Consumer complaint received 2019-04-01
Company: Duncan Solutions, lnc.
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
I was notified by the XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX offset department in regards to debts owed to city of XXXX XXXX in regards to vehicle/ parking violations. These debts were attached to my tax file for offset. In early XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, whom also goes by Duncan solutions to get info. After a minute of conversation with XXXX the debt was in regards to a XXXX XXXX XXXX that was formerly my XXXX 's. I explained that to the collector and contacted my XXXX   on a 3 way call to confirm that it was indeed his former vehicle. The collector was provided with a contact number and address to communicate with my son going further. At that point it was clear that the debt wasn't mine. In addition the inner agency department of the XXXX that handles offsets advise me that the collection agency would have to file a modification with the XXXX offset dept to remove this debt from my tax file. I advised collector of this and she told me that they don't do that. She advised me that I have to wait until they receive the tax offset and then prove to them that the vehicle wasn't registered to me ...? On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted XXXX to notify them of my convo with the collection agency handling this debt and that the collection agency wasn't willing to correct it. The XXXX rep then sent emails out to the appropriate dept. that they correspond with in regards to these matters. On XX/XX/XXXX I followed up with the XXXX to find out if they receive a return email, they hadn't. On XX/XX/XXXX the collection agency emailed the XXXX back and typed that they would contact me, per the callback I received from the XXXX. Over a week went by and nothing. I contacted the collection agency again with my son on a 3 way call to clear this up again. The rep that assisted us read the notes and sent out an email to the person who handles these debts in their office to escalate this. On XX/XX/XXXX {$XXXX} was intercepted due to this dept. On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the XXXX again to notify them that the collection agency hadn't contacted me and has intercepted a portion of my refund. A supervisor at XXXX sent another email to the appropriate department at the collection agency to attempt to resolve this. The XXXX called me back on XX/XX/XXXX to notify me that the collection agency had replied by email that they would notify me. I told the XXXX rep that they said that previously and never maid contact with me. On XX/XX/XXXX I initiated contact by phone again to the collection agency to attempt to resolve this matter again. I spoke to XXXX a XXXX whom passed me off to XXXX the XXXX because only he had the authority to access the account. Then XXXX whom was very apologetic about this mishap transferred me to XXXX the XXXX whose line went directly to voicemail. I left XXXX a voice message and have not received a call back. Today on XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the agency and spoke with XXXX again to find out why they didn't submit the modification, she once again told me that they don't do that. She advised me that I have to wait until they receive the tax offset and then prove to them that the vehicle wasn't registered to me even after my son verified that it was his former vehicle registered to him. Professional account management attached a debt to my tax file without verifying and validating the appropriate personal information for that debt the XXXX and others involved. That is classified as unethical collection practices. I know that first hand, as I spent years as a collection XXXX for the Department of Education. All info has to be verified before you can offset taxes, submit wage assignments and bank levies. None of this was done. Had it been done then none of this would be happening. My son and I share a very distinctive middle name, but I am XXXX and he is XXXX Because of that distinction they more than likely assumed that we are the same person. They really need to learn how to skip trace and review info before they push paperwork. 

Former collection XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation