Consumer complaint received 2022-09-27
Company: NRA Group, LLC
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I received a phone call from National Recovery Agency on XX/XX/XXXX. I did not answer and they left a voicemail. They did not leave any information except they were a debt collector and calling about a debt. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I contacted their live chat to see if I could email then and gather contact information. They verified my information and provided a member number I could use to reference my account when emailing or mailing them. 

Also On XX/XX/XXXX, I emailed XXXX asking for information about the debt because at this point they had provided no information about the debt besides trying to reach me by phone and having talked to them on live chat. I asked for information about who the current creditor was, the original creditor, amount owed, verification and documentation this debt was mine including a copy of the last billing statement, amount owed and when the debt was obtained, when it became due and delinquent, any charges, adjustments, payments, etc. made to the account and date of last payment On XX/XX/XXXX I received a written letter from XXXX on that included an outdated statement of charges from the original creditor and a letter saying they were providing the information I requested. This was almost a month after my first contact with them. At this point I did not receive a debt validation letter. The letter and statement I received did not include any information about that I could dispute the debt within 30 days, that if I disputed they would obtain verification of the debt or could request the original creditor 's name. Besides the amount owed and name of the creditor no other information from section 809. Validation of debts of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was included. The billing statement was outdated and only included charges that were not reflected in my latest billing statements and did not reflect any payments or charges that have happened to the account since XX/XX/XXXX even though I had recent statements in XXXX showing different charges and payments then this statement. 

Also on XX/XX/XXXX I replied with another email making the same request for the following information : A copy of the last billing statement sent to me by the original creditor. 
State the amount of the debt when you obtained it, and when that was. 
If there have been any additional interest, fees or charges added since the last billing statement from the original creditor, provide an itemization showing the dates and amount of each added amount. In addition, explain how the added interest, fees or other charges are expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or are permitted by law. 
If there have been any payments or other reductions since the last billing statement from the original creditor, provide an itemization showing the dates and amount of each of them. 
If there have been any other changes or adjustments since the last billing statement from the original creditor, please provide full verification and documentation of the amount you are trying to collect. Explain how that amount was calculated. In addition, explain how the other changes or adjustments are expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. 
Tell me when the creditor claims this debt became due and when it became delinquent. 
Identify the date of the last payment made on this account. 
At this time I do not believe the debt to be legitimate as the amount owed is not accurate and does not reflect any payments and other charges made to the account and National Recovery Agency has provided no further details proving the debt was valid and I expressed this to them. I pointed out how their statement was not accurate with the original creditor and there was no record of the debt being sold off or adjusted out of my account balance or past due amounts showing with the original creditor. I again asked for another statement showing all payments, charges, etc. so I could verify the debt was legitimate and this was not a mistake. Up to this date I have been letting them know I am disputing this debt as I have no proof it is legitimate. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received an email back from a National Recovery Agency representative that they are collecting on behalf of the original creditor and are only required to provide a validation notice ( which I still have not received at this point, but they acknowledge they are required to send it ). They also stated they are only required to send a copy of the bill to verify why the client was sent to collections. This National Recovery Agency employee did not acknowledge that the copy of the bill they already sent me was outdated and not current. They also did not acknowledge my request to verify the debt is valid after the initial statement they sent was pointed out of being inaccurate and outdated. The employee said they are required to send nothing more. They also stated that if I have proof to validate my dispute I need to send it to them for them to discuss with the original creditor and remove me from collections. They ended the email saying my account is marked as disputed, they have ceased all communications going forward and my account will remain open and active. 

At this time I don't believe National Recovery Agency has satisfied section 809. Validation of debts ( b ) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act as I have disputed the debt and disputed that they have an accurate amount for the debt and instead they have turned it around and asked me to provide proof that my dispute is valid. I do not believe sending an old and outdated billing statement that does not reflect current balance, additional charges or any adjustments showing this amount was removed from the original statement and sent to collections is a proper validation and verification of this debt. At this time National Recovery Agency knows I am disputing the amount of the debt due to comparison of the claimed amount I owe to the current statement of the original creditor and that the debt going to them is valid at all, but they refuse to provide proof that this amount is valid beyond the initial statement of charges that is months out of date at this point. They have also decided to say they are ceasing all communication going forward while I am continuing to try to get proof from them this debt is valid. I would like to validate the debt and pay it if it is valid, but get it closed if it is not instead of leaving my account open and active with no communication from them. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I followed up with an email again sending a copy of my current statement from the original creditor and stated that this statement shows the amount National Recovery Agency is saying I owe is inaccurate and I am on a payment plan for any debt to the original creditor. I also stated I would not dispute the debt and would pay it if the debt was on statements from the original creditor since they are collecting on their behalf showing that I owe this amount and that it was past due. I also once again requested a full statement showing all payments, charges, fees, adjustments, etc. to validate and verify this debt. I also asked if it would be possible to work with the original creditor only.

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