Consumer complaint received 2018-08-05
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
I opened an account with PayPal on XX/XX/2018 and after I got things set up I immediately was told via email that my account was locked and limited in access. I went thru their process of uploading documents to regain access : I uploaded a bank statement, utility bill, and even my driver 's license, passport card, and I believe also my social security card to prove my identity. What happened was they attached an account to mine ( and I provide that account name in the docs ) that I've never seen before -- it is not mine. As you'll see from the many documents I provided, they repeatedly dismissed what I said, what I sent, and kept asking me to pay nearly {$600.00} of a debt I do not owe! The exact amount is {$580.00}! Moreover, they repeatedly kept sending generic, seemingly computer-automated emails requesting the SAME INFO I ALREADY SENT, as well as info I would not and DO not have as a new account holder. After dealing with their extremely impersonal system via their website & email, I decided to see if I could get something done via social media, so I tweeted to them and them messaged them. Long story short, it was also of zero help to me, and one of their reps by the initials XXXX was very off-putting and unprofessional ; their social media customer service is useless. It was after all of these nightmares that I got a useless letter in the mail -- which is attached to this complaint -- dated XX/XX/2018 and postmarked XX/XX/2018. The letter basically said that I owe this amount and that everything is 'true and correct '. By the way, for a debt I DO NOT OWE, for an account I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT, and with NO PROPER INVESTIGATION OR PROOF. They have no clue if the email address of the account they're saying is mine is actually mine, nor did they give me proof. They have no clue if any transaction on that other account was made by me, and they did not provide proof of this either. If proof is not required when demanding someone pay a debt, it's not only unethical, but dangerous to my person & identity as a consumer. It's like my hands were/are tied. After I tried all I could online, I sent in a letter to their legal/civil department ( certified ) and to their customer service address ( regular mail ). I disputed this charge and all of what was told to me by them, citing the FCRA and FDCPA, particularly Section 623 of the FCRA, requesting an investigation and results of their investigation. I do understand that a consumer must first dispute the credit bureaus, but PayPal is slick by not putting this false, unverified account on my credit reports. Remember though, I did work directly with them and THEIR METHOD of regaining account access ; with that in mind, what in the world else am I supposed to do to avoid paying a debt that isn't mine?? The letters were mailed and received by them in mid XXXX. It is now XX/XX/2018, well over the required 30 days, and I have not heard one word from PayPal.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief