Consumer complaint received 2020-08-26
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
I am a victim of identity theft. I recently learned that my personal information was used to open an account at your company. I did not open or authorize this account, and I therefore request that it be closed immediately. I also request that [ AMERICAN EXPRESS ] absolve me of all charges on the account, and that you take all appropriate steps to remove information about this account from my credit files. 

The company has been notified by me via mail with no response, as well by all 3 credit bureaus XXXX, XXXX, XXXX. The company has refused to dissolve me from this debt and is continuing to persue the debt and violating federal law and my rights under The Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681. Also, after obtaining my XXXX XXXX consumer report, I discovered that American Express filed a lawsuit against me for this debt. 

Enclosed is a copy of my Identity Theft Report supporting my position, and a copy of my credit report showing the fraudulent items related to your company that are the result of identity theft. [ Consumers should redact information that is unrelated to the dispute with this company. ] Also enclosed is a copy of the FTC Notice to Furnishers of Information, which details your responsibilities as an information furnisher to credit reporting agencies ( CRAs ). As a furnisher, upon receipt of a consumers written request that encloses an Identity Theft Report, you are required to cease furnishing the information resulting from identity theft to any CRA. 

The Notice also specifies your responsibilities when you receive notice from a CRA, under section 605B of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, that information you provided to the CRA may be the result of identity theft. Those responsibilities include ceasing to provide the inaccurate information to any CRAs and ensuring that you do not attempt to sell or transfer the fraudulent debts to another party for collection. 

Please investigate this matter, close the account and absolve me of all charges, take the steps required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and send me a letter explaining your findings and actions. 

Fraud Alert has been placed on a 3 credit bureaus, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX and other consumer reporting agencies. 

An unknown person has been using my identity to open bank accounts, rent houses and apartments, open credit cards, obtain loans and other fraudulent activity. They have been using my identity to my knowledge since 2016. Accounts opened fraudulently in my name includes XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), American Express, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX and more. There have been fraudulent addresses, jobs, businesses and telephone numbers that have been used fraudulently without my permission. Someone has been living their life for years pretending to be me, using these accounts to live a normal life while I suffer unable to buy a house, apartments, credit cards etc. as a result of Identity Theft. 

I also request any legal action that was taken against me for this debt be expunged and removed from my public records. 

I am requesting this debt is cleared from my records immediately. Failure to do so is violating law and my rights as a United States citizen under The Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681.

Included in this complaint is also letter of acceptance from the IRS, Identity Theft Report, Identity Theft Affidavit, Copy of my U.S passport for verification.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief