Consumer complaint received 2019-07-30
Company: ERC
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
XXXX allowed my mother XXXX XXXX to open an account with two phone lines with new phones. The information I received said it was completed in XXXX, They did not ID my mother or take the correct action to verify her information as she used my social security number. If they had asked for verification ( like an ID/drivers license/social security card etc. ) of the information they would of known it was fraud as her ID does not match since her name is XXXX XXXX and not XXXX. I did not find out about this account until after it happened in XXXX when I tried to get an apartment after graduating college and they told me I had an outstanding debt with a phone company. I have just now switched to an actual carrier, which is XXXX. I had a prepaid phone through XXXX XXXX for years, ever since middle school. I moved out of XXXX  XXXX  in XXXX and never moved back. I have been disputing the addresses that have come up on my credit report due to her stealing my identity as this is not the first time. There are two police reports filed with the XXXX Police Department. One report is for this identity theft case and one for another identity theft case with a different phone company, since I am in XXXX I didn't have the ability of doing anything regarding charges. I have been having some problems removing the addresses from my credit report but I am still trying to complete the update. Upon calling XXXX at the time of finding out what my mom was able to complete with my information to inform them it was fraud and that I didn't complete this. They told me I was still responsible even though this company did not do their due diligence to gather the correct information to open this account. I was informed that since I had called about and the information matched that I was the owner of the account. That the account was set up online and no additional verification was completed and that they didn't see my mom stealing my information as fraud since she is my mother. Well not all parents and children get along and me and my mother do not get along. We have not spoken in a very long time and at the time of her completing this we were not speaking and she did not, I repeat she did not have my permission to open this account. She has a habit of starting phone lines and getting overwhelmed by the balances and then stops paying them, she has been doing that for years, why would I slow her to use my name and information like that? To start a phone line and not pay it so it can end up on my credit not hers? Why would I slow her to do that when I'm trying to start my life and need my credit. I started my XXXX account in XXXX, I have lived in XXXX since XXXX, XXXX from XXXX in XXXX XXXX and then XXXX XXXX, then XXXX XXXX in XXXX, then XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX and I now stay in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, my leases can be checked and verified with then. I shouldn't have to pay a bill for {$810.00} and then another for {$180.00} if I am not the one that started or opened the account. XXXX needs to take ownership of the fact that they didn't complete what they were supposed to while gathering the false information, the representative stated the account was opened online and that they didn't ask her for further verification, and they did not check her information, they just accepted it and let her open the account. I have disputed this with XXXX and from my credit several times, it's been long enough to where it was supposed to be removed as well but hasn't. It feels as if this company was and is only concerned about getting money even from people that are not responsible.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation