Consumer complaint received 2025-10-06 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: CAINE & WEINER COMPANY, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I, XXXX XXXX, acting Pro Se pursuant to Florida Statutes 27.51 and reserving all rights under UCC 1-308 without prejudice, hereby file this formal complaint against Caine & Weiner for the unvalidated and inaccurate reporting of a collection account in the amount of {$110.00} on my XXXX  credit report ( Confirmation # XXXX, dated XX/XX/year> ). This reporting constitutes multiple willful violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), including 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ) ( failure to conduct a reasonable investigation upon notice of dispute ), 1681b ( lack of permissible purpose for accessing and reporting on my consumer report, as the debt is unverified and potentially unenforceable ), 1681e ( b ) ( failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of reported information ), 1681i ( noncompliance with procedures in case of disputed accuracy, including timely reinvestigation ), and specifically 1681i ( 1 ) ( A ) ( failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation free of charge within 30 days of receiving notice of the dispute ). Additionally, this breaches the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( failure to provide debt validation upon request, including the original creditor 's name, amount owed, and consumer rights notice ), and Florida 's Consumer Collection Practices Act, Fla. Stat. 559.72 ( prohibiting the collection or threat to collect debts through false, deceptive, or misleading representations, and 559.715 requiring written notice of assignment before collection attempts ). 
Despite my prior disputes and demands for validation, Caine & Weiner has not provided any verifiable evidence of the debt 's legitimacy, such as the original signed contract, complete chain of assignment or securitization details ( including the name of any trust, date of closing, assignment contract, and proof of transfer ), itemized statements showing how the alleged balance was calculated, payment history, or proof that the debt is legally enforceable under applicable statutes of limitations ( e.g., Florida 's 5-year limit for written contracts under Fla. Stat . 95.11 ( 2 ) ( b ) ). Furthermore, no IRS Form 1099-C has been issued or provided for this charged-off debt exceeding {$600.00}, violating IRS requirements under 26 U.S.C. 6050P and Treasury Regulation 1.6050P-1, which mandate reporting of canceled debts to both the consumer and the IRS. The absence of such documentation suggests this reporting may stem from a data breach, negligent merging of files, or identity theft, as my personal information across bureaus is inconsistent ( e.g., incorrect addresses and phones on XXXX and XXXX  reports ). This inaccurate reporting has caused substantial harm, including lowered credit scores ( e.g., XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX ), denial of credit opportunities, higher interest rates, and emotional distress, entitling me to actual damages, statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation under 15 U.S.C. 1681n ( willful noncompliance ), and punitive damages. 
I demand an immediate and thorough reinvestigation under 1681i ( 1 ) ( A ), full validation of the debt as required by 1692g, provision of the 1099-C, and permanent deletion of this item from all credit reports if it can not be fully validated within 30 days. Failure to comply will be treated as continued willful violation, subjecting Caine & Weiner to further liability. Enclosed are my U.S. Passport for identity verification and copies of my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX credit reports highlighting discrepancies.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation