Consumer complaint received 2021-10-16
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc.
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I accepted a call from XXXX XXXX a debt collector at XXXX XXXX XXXX. He stated he was attempting to collect a debt from me for an apartment in Missouri that I failed pay. I informed Mr. XXXX that I have lived in my XXXX apartment for the past 3 years. I informed Mr. XXXX that I have never even visited the state of Missouri and I believed he was reaching out to the incorrect party. I asked him to provide a lease or documentation with my signature he was unable to do so and informed me that not how the process works. He told me he would work directly with the Apartment and was awaiting further documentation. I contacted Mr XXXX several more times but unfortunately he did not have further information. A month goes past and I hear nothing from National Credit Systems or XXXX XXXX. Fast forward and I am on vacation in XXXX and I received a notice from XXXX that a negative alert has been placed on my score from National Credit Systems. I immediately called Mr XXXX and reminded him that Id been waiting on documentation and I was infuriated that this hit my FICO and XXXX  credit score as I had clear proof and evidence that this was not me! Finally he provided a document from the apartment complex in Missouri and stated that another XXXX with a different social lived in the complex but it was not me! Mr XXXX stated that since I had a prior incident with National Credit Systems that instead of debating with him I needed to pay my bills and stop trying to evade! The prior incident was due to a roommate who stayed in an apartment after I moved out and the roommate payed the balance! This situation has nothing to do with current incident and he never fully investigated as he believed I was guilty. I was so angry that a debtor would speak to me this way instead of doing the research and collect the debt from who it was truly owed to. Finally after several times of explaining this to XXXX XXXX he sent me a document to fill out for identity theft but this was after 3 months, and he still had not provided me an official lease from the complex. I decided to speak to a manager and left voicemails with several and never heard back. Finally I filled a dispute with FTC, XXXX and XXXX XXXX and forwarded that information to Mr. XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I decided to reach out to the apartment complex myself. I immediately heard back from the Apartment Complex the next day and they APOLOGIZED and stated this was clearly a case of mistaken identity. Wow. I resolved in two days what XXXX XXXX from National Credit Systems did not resolve in 3 months after multiple phone calls, emails, and documentation from me. I believe that he should held accountable as this has taken an absorbent amount of my time, impacted my FICO/XXXX/XXXX  XXXX XXXX Credit Score , collected additional fees for international calls, and most importantly could have been rectified without impacting my credit. On XX/XX/XXXX I did eventually speak to a manager XXXX XXXX after I refused to disconnect from the call until a manager came on the line and she was helpful but after 3 months of going through this emotional distress, frustration, and impacted credit score her assistance should have come sooner.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation