Consumer complaint received 2019-07-13
Company: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
This is the history of what happened with Capital One, how they completely mislead me into thinking they were helping me to remove fraudulent accounts from my credit reports and in stead of helping me they deceived me completely and they are still trying to collect even though they know the debts do not belong to me. It started this XX/XX/XXXX when I obtained a free annual credit report for XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. Much to my chagrin I saw accounts that I do not own, name variations, social security number variations and many other items that I quickly disputed over a month ago through the proper channels via US certified mail. I have my receipts. Among the disputed items was the company XXXX XXXX XXXX, address XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, SC XXXX, phone number XXXX, account number ending in XXXX. This was listed on all of my credit reports showing a false debt in the amount of {$810.00}, with an alleged or supposed date of first delinquency on XX/XX/XXXX. This was and is horrifying to me because I am not their customer nor am I a customer of any affiliates. XXXX XXXX never mailed me, never emailed me and never called me about any account or accounts with them or any other creditor. Their fraudulent information just appeared on my credit reports.

They did not comply with me or with the credit bureaus within 30 days to validate the debt. Since they did not respond to my dispute I called them to inquire and possibly dispute by phone. They said it was a Capital One account that was delinquent since XX/XX/XXXX and asked would I be scheduling a payment. XX/XX/XXXX is beyond the statue of limitations. I explained that the account did not belong to me and that I needed to speak with Capital One to find out what was going on. When I asked for the name and badge number of the XXXX rep I was speaking with she changed her story and gave a different account number XXXX, different dates and false addresses and insisted that I give her my mailing address and social security number. That was alarming so I ended the conversation with XXXX  and called Capital One and asked them if I had or have an account in my name. They said if I did it could be found a few different ways and when none of the options turned up an account in my name they asked me to verify my social. I was hesitant, but I was under pressure to get this resolved with XXXX. When I gave Capital One my social they discovered 2 accounts for me, which added to my anxiety. They asked if I had any idea who would do something like this and I could not hold it in anymore. I broke down crying on the phone and shared some of the worst things I have ever experienced in my life with a stranger. The Capital One Rep said she was sorry to cause me to relive the trauma, but that she was working to have both accounts removed from all four credit bureaus and needed a good mailing address and phone number to reach me and if they needed anything else from me I could fax it to XXXX. They never called back to request additional information beyond a police incident number. The other account was XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, VA XXXX account number CAPIT- ending in XXXX  in the amount of {$1900.00}.

I have been very depressed over this because it is difficult to try to have a normal life after years of living in fear that my attackers who made my life a living hell may find me! I decided to check my credit reports online yesterday XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX was removed from XXXX and XXXX, so I thought that apparently Capital One kept their word to have these fraudulent accounts removed from the credit bureaus in my name. I called XXXX  again on XX/XX/XXXX to update them and they took me through a frightening series of unscrupulous business practices trying to pry my social security number from me, seeking to collect a debt that is not mine. They know it is not mine even after I explained to them that Capital One assured me on XX/XX/XXXX that they would have the items removed from all credit reports as soon as possible because they verified that none of the addresses or phone numbers or email addresses used to open the accounts belonged to me ...

On XX/XX/XXXX Capital One said they could see that even the home address listed a XXXX XXXX ... Capital One asked did I know how this could have happened or who could have done this to me ... I explained to them that I am a victim of violent crime associated with gang violence. My personal information was compromised when they stole my IDs and opened accounts in my name.

I am the victim in this circumstance and yet XXXX  threatened to sue me and completely disregarded the fact that Capital One already acknowledged that the information on file does not match anything associated with me and that fraud occurred. I needed help to get XXXX to cooperate. They know I reached out to them almost 3 or 4 months ago with the dispute and so has the credit bureaus. XXXX   needs to be removed from my credit reports and be held accountable for insubordination, non-compliance and corrupt procedures. Please help me! Concerning the statute of limitations, their representative claimed that the debt dates back to XX/XX/XXXX and I noticed how they refused to give her name and badge number as well and did not comment on the fact that-that was withheld from me. They also failed to acknowledge that I called them in XX/XX/XXXX when I first saw fraudulent activity related to this account on my credit reports. They show a lack of compassion. They show greed by any means necessary ... the strong desire to collect a debt that is not mine and a desire to make me go in circles ... a stunt to keep this on my credit reports. They act as if XXXX  did not conduct a thorough investigation, as if XXXX did not contact them stating that the debt is fraud and the result of identity theft and therefore XXXX  removed it from my credit report, along with other related items! XXXX  removed XXXX XXXX from my credit report within the past few weeks the report was refreshed ... XXXX XXXX claims that the first time they received anything from me was on XX/XX/XXXX yet they acknowledged receiving correspondence from the credit bureaus in writing FROM ME ... they failed to mention that they received this information in early XX/XX/XXXX.

Initially, Capital One said they could not find these accounts in my name with the account numbers that were listed on my credit reports ... only after asking for my social security number, drivers license number, date of birth and address on XX/XX/XXXX did Capital One find that I had accounts with them, but they acknowledged that the accounts could not belong to me after asking a series of questions ... there were 3 accounts on my XXXX  credit report related to Capital One and one was listed in good standing though it was not mine! Capital One acknowledged that they are not my accounts on XX/XX/XXXX they opened a case and assured me that they would remove them from my credit reports and no longer seek to collect the debts.

Yet one of the collection agencies that they sold one of the debts to was giving me opposition on every hand, XXXX XXXX.

I noticed that XXXX XXXX also failed to admit this and that ALL of the contact information linked with the account does not match any information linked to me. This is conveniently evasive of XXXX XXXX. They are transparent. Does it make sense that the first time they have been contacted by me was XX/XX/XXXX? Perhaps that is a typo and they meant to say XX/XX/XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX ... maybe it is an oversight. Otherwise, it is gross negligence on their part.

I need help to resolve all of this once and for all.

Now to make matters worse Capital One is not properly communicating within their various departments to help resolve this completely. XXXX was taken care of properly, or so I thought, but not XXXX XXXX XXXX- my credit report from XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX shows 3 accounts for Capital One. Two were collection accounts and one was showing good standing pays on time. I disputed all 3 and 2 out of three were removed. The problem is Capital One listed the same fraud debt twice. I have a copy- as if trying to double dip or collect twice on a fraud debt. This is illegal. They already acknowledged that the accounts were fraud to me on XX/XX/XXXX and to XXXX and removed the one in alleged good standing that said pays on time, but left the one they sold for the same debt to XXXX XXXX XXXX and now companies harass me and worst of all Capital One changed the address associated with the dispute to the address linked with the account. I confronted them because they and the credit bureaus said the address on file listed a XXXX XXXX as the residence so the accounts or applications should have never been approved by Capital One.

Further more, when confronted, they changed their story claiming that the address listed from the disputes through the credit bureaus was the one used to open the accounts, which is false! They already told me that XXXX XXXX were used and listed as a residence on the applications. Either they are completely deceitful and took advantage of my dispute contact information that I used when disputing through the credit bureaus and through the XXXX  and switched it in their system or this is a nasty oversight. Then again, they could have lied to me on XX/XX/XXXX about helping me and used all of the valid information they said they needed in order to find the accounts, because they claimed that the account numbers I gave them from the credit reports did not pull up any accounts for me in their system.

They are caught because when I disputed with XXXX, I used my parents address to communicate about the disputes to Capital One. That is when another collection agency, XXXX XXXX XXXX, that bought one of the debts from Capital One sent alleged information about the account to my parents house and all of the addresses on their documents from Capital One list a XXXX XXXX shown as a residence and none of the information matches any address, email or phone number of mine. Either way, I need them to remove this from my credit reports with all 4 credit bureaus and never attempt to collect again.

Today, XX/XX/XXXX, I found a piece of mail from Capital One concerning the debt they sold to XXXX XXXX. After acknowledging that it is fraud, Capital One is now back in control of the debt and informed me that the account has not been changed and now it will be handled by Capital One Corporate Office who is seeking to still collect an {$810.00} debt that is the result of identity theft.

It is evident that Capital One is not trying to help me, but deceive me and the consumer reporting agencies.

Unfortunately, I am forced to open up and explain what has really been going on from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX. I have been a victim of violent crime. There have been repeated attempts by the attackers to take my life. They have shot up the home where I take care of my senior citizen parents. The restraining order listed addresses and phone numbers that they were ordered to avoid and they retaliated over the years with more violence, so this is why I travel a lot- hiding while different relatives take care of my indigent parents.

I have been threatened and intimidated by these criminals, I have lived in fear and would like to try to overcome and get some control over my life ... salvage any relationships I have with family and friends.

Some day I intend to apply for my first pre-approved credit card. I was hoping it would be soon, but after the way Capital One mishandled these issues and thieves have assumed my identity ( and my parents ) and have made it difficult to have a normal life, I do not know if I will ever be able to proceed.

My identity and the identity of my parents have been stolen and though I was involved in data breaches with my bank, with XXXX  and XXXX XXXX XXXX, Hurricane Harvey hurt us and past Tropical Storms and floods were a nightmare.

Please imagine how it seems impossible for me and my parents to recover from crimes committed against us on top of everything else.

The biggest problems have come from the men and women who have tried to take my life and shoot up anyone who might be inside of the house.

They stole from my bank accounts time and time again or made unauthorized purchases online according to the banks ... my credit reports are riddled with variations of social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, names and fraudulent accounts.

The dispute process is very meticulous and draining. My parents credit reports are the same. Step by step we are trying our best to report to the necessary agencies and seek help, but in a way to avoid harm coming our way again, if possible.

You have no idea how often my bank accounts have been hacked, compromised, robbed or account information changed concerning billing and change of mailing addresses without my prior knowledge, consent or doing.

This year alone, they wiped out my accounts and my parents bank accounts and savings, too. They have opened store accounts and credit accounts in our names and these items appeared on our free annual credit reports. XXXX  issued an extended fraud alert to all credit bureaus on our behalf. We are advised to report to the Federal Trade Commission and also to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

This is challenging because it is not worth dying to report their names to law enforcement again!

Please let me know what you need from me so that I may receive your assistance with my requests. I have attached a few documents, a 4-page PDF needs to be submitted separately but some correspondence from these companies and collection agencies are included.

Only The 4 page PDF is not to be viewed by Collection Companies. It is not to be viewed by any of the businesses involved because I sent the PDF to XXXX with too much personal information. Then I had to send more information regarding Capital Ones latest deception concerning trying to still collect the debt from XXXX XXXX through the Capital One Corporate office.

The 4 page PDF also explains the situation to XXXX about how another company has been giving me the run-around, not responding to calls or when answering leaving me on hold for hours and then disconnecting the call ... leaving a number to contact them, but no one answers and voicemail does not work. I am also suspicious that they are using robots and or computers to generate generic responses that do not address the seriousness and urgency of my situation.

By the way, Capital One and other credit card companies have supposedly pre-approved me for credit cards, but after this I would never consider doing business with Capital One and in stead will opt to accept an offer from a different company- though with the mess that Capital One has made is making the odds less favorable for me to establish what would be my first credit card, should it go well.

Capital One disregarded the police incidents that were filed by me over the years. Perhaps they will take the one filed by my Mother seriously and help me this time by clearing my name of these fraudulent debts permanently. A copy of that report number and slip is attached. Once we saw all of this on our credit reports and bank accounts were targeted around the same time my Mom took action this time and she is too fragile to be upset all over again and too elderly to be robbed of her savings and living in constant fear of more retaliation.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation