Consumer complaint received 2016-05-20
Product: Debt collection — Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt — Not given enough info to verify debt
Company: Jana Ferrell & Associates LLC (TX)

I currently have an entry on my XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX credit reports under the name Jana Ferrell and Associates. This is a collection agency that is attempting to collect {$440.00} on behalf of the original creditor, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The original debt was created in XXXX. This is also the year that the last payment was made on the debt. However, according to XXXX, their records reflect this to be XXXX, which is incorrect. The original entry was removed from all of my credit reports, in XXXX, when the 7 year mark was met. I 'm assuming during this year, the original creditor sold the debt to Jana Ferrell and Associates collection agency. The new entry on my credit report list the date the account was opened as XXXX XXXX, XXXX. I disputed this several times with all credit bureaus and the determination has always been to leave the entry on my reports. This last time that I disputed the entry ( XXXX XXXX ) and it remained, I took it upon myself to contact Jana Ferrell and Associates. I spoke to a man who was extremely aggressive and vulgar in the way that he spoke to me. He was aware that I have disputed the entry and told me to " just pay the debt. '' I explained to him everything that I have explained here in this message, and he informed me that the " clock '' on the debt was reset and reported to the credit bureaus in XXXX XXXX because I made a payment to the collection agency. I informed him that I do not recall doing so. I asked him to provide me with some sort of documentation proving that the debt is mine and that I allegedly made a payment in XXXX XXXX. He told me " no, '' and said, " I needed to check my bank account. '' Eventually, I could not bear anymore verbal abuse and harassment and him denying me verification of the debt, so I hung up the phone. I then followed up by sending a formal request for debt validation as well as proof that I made a payment to the collection agency in XXXX XXXX, via official letter. I sent this on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and according to the USPS tracking number, it was received by the collection agency on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. It is now XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and I have not received any mail from the agency. There are two ( 2 ) to three ( 3 ) pieces of information that is incorrect : 1. The year that the debt was originally created and the year that the last payment was made. 

2. The date the account was opened. 

As a consumer, there must be some sort of recourse that I can take, other than hiring an attorney to assist. Please help me in receiving verification and proof of this debt 's dates and timelines. I am requesting proof of an alleged payment made in XXXX XXXX as well as proof that I allegedly opened this account in XXXX. I have contacted the original creditor and was informed that all questions regarding the debt would need to be directed to the collection agency as they have sold it and are no longer reporting the debt. This is impossible when the collection agency refuses to provide me with proof. I feel like I am being sent in circles, as the credit bureau can only report the information that the collection agency provides. 

Regardless of the outcome, NO creditor should ever be able to speak to a consumer the way that the representative for Jana Ferrell and Associates spoke to me. There is a way to conduct business and be polite. I understand that it is their business to collect debt, however, some consumers ( like myself ) actually mean well and want to resolve these types of matters amicably.