Consumer complaint received 2022-06-28
Company: Cedars Business Services, LLC
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was result of identity theft

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a text message from XXXX saying that XXXX declined a suspicious charge to my XXXX ending in XXXX to XXXX that XXXX believed to be fraudulent. I logged in to my XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX account and saw that there were actually two unauthorized charges made on XX/XX/XXXX : one to XXXX and one to XXXX ( which is owned by XXXX ). I called XXXX immediately and let them know that neither charge was made by me and that no one I know had access to my card ( which was in my possession ). XXXX advised that they would decline the charges, suspend my XXXX ending in XXXX, and replace my XXXX with a new card/number. XXXX also advised that I would not need to do anything further. I thought that since I called XXXX immediately and let XXXX know that I did not authorize or make those charges, the matters were closed. Beginning in XX/XX/XXXX, I started receiving calls from a collection agency ( Cedars Business Services ) to collect a debt to XXXX. I wasn't sure if these calls were from a legitimate collection agency because I don't owe XXXX, or any related company, any amount of money, and I don't have any collections showing on any of my credit reports. I even opened a credit card with XXXX in late XXXX with no problems whatsoever. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from Cedars Business Services dated XX/XX/XXXX saying they are trying to collect a debt on behalf of XXXX in the amount of {$2800.00}. I then contacted XXXX. XXXX provided me with more information regarding the fraudulent charge that was not made by me or anyone I know. They confirmed that the charge was made on XX/XX/XXXX and that the billing name was under my name, XXXX XXXX, the billing address was under my home address, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, and that the charge to my XXXX ending in XXXX was declined ( numerous times ). The email address XXXX provided ( XXXX ) is not my email address and has never been my email address. The shipping address Wayfair provided ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX ) is also not my address and has never been my address ; I have never known anyone living at this address. Further, I don't know, and have never known, anyone that lives ( or lived ) in the entire state of XXXX, and I have never lived in the state of XXXX. Regardless of the declined charge, and regardless that I disputed the charge immediately after I learned of it, XXXX still shipped the items to the shipping address stated above in XXXXXXXX XXXX, and the items were delivered to such address in XXXX, XXXX  on XX/XX/XXXX. After looking into this matter, XXXX acknowledged on XX/XX/XXXX that this matter was both suspicious and fraudulent. On XX/XX/XXXX, I was contacted by someone who works for XXXX, and she advised that because I did not contact XXXX myself in XX/XX/XXXX ( even though XXXX told me specifically that I didnt have to contact XXXX and that they ( XXXX ) would handle everything else on my behalf ), XXXX  XXXX Department and/or XXXX Department can not help me resolve the issue with the collection agency ( Cedars Business Services ) since the matter happened over one year ago ( even though XXXX wrongfully sent my information to collections, and even though three different people I spoke to at XXXX admitted this was clearly identity theft ). XXXX also should not have sent the items totaling {$2800.00} to the XXXX, XXXX address since the transactions were declined by XXXX from the beginning. 

In summation, I am a victim of identity theft, but neither XXXX nor XXXX are helping me resolve this matter, and I'm the one who is having to fight the collection agency over a debt that is NOT mine for a purchase that I did NOT authorize. 

I have filed an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission, and I have sent a letter with supporting evidence to Cedars Business Services , LLC. However, it would be VERY helpful if XXXX would take responsibility for their errors that took place and help me resolve the problem that I'm now facing with Cedars Business Services , LLC. 

If this matter isnt resolved in my favor, and quickly, I will be filing lawsuits against XXXX for wrongfully sending me to collections and Cedars Business Services , LLC.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation