o The phone number was correct. I informed Sunrise that I had never received a phone call or voicemail from them. Sunrise stated that their phone number often appears as spam, and they are not allowed to leave a voicemail. ( I checked on the law, and debt collectors are allowed to leave a voicemail. ) Sunrise could not provide any date on which they had called. 
Sunrise stated that if I paid the collections amount, the debt collection information would be removed from my credit report. I challenged Sunrise on this, as I believed that collections stay on a credit report for at least seven years, even if it was paid. Sunrise again confirmed that the debt collection information would be removed and offered to drop the amount to {$470.00}. I stated that I would not pay the debt because I did not owe it, and I did not believe it would be removed from my credit report simply for being paid. 
Sunrise stated that to dispute the charges, I could send an email to XXXX within 15 days. 

XX/XX/XXXX A letter was emailed and mailed ( certified ) to Sunrise stating that I disputed the debt and requested information to validate the debt. 

XX/XX/XXXX I have not received any correspondence from Sunrise.

In addition to the general poor business practices of Sunrise Credit Services , Inc., I assert that the debt collector has committed the following violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1692 ) 807 False or Misleading Representations ( 10 ) The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer. 
A representative of Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. stated multiple times during a phone call on XX/XX/XXXX that if I paid the debt, the collections information would be removed from my credit report. The representative continued to state this even after this statement was challenged. 
809 Validation of Debt ( a ) ( 3 ) Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. to date has not provided a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector by phone, email, or postal mail. 
( a ) ( 4 ) Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. to date has not provided a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector by phone, email, or postal mail. A representative of Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. stated by phone on XX/XX/XXXX that I had fifteen ( 15 ) days to dispute the debt. 
( a ) ( 5 ) Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. to date has not provided a statement that, upon the consumer 's written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor by phone, email, or postal mail. The collector to date has not provided the address of the creditor by phone, email, or postal mail. 

I request that Sunrise Credit Services , Inc. have the debt collection information immediately and permanently removed from my credit report for all three ( 3 ) credit bureaus : XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. 

I intend to purchase a residential home this summer ; if my credit is not repaired in the above stated manner immediately, I will have to take further actions to get this corrected. 

Thank you so much for your time and your continued advocacy for consumers.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation