Consumer complaint received 2024-02-17
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Seized or attempted to seize your property
Company: Portnoy Schneck, L.L.C. (NY)

On or about XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter from Portnoy Schneck, LLC., a debt collector for XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, stating that I owed a debt that was assigned to XXXX. I requested via certified mail ( tracking # XXXX ) that they validate the debt. I requested a copy of the signed wet ink contract from the original creditor, if the debt was within the statute of limitations, as well as other information to validate the stated debt. Portnoy Schneck, LLC replied with documentation that failed to allow me to verify the debt they were trying to collect. I sent an Affidavit of Fault and Opportunity to Cure on XX/XX/XXXX, Certified mail ( tracking # XXXX ) requesting more information and documentation to prove that I owe this debt. They received this letter on XX/XX/XXXX. I received nothing in response from either Portnoy Schneck or XXXX XXXX XXXX providing documents to validate the debt. ( a ) Notice of debt ; contents Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing ( 1 ) the amount of the debt ; ( 2 ) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed ; ( 3 ) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector ; ( 4 ) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector ; and ( 5 ) a statement that, upon the consumers written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor ( b ) Disputed debts If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection ( a ) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector. Collection activities and communications that do not otherwise violate this subchapter may continue during the 30-day period referred to in subsection ( a ) unless the consumer has notified the debt collector in writing that the debt, or any portion of the debt, is disputed or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor. Any collection activities and communication during the 30-day period may not overshadow or be inconsistent with the disclosure of the consumers right to dispute the debt or request the name and address of the original creditor. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from another attorney soliciting service for a lawsuit that was filed against me by XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have not been served this summons/complaint to date. I will be calling the XXXX Count Court to see if an Affidavit of Service was filed with the court. 

After reviewing my credit reports, none of this information is on my credit reports. Are XXXX XXXX XXXX and Portnoy Schneck trying to extort me for money that I do not know? How did these 2 companies get my information since I am protected under the Privacy Act of 1974?