Consumer complaint received 2024-03-24
Product: Debt collection — Auto debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: CAINE & WEINER COMPANY, INC. (IL)

I am writing to file a complaint against the debt collection company Caine & Weiner for unethical and potentially illegal business practices that have caused significant harm to my credit standing. 
Enclosed are copies of the many letters I have sent to Caine & Weiner on XX/XX/2023, and now XXXX XXXX, and XXXX, in which I formally disputed an alleged delinquent account ( Account # XXXX, originally with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) that they had reported on my credit file. In this letter, I provided evidence that the account was erroneous, as I had insurance coverage from a different provider during the period in question. I also requested specific documentation from the company to validate the account 's legitimacy and their authority to pursue collection actions. 
Despite my clear dispute and request for removal, Caine & Weiner failed to respond within the legally mandated 30-day period as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). This lack of response should have resulted in the account being permanently removed from my credit reports. 
However, approximately 6-8 weeks after the account had been removed by the XXXX major credit bureaus ( XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX ) due to Caine & Weiner 's failure to respond, the company illegally re-inserted or " recycled '' this account information onto my credit reports. 
I have also noticed that not only this account is being reported as open, but it also shows an open or active balance, that is also a violation of FCRA, they have failed to properly and timely respond to my requests. 
Under the FCRA, it is illegal for a company to continue pursuing, reinstating, have an account on collection status shown as " open '' or with an " active '' or " Open '' or " recycling '' a disputed account 's information, after failing to properly investigate and respond to a dispute within the 30-day timeframe. By re-inserting this account, Caine & Weiner is in violation of federal law and has caused significant damage to my credit standing. 
I have made numerous attempts to resolve this issue directly with Caine & Weiner, including sending a formal demand for the permanent removal of this account from my credit reports. However, the company has continued to disregard the law and maintain this erroneous information on my credit file. 
I am seeking your assistance in investigating Caine & Weiner 's practices and holding them accountable for their illegal actions. Their blatant disregard for consumer protection laws and willingness to use erroneous information to damage the credit standing of unsuspecting individuals is unacceptable and must be addressed. 
Enclosed are copies of all relevant correspondence, including my original dispute letter, subsequent demands for removal, and any responses ( or lack thereof ) from Caine & Weiner. I am happy to provide any additional information or documentation that may be required to assist in your investigation. 
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt action to resolve this issue and prevent further harm to myself and other consumers. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX