Consumer complaint received 2019-11-24
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: DC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I am responding to your contact about a debt you are trying to collect. You contacted me by phone and direct mail. Your office has identified a debt that was quoted from a debt buyer. Currently, I demand complete authentication of debt ownership. Your office will be reported to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the operation of a fraudulent scam operation, claiming ownership of debt that simply does not belong to your agency, and therefore I am still protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your office must cease and desist all further activities against me for this illegal collection practice immediately and purge my personal information from your collection operations permanently. 

[ any information they gave you about the debt ]. Please supply the information below so that I can be fully informed : Why you think I owe the debt and to whom I owe it, including : The name and address of the creditor to whom the debt is currently owed, the account number used by that creditor, and the amount owed. 

If this debt started with a different creditor, provide the name and address of the original creditor, the account number used by that creditor, and the amount owed to that creditor at the time it was transferred. When you identify the original creditor, please provide any other name by which I might know them, if that is different from the official name. In addition, tell me when the current creditor obtained the debt and who the current creditor obtained it from. 

Provide verification and documentation that there is a valid basis for claiming that I am required to pay the debt to the current creditor. For example, can you provide a copy of the written agreement that created my original requirement to pay? 

If you are asking that I pay a debt that somebody else is or was required to pay, identify that person. Provide verification and documentation about why this is a debt that I am required to pay. 

The amount and age of the debt, including : 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. 

Have you made a determination that this debt is within the statute of limitations applicable to it? Tell me when you think the statute of limitations expires for this debt, and how you determined that. 

Details about your authority to collect this debt. 

I would like more information about your firm before I discuss the debt with you. Does your firm have a debt collection license from my state? If not, say why not. If so, provide the date of the license, the name on the license, the license number, and the name, address and telephone number of the state agency issuing the license. 

If you are contacting me from a place outside my state, does your firm have a debt collection license from that place? If so, provide the date of the license, the name on the license, the license number, and the name, address and telephone number of the state agency issuing the license. 


I have asked for this information because I have some questions. I need to hear from you to make an informed decision about your claim that I owe this money. I am open to communicating with you for this purpose. In order to make sure that I am not put at any disadvantage, in the meantime please treat this debt as being in dispute and under discussion between us. 

In addition to providing the information requested above, please let me know whether you are prepared to accept less than the balance you are claiming is owed. If so, please tell me in writing your offer with the amount you will accept to fully resolve the account. 

Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX Member

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation