Consumer complaint received 2019-06-18
Company: First Federal Credit Control, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
I was a victim of Identity Theft, and upon review of my credit reports, noticed four collection accounts listed under First Federal Credit Control with the original creditor named XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX Florida. After reviewing this information, I supplied written notice to First Federal Credit Control that the debt was a result of Identity Theft. I asked that they provide me with validation of the debt, stop collection proceedings of the debt, stop contacting me about the debt, and to delete items reported to any credit reporting agencies. 

I received a response via US Mail, in which First Federal Credit Control provided a single-sheet billing statement as validation of the debt. According to the FTC this is not proper validation of a debt. There were no signed applications or other documentation to state they had a right to collect this debt. I mailed a second response stating that the accounts were indeed a result of Identity Theft, and asked that they take immediate steps to stop collecting the debt, notify the original creditor, and remove any information they furnished to a credit reporting agency. 

A representative, XXXX XXXX, contacted me via phone from First Federal Credit Control on XX/XX/2019 to notify me that she was in receipt of my ID Theft Report, and she also stated that the Original Creditor has their own process for disputing debts resulting from ID Theft. I asked XXXX for the creditors contact information, and she replied that she did not have that information to provide and that I should just XXXX their name. She stated that they were collecting the debt on behalf of the creditor and that First Federal Credit Control did not own the debt. She stated there was nothing she could do and for me to contact them directly. 

XX/XX/2019, I contacted First Federal Credit Control and again spoke to XXXX to see if I could get some clarification on the debt and why they were unable to help. She stated that because all of the information in my ID Theft Report matched their records, there was nothing she could do and directed me yet again to contact the original creditor. I stated that I did a search and multiple-like name came up in a search, and that I didnt really have time to go through each of them. She stated they had a PO Box but that  most likely wouldnt help me because its probably just a lockbox for payments. She stated that she was able to pull them up on XXXX, and when I asked for the information she pulled, she again stated that I should just XXXX the name because thats most likely the information that I need. She stated that my social security number matched their records according The the ID Theft Report I provided for research. This is a false statement because I never supplied my social security number to their agency. 

I was able to locate the contact information for the original creditor, XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX Florida. I spoke to their billing department as directed, and I was informed that the debts had been charged off and sold to First Federal Credit Control, meaning they owned the debt, and I was advised that the collection agency was never advised that I must follow a different procedure as First Federal Credit Control owns the debt, not the original creditor. 

First Federal Credit Control is attempting to : .Collect on a debt without proper validation, no signature, or no agreement that they had to collect the debts on behalf of the creditor .Inaccurately reporting information to a credit bureau that was a result of Identity Theft, and harming my reputation for refusal to remove that information from my credit files. Making false statements to mislead a debtor hoping I would give in and just accept they were not going to take the actions that I requested them to make.

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