Consumer complaint received 2020-03-17
Company: FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
State: NC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
Hello, I have been dealing with this issue for months now to the point of absolute frustration. I would like the assistance of the Federal Government in this matter. This is a dispute of a debt supposedly owed to First Citizens Bank and Trust Company. This was an attempt to validate this debt and the documents where not provided. This also deals with the threat to sue me. 

The first letter was received on XX/XX/XXXX from XXXX XXXX. It was dated XX/XX/XXXX but was not sent until XX/XX/XXXX. The letter overall purports to provide me an opportunity to request validation ( although the author says verification, which is not accurate ) the supposed debt within 30 days of receiving the letter. However, at the end, he says that this is the last communication before litigation is pursued. This did not seem to be a true attempted at providing a fair opportunity to request a validation. Nonetheless, I did request the validation when 30 days of receiving the letter. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, the attorney was sent a letter, enclosed, requesting a debt validation, including : 1 ) what the money you I owe is for, 2 ) explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe, 3 ) provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe, 4 ) identify the original creditor, 5 ) provide the statute of limitations, 6 ) show me that you are licensed to collect in my state, and 7 ) provide me with your license number and registered agent information.

Additionally, when in receipt of proper documentation, I requested at least 30 days to investigate that information when received. This was sent in an attempt to obtain documents to validate the debt and investigate this matter. This request was sent within 30 days of receiving the letter from the attorney. I also stated that if proper documentation was not received, then any reference to the account must be deleted and removed from my file and proof would need to be provided. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a partial response to my request with the attorney suggesting that I should have statement, when he in fact should have provided all documents evidencing the debt validation. He did not validate the debt as requested. Instead, I received a recounting of what is supposed to be a validation of the debt and not the documents requested from First Citizens Bank. Instead, a partial purported agreement and some monthly statements were included, which in no way assist with determine the amount, if any, would be owed. This was not what was requested and there was a failure to validate the debt. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a threatening and false letter from the attorney. First, the letter states that I have not responded to prior letters. This is false because the letter sent in XXXX was in response to his letter received in XXXX. There is tracking provided. The XX/XX/XXXX letter also provides a different amount ( {$11000.00}. ) than what was mentioned in the XX/XX/XXXX letter. ( {$9700.00} ). Furthermore, this leads me to believe that First Citizens attorney is attempting to add fees in circumvention of law when this purported debt was disputed in my letter received by him on XX/XX/XXXX. This rings of dishonesty and a violation of law. This letter also threatens further action, taken as a threat of a lawsuit when validation was not provided. This is beyond illegal and against public policy when it comes to the deals of financial institutions and the public. 

This process has been frustrating to say the least. I do look forward to assistance from the CFPB and/or other applicable Federal agencies. Thank you. 


XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation