Consumer complaint received 2020-09-22
Company: Professional Bureau of Collections of Maryland, Inc., GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO Branch
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX : I have been the victim of identity theft/fraud since XX/XX/XXXX, first discovered in XX/XX/XXXX and with initial submission of Federal Trade Commission Identity Fraud Report in XX/XX/XXXX and updated in XX/XX/XXXX to reflect fraudulent accounts from XXXX XXXX XXXX ( hotel ) in the amount of {$230.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), U-Haul in the amount of {$1200.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) in the amount of {$220.00}, XXXX XXXX   XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$260.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ) and XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) in the amount of {$130.00} accumulated to-date. Most of these were resolved with direct communication with the companies with no further adverse action as of the time of this writing but unclear if those accounts were closed. In XX/XX/XXXX, we were contacted by XXXX XXXX at XXXX with regard to a missing rental vehicle, and submitted the FTC report to his satisfaction ( via email ). He stated that a police report was filed with the XXXX XXXX XXXX airport police department for a missing vehicle and that they had the culprit on camera, but never provided a copy of the police report, the number, or the camera evidence to us. 

I was then XXXX from XXXX through XX/XX/XXXX with the XXXX XXXX as part of domestic COVID19 disaster response, and on return was made aware of additional accounts discovered in XX/XX/XXXX and with submission of additional Federal Trade Commission Identity Fraud Report in XX/XX/XXXX to reflect fraudulent accounts from XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$640.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), XXXX XXXX XXXX ( via Professional Bureau of Collections of Maryland ) in the amount of {$1000.00} ( XX/XX/XXXX ), XXXX rental in the amounts of {$310.00} and {$480.00} ( separately, XX/XX/XXXX ) and finally XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$480.00}. These, with the exception of XXXX, were resolved via discussion although unclear if accounts were closed. 

As none of the accounts were connected with any of our electronic means of financial payment, there may yet be more accounts that we are unaware of. 

Most fraudulent accounts seem to be hotels and rental cars in the XXXX XXXX area and western United States. An attempt was made in XX/XX/XXXX to file a police report with the XXXX XXXX PD but was rebuffed as they insisted it be done in person. At the same time, an attempt was made in file a police report with the XXXX County Sheriff Office ( XXXX, FL were we presently reside ), but was rebuffed since none of the crimes took place in this area. 

Regarding the XXXX account, we were never notified directly by XXXX, instead received harassing phone calls from Professional Collections Bureau of Maryland despite being contacted on while serving on XXXX XXXX XXXX at the time. With collections we spoke with XXXX XXXX ( XXXX extension XXXX was provided, along with email correspondence directed to XXXX ). An email with copies of the FTC identity reports, notice to furnishers, and request for any and all evidence linking me to the accounts was sent in XX/XX/XXXX to the email aforementioned, and paper copies were sent via certified mail to the collections company and XXXX ( as well as every other account identified ) at the same time. This was in response to the collections company placing a collections account on my Transunion credit report in XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX was contacted directly to inquire as to why we weren't notified prior to submission to collections and to inquire as to what evidence they had to share. We spoke with XXXX in accounts receivable at XXXX hotels who REFUSED to offer/share or send us the required evidence pertaining to the account in collections in XX/XX/XXXX which we felt to be in violations of our consumer rights protections and illegal. The letters sent directed a response and removal of the fraudulent collections account ( particularly from the credit report ) within 30 days and is not yet done. 

This is to stem the potential damage from reduced credit in terms of financial compromise from higher interest rates related to personal financial dealings. Transunion was contacted multiple times ( online dispute via XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX without FTC report documents unavailable while I was on XXXX, repeat online dispute via XXXX online portal in XX/XX/XXXX with supporting documentation including FTC report numbers, and again via phone in XX/XX/XXXX ). The initial dispute was found to reflect the accuracy of the account- although XXXX refused to offer any evidence or information as to how they confirmed the truthfulness and accuracy of the account, instead stating that they let the collections company determine accuracy which is a clear conflict of interest. Further, XXXX added this collections account despite the fact that because of ongoing fraud, our credit report has been LOCKED since XX/XX/XXXX via 1 year active military modality, and also with extended 7 year lock. It was not added to XXXX ( also locked ) as of time of this writing. 

XXXX of all accounts was delayed from initial invoice date due to delayed/lack of contact from companies/collections involved as these accounts were fraudulent and took time to find way to our active address. Further delays in awareness occurred due to military XXXX as above.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation