Consumer complaint received 2024-05-02
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Continental Services Group, Inc. d/b/a ConServe (FL)

Thank you for taking the time to read this correspondence. I received a letter from ConServe, Continental Service Group, LLC., dated XX/XX/year>. Enclosed in the letter was information that indicated I had a student account balance from XXXX XXXX XXXX. The letter informed me that I could call or write them ( ConServe ) by XX/XX/year>, to dispute all or part of the debt. This same correspondence also indicated that if I wrote them by XX/XX/year>, they must stop collection on any amount I dispute until they send information that shows that I owe the debt. I was informed that I could correspond with them via email as they accept disputes electronically at XXXX. 

On XX/XX/year>, I followed the instructions outlined on the letter that I received from them, and emailed XXXX to dispute all of the debt they are/were attempting to collect. I have uploaded proof of this correspondence below for your reference. Despite following the instructions they outlined in their letter, they did not and have yet to ( as of XX/XX/year> ) send me information that validates the debt they are attempting to collect and they proceeded to report this information to the credit bureau agencies on XX/XX/year>. 

Enclosed are copies of the information that appeared on my credit report ( XXXX ) while I was actively disputing the debt with ConServe, specifically XXXX and XXXX. While I have not reviewed the information reporting to XXXX, it is likely appearing on that credit report as well. 

According to the resources available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, after I dispute a debt owed, a debt collector, must provide a response to my dispute in accordance with the debt collection rule ; this is generally a validation notice ( e.g., origination of the debt ( what does the student account balance consist of ), an itemization of the current amount of the debt that reflects interest, fees, payments, and credits since a particular date etc. ) in response to all or part of the dispute before it sends information about the debt to a credit reporting agency. They must also, as the debt collector, pause collection efforts on the amount of the debt I am disputing until they have adequately responded to my request. I believe its fair to request information pertaining to a debt I am being informed, and have no knowledge that I owe, but they did not do that and now XXXX being forced to pay an amount that I have no supporting information about ; at the very least ConServe should have let the credit bureau agencies know about my dispute and the credit bureau agencies would have included a notice that I am disputing it as inaccurate or incomplete. I was not afforded any of the rights under the debt collection rule. And as mentioned, they have not even notified me of the outcome of my dispute as of today, XX/XX/year>. 

I am requesting that ConServe, Continental Service Group, LLC., XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX investigate this matter once again and ask that they contact the nationwide credit bureau agencies to have the item ( s ) removed from all of the credit bureau reports that they are appearing on. The continued attempts to collect the debt has undermined my ability to validate it and XXXX now left with no choice but to pay the amount that they are claiming that I owe. 

XXXX planning to apply for an auto loan, I have never had a single derogatory report appear on my credit report and its come to my attention that this report on my record could hurt my ability to qualify. I truly believe that it doesnt reflect my creditworthiness and commitment to repaying my debts and this is primarily why I have proceeded with making the payment despite not having information which validates the debt. 

Thank you for your consideration, and I hope youll help with my request considering the circumstances. 

Enclosures : ConServe Correspondence, Screenshot of Dispute Email Sent Confirmation, XXXX & PDF of Dispute Email Contents, Credit Bureau Reports XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), and Payment Confirmation.