Consumer complaint received 2023-01-27
Company: NRA Group, LLC
State: LA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
This involves a debt that NEVER existed, and was a result of a computer crash at a hospital I was treated at more than 5 years ago ( XXXX XXXX ). It has been undeniably proven to be a mistake, but has been resold to a total of three collection agencies over these past years. I spoke to the hospital, shortly after discovering the mistake, and they informed me about the crash and resulting error. They said it was soon corrected and my account was noted as a XXXX balance. But the debt had evidently already been automatically sent ( before the correction ) to collections via the same computer system that crashed. I have since requested assistance from the hospital with this matter, but they stated that once the faulty system sent ( or sold, I presume ) the ( incorrect ) information to the first collection agency, it became the property of that agency, and the hospital could no longer control it, or retract it. 
As I said, three different collection agencies have harassed me over the ensuing years and have tried to get me to pay them for this non-existent debt. Then when the first two could not refute the evidence I supplied to them, and they realized I would not pay for something I did not owe, they evidently sold the " non-debt '' to another unsuspecting ( yet unscrupulous ) collection agency. Then the nightmare starts all over again for me. 

These agencies have all KNOWINGLY sold a " non-existent debt '' AFTER they had received written verifiable documentation from me that the money was not owed. I am attaching all of the letters I have written to the two previous collections agencies, as well as the letter I wrote to the current collection agency, along with proof of payment for this service from my insurance company. Documents, all of which I have provided to all of them. These agencies are : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and currently National Recovery Agency ( aka- NRA Group , LLC ), XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

I filed a complaint with you ( CFPB ) on XX/XX/XXXX based on the most recent collection agencys actions ( National Recovery Agency, aka-NRA Group , LLC ).

They responded to you. But have not yet responded to me, other than to acknowledge that they received the information I sent to them. 
Their response to you is non-sensical, and seems to be saying ( in very vague terms ), that this non-existent debt will be forwarded to, or returned to another collection agency that they refer to as their client. Though they did not say WHO THEIR CLIENT IS! 

Here is the response to you from their representative : NRA Group , LLC is in receipt of the consumer 's complaint. As indicated in the above complaint, the consumer reached out to us directly on XX/XX/XXXX and we have had amicable conversations surrounding resolution. We reached out to our client on XX/XX/XXXX regarding the matter. We have ceased our credit reporting on these accounts as well. NRA Group , LLC does disagree with one aspect of the consumer 's complaint. We did send a letter to the consumer back on XX/XX/XXXX, and have not received any information indicating the letter was not delivered. Nevertheless, based on the records obtained from the consumer, we are closing the account and returning it to our client. We do not own this debt, but were assigned it by our client. While we will certainly be passing all of this information back to our client, what they choose to do once we close the account is up to them and is beyond our control. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Chief Compliance XXXX NRA Group , LLC And this is my rebuttal addressing their NON-SENSICAL run-around response : National Recovery Agencys ( aka- NRA Group , LLC ) response to my complaint is obviously a halfhearted attempt to only satisfy this complaint with the CFPB for the reasons listed below : 1. ) The ONLY thing their representative, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. ( XXXX XXXX XXXX NRA Group , LLC ), disagreed with my complaint about, was that they " sent me a letter on XX/XX/XXXX, and have not received any information indicating the letter was not delivered. First of all, that doesn't make any sense, nor does it mean ANYTHING! AND, in addition, this is completely untrue, as well as misleading. They DID NOT send me a letter on XX/XX/XXXX. Secondly, the first and only correspondence I received from them was on XX/XX/XXXX, ( which was dated XX/XX/XXXX ). It was met with my swift response shortly after the holidays on ( XX/XX/XXXX ), which was well ahead of their requested response deadline of XX/XX/XXXX. ( I will submit a copy of that letter as proof. ) Therefore, it appears that XXXX XXXX is making a ( very poor ) attempt at deflection from the real problem at hand. I wonder if he gets paid by the word?! 

2. ) XXXX XXXX said that we have since had amicable conversations surrounding resolution with me. This is a complete LIE! They sent me an email that stated they received my dispute, and were going to look into it. To which I replied, acknowledging their email. This does not constitute amicable conversations surrounding resolution. In fact, I have not heard from National Recovery Agency ( aka - NRA Group , LLC ) since then. If I had not checked the status of my complaint through the CFPBs website, I would never have known about his/their response to you.

3. ) Their response does not satisfy their false accusation, or attempt to collect monies that are not owed, in the least! XXXX XXXX references " their client '' four times in his response to you, but does NOT EVER NAME THE CLIENT! Then he goes on to say that NRA Group " does not own this debt ''. If this is the case, then how in the heck, does he/NRA Group have the right to report a bad debt owed to National Recovery Agency on my credit report? Can anyone and everyone just randomly trash someone's reputation without having the legal authority ( via ownership of the debt ) to do so?! This is absolutely CRAZY!

4. ) Along with referring to " their ( unnamed/unidentified ) client '', he also states, that they are returning it { the debt } to our client, and that " what they { their client } choose to do once we close the account is up to them and is beyond our control. This is obviously a " not so vague '' way of implying that, this " non-debt '' may ( will probably ) be resold ( for the 4th time ) to yet another unscrupulous collection agency. Then my nightmare will start all over again!

5. ) If NRA Group, LLC/National Recovery Agency does not own this debt, then he/they should be obligated to provide the name and contact information of who does. Dont you agree?! Otherwise, how can I defend myself? I suppose XXXX XXXX expects me to sit back and wait for another NON-OWNER of the nonexistent debt to harass and falsely accuse me again. 

This has to stop! This medical service was rendered to me in XXXX, ( OVER 5 YEARS AGO ) and paid in full immediately after my insurance was billed for it. I have provided UNDENIABLE PROOF of this to all three collection agencies. And to date, the first two have closed the account, but then turned around and sold it to another agency, as though it is a legitimate debt.

Please advise me as to what further steps I can take to stop this ridiculous and seemingly illegal and extremely time-consuming nightmare. In the meantime, I will definitely be contacting my attorney.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation