Complaint sub-issue: Information belongs to someone else

In XX/XX/XXXX, my clients XXXX and XXXX XXXX became aware via their XXXX Credit Report Alert that EOS CCA ( A  collection agency ) was reporting a negative collection item on their credit profile. 
The XXXX ( s ) immediately contacted my office, their Business Management CPA Firm, asking us to follow-up. 

The client informed me that they had already done some preliminary research that included a telephone call to XXXX XXXX ( previously XXXX ). The client was informed by a XXXX XXXX representative that there was in fact an account opened under their previous company XXXX in the name of XXXX XXXX and was able to obtain the account number. 

Obtaining the account number was important because the client did previously have a XXXX XXXX account ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) that had been paid ( was an auto pay account ) in full and closed. 
When the client contacted XXXX XXXX they were initially told that the account was opened in XX/XX/XXXX and was closed by XXXX XXXX last month ( XX/XX/XXXX ) for non-payment. The representative reported to the client that there had never been a payment on the account since it was opened in XX/XX/XXXX. This is very troubling because its uncommon for a monthly utility service who will typically discontinue service and close accounts within a couple of months for non-payment. 

Secondly, during this time the client did have an active and valid account with XXXX XXXX which was the account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( service address XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX XXXX, UT ) previously mentioned above. You would think that if a second account had been opened under the clients name that remained unpaid for 16 years, XXXX XXXX would have contacted the client since they did have his correct information on file from the account that remained in good standing. 

Nonetheless, because the valid account was for services related to a partnership venture the client was not 100 % sure that the account was/is fraud. We have checked with all of the bookkeepers involved from XX/XX/XXXX to date and there are no records of the XXXX account or payments being made to that account. And, if the client had ever received the invoice it would have been paid timely first and resolved later. They would not have allowed it to become a negative reporting on their credit profile. Unfortunately, they were not made aware of this erroneous account as they dont live or do business at the service address in question. 

Upon the client forwarding their documentation to me to determine what was going on, I called EOS-CCA ( Collection Agency ) with the client on the line who authorized EOS-CCA to work directly with me to resolve the issue to and thru receiving payment from me if it was determined that it was in fact the clients account and responsibility. 

EOS-CCA didnt have any detailed information about the account, service address, who set it up, etc. They only had the date of set-up and the balance owed. 

Mrs. XXXX ( the client ) called XXXX XXXX several times to no avail at which point I took over calling XXXX XXXX. I engaged in conversation with a representative who told me that the service address for the service provided was XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CA. She also confirmed that the service address was also the billing address. When I tried to obtain additional information about the account in terms of who set it up, I was asked to verify the account by answering the security questions. 
Because neither my client nor I set-up the account, we couldnt verify the account or answer the security questions. 

The representative helped me as much as she could while stressing that I should contact the Dispute Department of XXXX XXXX assuring me that they would be able to provide me additional information and potentially finding resolution to account XXXX originally opened by XXXX. 

During the conversation, I was also able to ascertain, contrary to what was initially reported to Mrs. XXXX, that payment had been made on the account from XX/XX/XXXX up until XX/XX/XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX.  The representative also told me a final notice was mailed to the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX address prior to action being taken. I believe she said before action was taken as opposed to services discontinued. 

My client, XXXX XXXX, is fully willing to pay the {$390.00} owed if this is in fact his account and responsibility. 

Because Mr. XXXX has no knowledge of the existence of this account and can confirm that he never approved service being opened at the service address reported, he is requesting that the negative credit reporting be removed from his credit profile immediately. 

Submitted by XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX ( Accountant )