Consumer complaint received 2022-11-08
Company: Lockhart, Morris & Montgomery Inc.
State: MS
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2022, I received an email from my credit monitoring service. It informed me that my credit score had dropped a tremendous amount of points. I logged on and found that LOCKHART MORRIS & MONTGO had illegally posted an alleged collection account to my credit profile. Prior to the email, I have never heard of nor had an account with this company. My report shows that it is an open account and was opened onXXXX with a balance of {$2500.00}. I had no knowledge of this company nor this alleged debt. I have never had any dealings with this company. By federal law, a debt collector is supposed to make contact with an alleged debtor and give them 30 days to validate or dispute. I never receive a letter in the mail that gave me 30 days to validate or dispute this account. I never received a letter stating that I have an alleged debt with this company and owe a balance on that account. Again, I have absolutely no knowledge of this account with them. I understand that, under the FDCPA guidelines for collection agencies, they have to provide ( 1 ) proof that they are the original holder of this debt and can legally hold me responsible for paying this debt and ( 2 ) contractual proof of obligation or an assignment SIGNED from an officer from the original creditors corporation that I am supposed to pay them. 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 ( b ) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) grants me the right to request validation of this alleged debt they say I owe. I did not receive notice of right to dispute nor did I receive enough information to verify that the alleged debt belonged to me. If I would have gotten anything in the mail or phone call from this company before they illegally reported to my credit report, I would have respectfully requested evidence that I am the person they are asking to pay this debt and a contractual obligation that legally binds me to pay them this debt. Upon them receiving my validation letter, they would have to legally cease from collection calls, letters, and efforts and delete the account from my credit files until they can validate this debt. But again, I never received such a letter about this account or phone call ever in the mail. They have illegally posted and reported to my credit file without adhering to the FDCPA laws. Im not sure if this company is a scam, but I know that this company has broken FCRA and FDCPA laws by reporting an alleged account to my credit report without informing me through mail or phone and I did not receive notice of right to dispute nor did I receive enough information to verify that the alleged debt belonged to me. My credit score has dropped tremendously in the middle of making a major purchase. Please help me get his account removed immediately. I'm preparing to sue under the FCRA and FDCPA because of the damages to my credit and opportunity costs with making a major purchase and business ventures that have to be delayed until this illegal account is removed. LOCKHART MORRIS & MONTGO XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX

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