Consumer complaint received 2021-03-17
Company: TRANSWORLD SYSTEMS INC
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
I am an identity theft victim. An identity thief used my personal information without my permission to open XXXX XXXX utility account XXXX XXXX XXXX - XXXX in XXXX, Texas ( please see Discount XXXX Invoice # XXXX on page 3 of the attached XXXX XXXX Police Department Identity Theft Police Report ). 
Though I have requested it several times, both verbally and in writing, Transworld Systems , Inc. ( TSI, a debt collection agency XXXX has so far neglected to respond to me and to provide me with the records I requested of them relating to an identity-theft-related fraud that was committed in my name. This conduct by TSI is in violation of both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and my consumer 's rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I request the CFPB to please contact Transworld Systems , Inc. on my behalf and have TSI perform the actions, and provide me with the records, I am entitled to by law and that I have so far requested of TSI numerous times, both verbally and in writing, to no avail. 

Chronologically : On XX/XX/XXXX, Transworld Systems , Inc. called me at my home phone number to collect a {$390.00} bill from XXXX XXXX ( a Texas utility company ) alleging that I had incurred this debt while living in XXXX, TX in XX/XX/XXXX. I explained that I have never resided in Texas or even ever been to Texas. I asked, during that call, and on two additional subsequent calls I made to TSI, that TSI please provide me with a validation notice, so that I could use the information provided by it to file a proper police report about this identity-theft-related fraud, and to also be provided with a TSI address where to send my communications and documents required to prove my identity and the identity theft. The TSI representatives I spoke to assured me they would mail me the requested validation notice. However, they never did. 

As stated at the Office of the Attorney General 's website ( https : //oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/debt-collectors ), the law pertinent to this aspect of debt collection is : " Within five days after a debt collector first contacts you, it must send you a written notice, called a " validation notice, '' that tells you ( 1 ) the amount it thinks you owe, ( 2 ) the name of the creditor, and ( 3 ) how to dispute the debt in writing. '' However, TSI, to this day, has never sent me a validation notice. It should be noted that TSI has placed this fraudulent debt as an overdue collection item on my credit reports at various credit reporting agencies, thus ruining my credit, but so far TSI has never sent me anything at all in written form, and this is not only unethical but also against the law. 

As a result of this conduct by TSI, I have experienced a very great deal of anxiety ( this is my first time being a victim of identity theft ) and several sleepless nights. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint against TSI for withholding information needed to properly report this case of ID theft and fraud to law enforcement ( BBB Complaint ID XXXX ). 

On XX/XX/XXXX, the XXXX XXXXnformed me that TSI had provided XXXX  with a copy of the fraudulent bill and with a TSI address where to send my communications to, which were in turn provided to me by the XXXX analyst handling my complaint, so that I could finally file a proper identity theft police report. However, it is to be noted that TSI never responded to me directly or to my complaint at the BBB website, but has so far elected to communicate privately with the BBB analyst handling my complaint. To this day, I have not received a single word in writing that was addressed to me from TSI, despite my numerous requests. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX, the defrauded Texas company, contacted me over the phone and informed me they are dismissing all charges against me, acknowledging this debt a result of identity-theft-related fraud. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a certified-mail letter to TSI at the address TSI had provided to the XXXX  analyst. According to XXXX tracking information, my letter was received by TSI on XX/XX/XXXX. However, I have so far not received a response to it. In that letter I stated once more that I am a victim of identity theft and provided TSI with copies of : my Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Report # XXXX, my California driver 's license as proof of identity and the invoice pertinent to the fraudulent utility account. In that letter, I requested TSI, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, to immediately stop all collection activities about this debt, including reports to credit reporting agencies, and to also inform the business where the account was opened that this debt is the result of identity theft. 

In that letter, I also enclosed a copy of the Federal Trade Commission 's Notice to Furnishers of Information and stated that this document explains TSI 's responsibilities under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), and that the FCRA requires that debt collectors give an identity theft victim documents related to an account if the victim asks. I requested TSI to please send me copies of all records relating to the fraudulent account, including : - Account applications made on paper, online, or by telephone - Account statements or invoices - Records of payment or charge slips - Delivery addresses associated with the account - Records of phone numbers used to activate or access the account - Signatures on applications and accounts - Investigators reports I also asked TSI to please send me a letter explaining what TSI has done to : - Inform the business where the account was opened that the debt is the result of identity theft - Stop collection activities against me - Stop reporting information about the debt to credit reporting agencies - If you've already reported the debt to credit reporting agencies, notify them that the debt is the result of identity theft - Provide me with the records I request This letter, which is a standard letter that was provided to me by the Federal Trade Commission as a step to be taken in their Identity Theft Recovery plan, just like my other numerous attempts to communicate with TSI, was never responded to.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation