Consumer complaint received 2023-03-22
Company: ProCollect, Inc.
State: GA
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:
To whom may concern, XX/XX/XXXX I have a collection of {$14000.00} that is showing up on my credit report which is preventing me from being able to lease a new home. For the last few years, Ive been renting rooms with private owners and working with a credit counselor to get the debt removed off of my credit permanently by sending letters to the collection agency Procollect , Inc requesting a copy of the lease agreement. I then began to receive constant phone calls from their company number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX trying to engage in a conversation about paying the debt in full amount. The repetition of phone calls began to become quite disturbing because their deliverance wasn't friendly or provided customer service ; It felt more like harassment directed to the person at the called number which was myself. Its also very embarrassing for an agent representing Procollect , Inc to inform me that until make a payment to them that my credit was going to suffer, and that they do not have a copy of the lease on file. Theyre just looking to collect the debt and to get any further information would be to contact the leasing company XXXX XXXX XXXX in order to retrieve help. 

Back in XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the XXXX XXXX XXXX and spoke with the leasing agent XXXX XXXX who informed me that the current property owners were called XXXX XXXX XXXX  whom recently bought the apartments from the previous company XXXX XXXX XXXX who bought rental leasing company from XXXX XXXX. 

I have reached out to each of the following leasing companies listed above seeking help to retrieve a copy of the lease but not one company has my information among their files. However, due to not having this form I am unable to retrieve the government 's assistance with the COVID REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM because I can not provide all their required documents to receive help. Ive filed disputes online, sent emails, and mailed off letters of dispute to all three major credit bureaus seeking help to remove the debt. Below Ive attached a pasted copy of the dispute letter sent to the following XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX several times and still haven't received a response nor has it been removed from either of the participating parties. 

In closing, I'd really like to get this situation handled within the most positive and convenient way possible without having to go through the legal route. Id humbly appreciate some results because this is a major inconvenience upon my behalf. 

Thank you in advance. 

-- ->Dispute Letter MailedXXXX -- -- Procollect , Inc . 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX RE : VALIDATION OF ACCOUNT Account # : To Whom It May Concern, I neither affirm, nor deny this purported debt. You claim I owe your company {$14000.00}. 

This letter is being sent to you in response to an entry made on my Credit Report dated XX/XX/XXXX. Please be advised that this is not a refusal to pay the debt, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 1 : USC 1692g Sec 809 ( b ) that your claim that I owe you money is disputed, and validation is requested. 

Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am the correct party, and there is some contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay this debt. This is NOT a request for verification via XXXX or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above-named Title and Section of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. 

Reporting inaccurate and unsubstantiated information to a credit reporting agency may constitute fraud under federal law. Compliance with this request is required under the laws of state and federal statutes. 

Debt validation includes the following : Who was the original creditor on this account, and what was the account number? 
What was the original amount owed? Please provide a complete payment history, starting with the original creditor. 
Please provide me documentation that indicates that I agreed to pay someone this sum of money. 
What was the original date of delinquency for this account? 
Agreement that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt, or proof of acquisition by assignment. 
What did you pay for this account, and how did you calculate the current amount owed? 

I require compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days of your certified receipt, or a complete removal from my credit profile, in writing, of your claim. In the event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/or complaints with the FTC, and appropriate county, state, and federal authorities. I also hereby reserve my right to take private civil action against your company to recover damages.

In addition, the Fair Credit Reporting Act states that while this item is being investigated you must indicate to the bureau that the account is under dispute and will remove/cease from reporting this information to the Credit Reporting Agency until full validation has been completed.

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