Consumer complaint received 2024-09-11
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: W&A Intermediate Co., LLC (IA)

I am currently dealing with a significant issue involving Wakefield & Associates XXXX, which has inaccurately reported a fraudulent collection account on my credit reports for the past XXXX years. The debt they are attempting to collect allegedly originates from the XXXX XXXX XXXX. After conducting extensive research, I discovered that Wakefield & Associates XXXX is not licensed to collect debts in Illinois, as confirmed by the XXXX XXXX XXXX website. This lack of proper licensure renders their attempts to collect this debt not only unlawful but also in violation of both state and federal regulations governing debt collection. 

The fraud associated with this account appears to have occurred during the XXXX outbreak, a time when many individuals, including myself, were vulnerable to financial crimes. Despite the fraudulent nature of this account, Wakefield & Associates XXXX has continued to pursue this debt for XXXX years, causing ongoing harm to my credit profile. I only became aware of this adverse account at the end of XX/XX/year>, making it the sole negative entry on my credit reports. Since its discovery, I have taken every possible step to have the fraudulent debt removed, yet these efforts have been met with no success. 

To protect myself and further document the issue, I have added a Fraud Alert to my credit reports and filed a Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Identity Theft Report. These additional steps were necessary to safeguard my credit and ensure that the fraudulent nature of this debt is fully recognized by all relevant parties. 

Upon realizing this issue, I immediately reported the dispute with XXXX, as well as with the Better Business Bureau. Despite providing all necessary documentation to prove the invalidity of the debtincluding evidence of Wakefield & Associates XXXX 's lack of legal standing to collect it in XXXX fraudulent account continues to negatively impact my credit reports. My attempts to resolve this matter have, unfortunately, not led to the removal of the debt or cessation of collection attempts. 

Wakefield & Associates XXXX ongoing pursuit of this debt, despite their unlawful status in Illinois XXXX has not only caused significant damage to my credit profile but also immense personal stress. This situation has made it difficult for me to maintain a fair and accurate credit standing, which I have otherwise worked hard to uphold. Their failure to remove this account after repeated disputes is a clear violation of my rights as a consumer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 

I continue to assert that Wakefield & Associates XXXX has no legal authority to pursue this debt and respectfully demand that the fraudulent collection account be immediately removed from my credit reports. Additionally, I expect them to cease any further collection activity. It is essential that this matter is resolved promptly to prevent further damage to my credit and to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law. 

I trust that XXXX, the Better Business Bureau, and the relevant authorities will take swift and decisive action to correct this issue, protect my rights, and restore the integrity of my credit history.