Consumer complaint received 03-01-2018 about Debt collection (Other debt) with Eastern Revenue, Inc (NJ).
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged

Complaint: I am writing this letter to dispute a negative collection account that was posted to my credit report that showed up yesterday via my XXXX XXXX Account at XXXX. 

I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX that states that I have 30 days after the receipt of the notice to verify the validity of my debt with them ( see attachment # 1 ). The letter also states that my credit report may have a negative impact if they dont hear from me. On XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX I received notice that my credit report has been updated as delinquent for the debt from Eastern Revenue. I called and left a message at XXXX to let Eastern Revenue know that I am interested in settling my debt and that they reported my account to the credit bureaus ahead of schedule. I also sent an email at XXXX stating this ( see attadchment # 2 ). 

The call was received and verified that I did in fact call at XXXX when I spoke with the Floor Manager, XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX the general manager the following day. At XXXX XXXX I received a call from XXXX XXXX who also took my complaint and request to settle the debt. My name and credit has been tarnished by this company fraudulently because they did not allow me the full 30 days as required by law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to first verify the validity of my debt before reporting to the credit bureau. When I spoke with XXXX about this he stated that he is doing as the creditor wishes which was to report me by the XXXX and was well within the rights applicable by law to do so. I requested from XXXX, XXXX XXXX and XXXX that the debt be immediately deleted from the Credit Bureaus and that they send me a confirmation letter stating that this is what they are going to do. Only then can I with good faith pay in full the debt owed. Before speaking to XXXX I spoke with XXXX XXXX who said I have only 2 options : option 1 # put my account in dispute status to which I will receive a letter verifying the validity of the debt or option # 2 pay the debt in full and then and only after paid the debt will be deleted. I told him and XXXX that I would not settle for anything less than having a fraudulently placed debt removed immediately from my credit report as I am complying within the terms of the letter they sent me and also the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act section 15 USC 1692c 805 ( b ) and 15 USC 1692g 809 ( b ). I was told by XXXX XXXX that he needs 24 hours to investigate the claim and asked me if he has 24 hours to investigate. I again relayed the message that I have no problem settling a debt that I owe however I need an invalid and erroneous reporting to my credit to be removed immediately and I need documentation this will be done. In short : this company has violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by not allowing me the full 30 days as stated by law and by their notice to verify the validity of the debt before sending derogatory information to Credit Bureaus. They have damaged my name and credit as a result.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation