Consumer complaint received 2021-02-08
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
My complaint : Following up new information update referencing CFPB # XXXX : Citibank Sears Mastercard continues to pursue collection of an invalid identity theft fraud debt by handing it over to a collection agency. After reviewing the evidence, XXXX XXXX XXXX, a professionally respected debt collection company, has closed my account without further action and returned it to their client, Citibank. 

Even a bill collecting company recognizes this farce. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) suggests, to be fair I requested XXXX to provide proof from Citibank Sears that I gave anyone permission to use my excellent credit they provided none. My XX/XX/XXXX initial response letter to XXXX summarizing the facts of identity theft and their XX/XX/XXXX case closing letter of my account are attached. 

My Request : Citibank Sears Mastercard team should do the right thing and follow XXXX example to close the account and report the account to the credit bureaus as fraudulent thereby reversing their negative credit report. Given the documented fraudulent facts, Citibank needs to reconsider their illogical position it does not make sense. 

Any legitimate independent third party reviewing the overwhelming evidence of identity theft and fraud of my accounts will recognize the truth. 

The significant facts in my case are that a new husband who is a documented con artist/identity XXXX proven by three different third party investigations added himself to my existing Citibank Sears MasterCard and XXXX accounts without my permission or knowledge. Thief  husband also created two additional credit card accounts in my name determined to be fraudulent. He then committed wire fraud ordering products from XXXX using those cards. Citibank Sears team has made an eighteen month effort to ignore the identity theft facts and distract with self serving opinions. Without merit or conflicting evidence they disavow my sworn FTC testimony ( subject to perjury ) proven true by three other independent investigations and personal evidence provided to Citibank Sears group. Whereas the other existing account that thief husband added himself as an authorized user, XXXX XXXX, acknowledged the fraud and relieved the debt. XXXX even issued a letter of appreciation and raised my excellent credit significantly. As before the fraud, I currently have no debt and have excellent credit. 

The fraud included an XXXX account, a bank account and four credit card accounts. Only Citibank Sears Mastercard team refused to cooperate by withholding my account statements and authorized user information, thereby undermining our efforts. And their own documentation indicates the identity thief was inappropriately added again to my account after I closed the account due to fraud. 

Everyone else helped to uncover fraud. Instead, Citibank Sears team leads with an improper premise implying identity theft can not occur in a marital environment and quote : we consider this a civil matter and suggest you find other resources in seeking restitution. 

I have already turned down Citibank Sears offer for a reduced settlement from {$6100.00} inflated balance to {$2300.00} because it is an identity theft case supported by significant fraud evidence. 

Citibank Sears should reexamine the facts and reverse their negative credit report. Three other peer credit card companies and now XXXX recognize the truth. 
___________________________________________________________

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