Consumer complaint received 2024-02-29
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc. (TX)

National Credit Systems , Inc ( NCS ) placed a collection on my credit file with all XXXX national credit reporting agencies ( XXXX, XXXX and XXXX ) in the amount of {$8600.00}. I learned of this in early XXXX, and I immediately reached out to NCS. NCS identified XXXX at the XXXX XXXX  as the original creditor. I subsequently reached out to XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX as well. Both companies have done nothing but give me the run around. I called XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX many times and no one would ever talk to me. They kept telling me they knew nothing and that I would need to speak to the leasing manager who was never available to speak. I even sent a friend to their leasing office on my behalf and he was told by XXXX leasing agents that they didn't know anything but that they have both spoken to me on the phone at different times and assured my friend that the leasing manager was going to call me the following day. They also gave my friend the Manager 's business card which identifies her as XXXX XXXX. XXXX never called me back. After multiple additional attempts calling the XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, I finally was able to get someone would give me information, but it wasn't XXXX. I asked the person I spoke to what identifying documents they have on file for the person that leased from them. I was told that they have nothing, not even a copy of a driver license. I was told the application was completed online and they didn't get any identifying documents or even have any protocols in place to validate the identity of the person applying. I've also been in contact with NCS multiple times. I completed an Identity Theft Victim 's Complaint and Affidavit for NCS. I filed a police report for the identity theft and shared this information with NCS along with documentation proving that I am buying my home and that I have lived here since 2019. I also provided NCS copies of electricity and water bills in my name for the time frame that they claim I was living at XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I gave them a copy of my driver license showing my current address. Those electricity and water bills show my current address where I have lived for 5 years now. After all of this I received a letter from NCS saying it wasn't enough. How much is enough? Why is the burden of proof on me and not them? Isn't a residential lease agreement a form of credit? Don't creditors have to have systems in place to reasonably establish the identity of the person applying for credit. Does the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  even get a signed lease agreement from people who lease from them? I received an itemized list of the unpaid lease and other fees from NCS. I noticed on the itemization that a {$250.00} security deposit was made. Has anyone gone back and looked at how that deposit was paid? Was it paid by check? If so whose name what on the check from what banking institution? Was the deposit paid electronically online? Again, if so whose name was on the account? I am a medical doctor who has never defaulted on an account in my life. I am buying my home where I have been living for 5 years. These people are trying to collect something from me that is not my debt or my responsibility and they are defaming me by reporting derogatory information to all XXXX national credit reporting agencies. Both XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  and NCS need to be held accountable for their deceptive practices and processes which do nothing at all to protect the consumer from identity theft. Isn't this a regulated area that requires protocols? 

If you need copies of any or all of the documents that I furnished NCS with please let me know and I will provide them.