Consumer complaint received 2018-02-13
Company: Total Card, Inc.
State: DE
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
On XX/XX/, I received a COLLECTION NOTICE from Total Card , Inc. showing a balance due of {$170000.00} ( pdf attached ), which included a letter address directly to me alone. This document showed the " Current Creditor '' as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and the " Debt Description '' as XXXX XXXX. The communication also notes that satisfying this debt would put an end to " calls and letters attempting to collect on this account. '' However, I had never received any previous communication regarding any such debt - by mail or by telephone. I found this quite odd since we had made a permanent move from one state to another just over a year ago. I also found it odd that a debt in that amount would be in my name alone since I have been married for over 40 years and all large debts have been in both my name and that of my spouse. 

Before seeing the debt description, I contacted XXXX XXXX  XXXX in XXXX thinking this debt might have been associated with a medical procedure. I was informed that the hospital did not trade as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and no debt or collection notice was issued by them. It was then that I noticed the debt description and became concerned that this " Notice '' might be a scam since it showed an energy company. I remember years ago that energy companies were overtaking personal accounts without permission from the owners. To further add to my skepticism, this Notice offered a savings of {$1100.00} since " Our client has agreed to accept 9 monthly payments of {$68.00} as a full and final resolution to this account! '' These payments would total {$610.00}. It also offered a savings of {$1200.00} if I - " Set up a one-time payment of {$510.00} to resolve your account in full ... '' I contacted the telephone number shown on the Notice requesting more information about this collection. I spoke with their representative, XXXX. She proceeded to ask for personal information that should have been associated with any debt incurred and I refused to comply. She said without that information she could not provide me any details. I then told her that I would be contacting our attorney, which I did. 

The back of the Notice stated that I could send a written notice to Total Card , Inc. within 30 days of receipt to dispute the validity of the debt or any portion thereof. It also stated that " ... this office will obtain a verification of the debt or obtain a copy of a judgment and mail you a copy of such judgment or verification. '' The attorney, who also believed this could be a scam, advised that I write this letter to dispute. 

I wrote my letter ( pdf attached ) on XX/XX/ including a copy of the Notice and mailed it Certified Mail Receipt on the same day. My certified receipt shows a signature of receipt ( XXXX - last name undecipherable ) on XX/XX/. 

On XX/XX/, I received a letter ( pdf attached ) in response from Total Card, Inc. ( no salutation ), which reads : " Please be advised we represent the above client, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, who is the owner of your account referenced above. 

We are in receipt of your request regarding this account. This letter is to serve as notification that we are returning this account back to our client and there will be no further communication from Total Card , Inc. regarding this matter. '' Both this letter and the original Collection Notice were signed by XXXX XXXX Operations Manager XXXX - the instructions on the back of this letter read much the same as those on the back of the Collection Notice. 

I would like to know why Total Card, Inc. did not send me a copy of the verification of the debt or a copy of the judgment associated with this debt as they claimed they would when I requested same in writing. I want the documentation regarding this debt so that I can get this issue resolved because I know this is NOT my debt. I can not assume that this debt is no longer associated with my name and current address if I do not receive this in writing from Total Card, Inc. or XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX. I do not want this debt that I did not incur to show up again on a collection notice or worse in my future. This issue has not been resolved to my satisfaction by Total Card , Inc. or as promised by their Notice To All Customers. 

I did not sent a second letter to date regarding the original creditor vs current creditor, mainly because Total Card , Inc. did not follow through by sending a copy of the debt verification or a copy of the judgment in response to my first letter as their " Notice To All Customers '' claims they would, and I have no confidence that they would follow through to send me the name and address of the original creditor even if different from the current creditor. 

I know that this debt is not mine, but knowing it and having verification that this debt is no longer associated with my name and address are two different things. I would hope that I will not hear another word about this claimed {$170000.00} debt that somehow became associated with my name, but would like some sort of written verification from whoever initiated this collection that I am not responsible for any portion of this debt. 

I am also concerned that this may be a scam directed at the elderly, and could very well play out as a scare tactic to force others to pay the lesser amount in order to satisfy a debt they may never have incurred, but are afraid that they may have forgotten about.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation