Consumer complaint received 2024-01-14
Company: Prince Parker & Associates
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
Dear Prince-Parker & Associates , ** I am writing to address serious concerns regarding your debt collection activities in the state of Florida, which appear to be in violation of the Florida Statute 559. It has come to my attention that Prince-Parker & Associates lacks the necessary licensing mandated by the Florida Statute 559 to engage in debt collection within the state. 

Not only have you sought to collect a debt that is not owed by me, but you have also reported inaccurate information to my consumer reporting file without obtaining written consent or engaging in any form of communication. This egregious act has not only harmed my credit reputation but has also affected my ability to obtain credit. 

The gravity of your actions is further underscored by the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S. Code 1692, which was enacted to eliminate abusive debt collection practices. Section 1692 ( a ) highlights the evidence of abusive practices contributing to personal bankruptcies, marital instability, job loss, and invasions of individual privacy. The inadequacy of existing laws to address these issues led to the establishment of the FDCPA. 

Section 1692a of the FDCPA provides crucial definitions for terms such as " communication, '' " consumer, '' " creditor, '' " debt, '' and " debt collector. '' Your activities fall under the definition of a debt collector, as outlined in Section 1692a ( 6 ), given your use of instruments of interstate commerce or the mails in a business whose principal purpose is the collection of debts. 

Moreover, Section 1692n emphasizes the relationship between federal and state laws, stating that the FDCPA does not exempt any person from complying with state laws on debt collection practices. If state laws afford greater protection to consumers, they take precedence over federal provisions. 

Your actions not only violate state law but also contravene the FDCPA, which underscores the seriousness of the matter. Such violations contribute to the very issues that the FDCPA aims to address personal bankruptcies, marital instability, job loss, and invasions of individual privacy. 

This communication serves as a formal notice of the violation that has occurred. As per the Florida Statute 559.565, an out-of-state consumer debt collector collecting or attempting to collect consumer debts in Florida without first registering is subject to an administrative fine of up to {$10000.00}, along with reasonable attorney fees and court costs in any successful action by the state to collect such fines. 

I must emphasize that during a thorough search of the NMLS consumer database, using the alleged consumer license number XXXX provided by Prince-Parker & Associates , there is no record of their registration or licensing in the state of Florida. This raises serious concerns about the accuracy of the information provided by Prince-Parker & Associates .

In addition to the lack of proper licensing, I find the response to my Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) dispute insufficient. Prince-Parker & Associates claims not to have records of my disputes from XXXX and XXXX of XXXX. This raises questions about the accuracy and thoroughness of their record-keeping and their compliance with federal regulations regarding dispute resolution. 

I want to highlight that I have meticulously documented and certified proof of my disputes, including certified green slips and tracking numbers. These pieces of evidence substantiate the fact that I initiated disputes in both XXXX and XXXX of XXXX, contradicting Prince-Parker & Associates ' claim of no record. This discrepancy not only adds to the concerns about the accuracy of their response but also underscores the urgent need for a thorough investigation into their practices. 

Additionally, a claim has been submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the claim number is CFPB Claim Tracking Number XXXX. This marks my initial complaint, and I wish to bring to your attention that I am in the process of filing a second complaint due to the entirely insufficient response provided by Prince-Parker & Associates . Their response failed to address the pending issue, which is a serious violation of regulations, specifically regarding their licensing status in the state of Florida.

Furthermore, according to the verification website I consulted, Prince-Parker & Associates ' debt collection license has been expired since XXXX. The license numbers associated are as follows : XXXX - expired XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX Application Terminated** - XX/XX/XXXX, and XXXX - expired XX/XX/XXXX. 

These findings raise substantial concerns about the legality and appropriateness of Prince-Parker & Associates ' debt collection activities, particularly in the state of Florida. 

I insist on the immediate removal of the alleged account from my consumer reporting file to rectify this breach. It is crucial to understand that this notice is not issued as a threat but as a demand to cease and desist this illegal activity. Additionally, a claim has been submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the claim number is CFPB Claim Tracking Number XXXX. I am fully committed to pursuing a resolution through legal channels, and if necessary, the next step will involve filing a complaint with the Florida State Attorney General. 

Verification of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and associated information can be confirmed through Consumer Access, a platform that validates the registration status of financial-service companies. 

I anticipate your immediate attention to this matter and expect a swift resolution. 

Remove this debt from my consumer reporting file immediately.

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