Consumer complaint received 2023-08-16
Company: I.C. System, Inc.
State: TN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Today I noticed a collection on all three credit reporting agencies ( XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX ). The original creditor is XXXX XXXX XXXX and the collection agency is as follows I C SYSTEM, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MN XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX. I was not aware that I owed this debt. I was not notified of this debt. On XX/XX/XXXX my husband and I called I C System at XXXX XXXX. and spoke with XXXX XXXX. Her employee number is XXXX. I asked her, " How did IC System verify this debt ''. She stated they have no way of verifying the debt and do not have to. She said they only follow what the original creditor told them to do. I asked what address did they have on file. They said XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, TN XXXX. However, I lived at an entirely different address in a different city on that date, I moved to my new address in XXXX of last year and have a lease to prove it. Before that, I lived with my mom at a different address. I asked I C System how they notified me of the debt and they said by text message on XXXX the XXXX of XXXX. The number they gave me was ( XXXX ) XXXX. However, I contacted XXXX XXXX and they verified I had that number from XXXX until XXXX. Then I updated my number to ( XXXX ) XXXX from XXXX to current. I asked I C Sytem did they mail me verification or notified me by mail and she stated no. I asked if they notified me by email and she said they never had my email. The Consumer Financial Bureau ( CFPB ) states, " Make sure the bill is yours and shows your correct name, and billing address. '' However, I was not provided a chance to verify any of this information. Instead, this company took it upon itself to place this on my credit report without giving me a chance to verify the debt. 
- The Consumer Financial Bureau ( CFPB ) states, Before a debt collector can report your debt to a credit reporting company, the debt collector must do any XXXX of the following : Speak with you in person about the debt, Speak with you by telephone about the debt, Mail you a letter about the debt and wait a reasonable amount of time ( generally 14 days ) for a notice that the letter wasnt delivered, or Send you an electronic communication about the debt and wait a reasonable amount of time ( generally 14 days ) for a notice that the message wasnt delivered. 
If a debt collector sends you a validation notice about a debt, it means they have satisfied their requirement to contact you and, in general, can begin to report the debt to credit reporting companies. 

However, I never received notification or verification of the debt in any way listed above. I recorded the phone conversation between the representative and I for my protection. I am completely disgusted at how debt collection agencies feel as if they can do whatever they want.

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