Consumer complaint received 2020-05-26
Company: Roosen, Varchetti & Olivier, PLLC
State: MI
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
I am a victim of identity theft. I had a very bad family dynamic situation which led me to be homeless in XXXX. As a result, I was not allowed to legally live or return to my family home XXXX XXXX   XXXX, MI XXXX. ( Court documents are confirming this. ) As a result, I lived exclusively with an XXXX. I was a transitioning XXXX   minor and she was my caregiver. ( Court documents are confirming this ) Because of the misplacement, I had to carry all of my personal information with me at all times. I lost all of that personal information which resulted in my identity was stolen. It was until years later ( Starting XXXX ) did I realize the impact that losing that personal information had on my personal and financial well being. My mother was diagnosed with XXXX  XXXX XXXX and Ive had to since then return home and take care of all of the family 's financials and affairs. Since then I have been trying to stop the effects of identity theft and repair my financial well being to be able to provide for my family. 
Most of the damage from identity theft has been taking care of. Ive worked with the following companies and have been successful in providing the documentation they needed to deem me not responsible of the fraudulent debts someone obtained in my name : XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX  XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and several other debt collection agencies. 
This particular debt collection agency XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX has been harassing, lying, stealing, and trying to intimidate me to pay a debt that they will not give me information on for years. I did not know about the debt at the time a default judgment was entered against me. This was around the time I was legally no longer allowed to live at my family residence. I didnt notice the judgment on my credit report until XXXX. I immediately called the attorney and the agency to find out more information about it. They said they would get back to me in 2-3 days. Instead of calling me with the information I requested, I started to get these harassing phone calls saying that I would be going to jail soon if I dont pay this debt. I called XXXX XXXX again, asking for the information. I told them that I was a victim of identity theft and that I think that this might be another case of that. After no response from them, I sought counsel, filed a police report, spoke to all of the credit bureaus, put a fraud alert on my profile. Being naive, I thought that was it. I thought that I did what I needed to do. Not knowing that XXXX XXXX   was sending legal documents requesting financial information to my family home when I was legally not allowed to be, I had no idea there was a warrant out for my arrest for failure to appear in court in a debt collection civil case where a default judgment was entered. Unfortunately, I was young, naive, misinformed, and ill-equipped to deal with or know anything about fighting identity theft at the time. 
I was driving to work in XXXX of XXXX and I was XXXX  and XXXX  for 7 days due to this fraudulent debt. I requested then, proof of the debt that they were demanding I pay. At the time, again, I didnt know anything about how to legally fight this. My mother is in and out of the hospital 10+ times a month, my focus has been on that since Ive had to move back home. I sought the legal aid council after rebuilding myself financially from being XXXX  for 7 days. I lost my job, my car was impounded, my daughter was left at an overnight daycare. After being released and paying thousands of dollars in fees and fines, I returned to XXXX XXXX in person to demand the information I needed, and to speak to someone, I was given the run around for months. Finally, I got in contact with a financial group that got mine in contact with the correct legal aid. Legal aid reached out to XXXX XXXX XXXX. We notified that he has passed away and that they had no files, case concerning me. I called XXXX courts to see if any garnishment paperwork had been filed. They garnished a {$1200.00} tax return years ago, and I was advised to call several IRS numbers and my local courts to see if those were still in place. There was no trace of the debt and its remaining affairs. 
Fast forward to this year, in the middle of a terrible pandemic changing the lives of everyone, taking the lives of family members and affecting the world financially, XXXX XXXX under new lawyers Roosen Varchetti & Oliver filed paperwork to garnish my state income return again. I have called, showed up, and demanded over 100+ for this information. I sought more legal aid, and when the courts open back up, I intend to file paperwork to get the default judgment they had entered against my set aside and demand proof of the debt. I have pleaded, begged, and sent them the legal documents, my police report, and all of the information they need to investigate this matter. This abuse of power, this is an abuse of the legally ignorant. This debt collection agency has been lying, harassing, and ignoring the legal information I have been sending asking for more information about this debt. I have been suffered countless financial, mental, and emotional distress from their purposeful negligence.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation