Consumer complaint received 2023-04-22
Company: Penn Credit Corporation
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
I am seeking assistance regarding an unfair debt collection process where I believe the collector, Penn Credit Corporation, is upon information and belief not abiding by the rules of the FDCPA. 

I was initially contacted by mail by Penn Credit Corporation about an alleged debt on XX/XX/2023. When I reviewed the letter, I was confused about various facets about the alleged debt, mainly the amount of the debt being alleged and whether or not it is actually a valid debt, and if owed specifically by me. 

Therefore, upon receipt of their letter, I at my earliest convenience sent the attached letter ( attachment entitled " PCC Response 1 '' ) requesting additional information using guidance as provided by the CFPB and concurrently asking them to treat the debt as under dispute while further information is being provided. This response letter was sent by me via certified mail on XX/XX/2023. 

Penn Credit Corporation responded over a full month later by sending me two pieces of mail, received by me on XX/XX/2023. One letter was accusing me of not responding of attempting to evade a what they called a " just debt '' without further explanation, and the other actually acknowledged that Penn Credit Corporation had in fact received the response letter I sent on XX/XX/2023, and that they had completed verification of the alleged debt but declined to elaborate further nor answer any questions that I had sent to understand the nature, amount, relevant dates, and other fundamental information about the debt they are seeking to collect from me. Importantly, the first of these two letters, which also includes a Request for Payment, flagrantly and unfairly misrepresents that I did not attempt to contact Penn Credit Corporation ( I in fact did, by certified mail, and this outreach is attached ). These two response letters from Penn Credit Corporation ( separate pieces of mail ) were received by me on XX/XX/2023. Copies of these two separate letters are attached as the files titled " From PCC 2 '' and " From PCC 3 ''. For the avoidance of doubt, no further correspondence or information has been sent to me by Penn Credit Corporation despite my good faith requests for further information sent over a month ago.

This brings us to today and the reason why I am seeking assistance and clarification from the CFPB. In response to these two simultaneous and seemingly contradictory letters from Penn Credit Corporation, I sent a follow-up letter again ( today, XX/XX/2023 ) asking for information and re-enclosing those same questions as seen in the original attachment " PCC Response 1 ''. However, in under a day from my receipt of these last unhelpful letters from Penn Credit Corporation, I was notified by a credit monitoring service I use, XXXX XXXX, that Penn Credit Corporation had unilaterally filed a collection account against me through XXXX. This credit alert notification also was received on XX/XX/2023. 

I am seeking your assistance because Penn Credit Corporation has improperly inflicted irreparable damage to my credit score while ignoring my rightful requests for information ( specifically, information of the type that the CFPB 's website recommends one should seek when contacted by debt collectors ). I am also seeking the CFPB 's assistance in also reversing/removing the collection account black mark placed on my personal credit report by Penn Credit Corporation . Lastly, I would also like to offer to put forward whatever info is needed to have Penn Credit Corporation 's debt collection licenses revoked/marked ( should they exist in the first place as Penn Credit Corporation did not respond to my requests that they verify the relevant license info, as clearly requested in the attached letter I sent on XX/XX/2023 ) -- to prevent similar irresponsible behavior from also impacting other American consumers in the future. 

And if you can assist and help clarify for me, I would also like to understand from the CFPB whether or not it is normal course or at all permissible for ( purportedly ) licensed debt collectors to unilaterally place collections accounts on an individual 's credit report while the debt is under dispute, as Penn Credit Corporation has done in the past few days in my case. For the avoidance of doubt again, I did notify Penn Credit Corporation that the alleged debt should be treated as under dispute, and I still consider it to be under dispute at this time.

Thank you sincerely for your help.

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