Consumer complaint received 2020-05-22
Company: WAKEFIELD & ASSOCIATES, INC.
State: WY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint:
I received a notice of collections ( XXXX XXXX ) on XX/XX/XXXX. Immediately, I sent a verification request and dispute as my records showed the alleged account was beyond satisfied. The Debt Collector never responded to my verification request but continued to contact me and collect the debt. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted by one of the Debt Collectors agents by phone who immediately demanded payment. I informed the agent that I had sent a verification request in writing, well withing 30 days of XXXX XXXX and had not received a response. The agent acknowledged receipt of my dispute and verification request but still asked for payment. I further pressed the issue about them not responding to my verification request and continuing to attempt to collect the debt which violates the FDCPA. The agent took a moment to review the notes in my " file '' and informed me that they had requested the verification information from their client but had not received it and therefore had not yet responded to my verification request. I asked that they cease calling and to only contact me in writing. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I was alerted to a new collections account that was reporting on my credit as of XX/XX/XXXX. I immediately disputed the accounts online and provided copies of the written dispute and verification request that I had mailed to the Debt Collector. The credit bureaus quickly returned their answers to my disputes and to my great dismay, had " Verified '' the accuracy of the debt and had deemed it valid and to have met FCRA requirements. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted the Debt Collector by phone as the next step to obtain a resolution. I spoke with an agent who asked for payment on the account first thing. I explained the situation to her about my dispute and the credit reporting. The agent reviewed the notes on my " file '' and relayed that they still had yet to receive the requested information from their client to properly verify the debt. I was placed on hold while the agent spoke to their supervisor about the situation. The agent returned and informed me that they were closing out the account and returning it to their client. I asked about the items on my credit and was told that they would be contacting the credit bureaus to have them removed. As of XX/XX/XXXX, they are still reporting on my credit. 
Following my written verification request this Debt Collector acted in complete negligence and disregard to the FDCPA and the FCRA by ; 1. Continuing to attempt to collect the alleged debt after receiving and not responding to a written verification request sent within 30 days. 2. Reporting collections account to my credit without responding to a written verification request. 
The collections account prematurely appearing on my credit profile has had a severe negative impact that has affected me financially and has halted me in my attempts to use my credit.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation