Consumer complaint received 2020-10-08
Company: PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
In XXXX of XXXX, quite by accident, I found out that I was a victim of ID theft because there were several credit card accounts opened under my name and they appeared in my credit report as collections. Until XXXX of XXXX, I did not receive any correspondence about this alleged account or debt. I am a senior citizen in a very poor health, and I panicked when my son asked me about collection accounts I allegedly had. I asked my son to help me with this. I started writing letters to these collection agencies using the addresses we found in my credit report. I filed an ID theft report with FTC. I have no knowledge of this alleged debt with Portfolio and XXXX  XXXX ( I saw the name XXXX  XXXX in the letter Portfolio sent out ). I requested verification and validation of this debt from Portfolio Recovery Associates collection agency since XX/XX/XXXX. However, all they keep sending me is some copy of a letter dated XXXX that I have never seen and some billing statements that have my name and address on them together with lots of charges I have no idea who made. This is not a validation of this alleged debt, just because the statements have a balance due and my name and address on them, or date opened, it doesn't mean this is my debt. I sent them a form to complete to validate, but they did not return the completed form back to me. I have sent several letters requesting validation and proper verification of this debt, and never received anything BUT statements with balance of {$5900.00} due.

I am an elderly person with no access to computer and computer skills, and I only have two credit accounts under my name and I keep them in very good standing. I don't like credit cards, I don't use them, I don't want them. This alleged debt has put me in a very scary position, because I do not know who used my personal information and how and when. All I know, I have no knowledge of this account and the debt in this alleged account doesn't belong to me. I called the local police department to file an id theft, and I was told to file it with FTC, which I did.

Portfolio Recovery Associates did not respond to any of my correspondence since XXXX, except the last letter I sent in XXXX, and I paid extra to send it via USPS Priority Mail so I have a tracking number, and only now, they simply sent me copies of the same statements and the same letter from XXXX XXXX. None of this is validation that this account has been opened and debt incurred by ME. I need valid proof, which I am sure neither XXXX  XXXX, nor Portfolio possess because THIS IS NOT MY ACCOUNT, I DID NOT OPEN IT, I DID NOT USE IT. Someone used my information and opened several accounts under my name and I did not know about it until XX/XX/XXXX because I do not check my credit and I had no need to worry about it knowing that I always pay my bills on time. Portfolio reports this alleged debt in my credit report affecting my good credit standing, which I try very hard to maintain having very limited budget. And looks like they have been doing it for several years now. I asked to remove this delinquency from my credit but the only time they responded was in the letter dated XX/XX/XXXX as alleged additional information consisting of billing statements that do not validate this alleged debt. 

This is causing me XXXX  XXXX  and panic. I asked my son to put a fraud alert on my credit. I don't want to be responsible for someone else 's debt. I did not allow anyone to impersonate me and use my information to open accounts. It is scary. I am terrified. XXXX XXXX and Portfolio are holding me accountable for a debt that I DO NOT OWE and have no clue about, and they fail to properly validate this debt. Just sending me billing statements is not proof that this is my debt. Anyone can send billing statements. I need to know WHEN, WHO AND HOW THIS ACCOUNT STARTED not WHAT THE ALLEGED BALANCE OWED IS. I don't have a card bearing XXXX XXXX, I have never had one in my possession, never seen one.  This is fraudulently opened account and I need this item removed from my credit ASAP.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief