Consumer complaint received 2024-12-21 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: NV

Complaint narrative:
Apparently, XXXX XXXX XXXX opened a credit card account in my name without properly verifying the actual applicant. I don't recall how I actually became aware of the account a couple of years ago ( likely I saw a credit report ). I contacted XXXX when I became aware of the account and well after it was in default. XXXX confirmed over the phone that it did not have my correct contact information in its records until I reached out to them to let them know that I never opened any account with them. XXXX however refuses to correct its error that it should not have opened the account to begin with. I called XXXX several times and also wrote them a couple of letters explaining everything to them, but they refuse to change anything. XXXX has continued to damage my credit by reporting the account as mine, which became delinquent which they eventually wrote-off. 

XXXX was completely negligent in how it issued the credit card. If it had bothered to confirm an email address or confirm a phone number, it would have known it had incorrect information, or at least have some way to trace who really opened the account. How it is possible a card issuer would not bother to at least verify contact information for someone applying for credit? And why is such a high burden placed on an innocent party to correct a card issuer 's mistake? There don't seem to be any consequences to XXXX for its negligence or unwillingness to correct its mistake, but I suffer the consequences of destroyed credit. 

After trying to get XXXX to correct the error, I reached out the credit reporting services to see if they could correct the reporting. XXXX " investigated '' and somehow " verified as accurate '' the debt, but it would be impossible to confirm that it is my debt because it is not mine. ( My appeal was received the same letter in response. The " Adverse '' information of the delinquency will remain on XXXX 's reporting until XX/XX/XXXX unless some action is taken. ) As part of the XXXX correspondence, I noticed another credit card account with Citicards XXXX that I had been completely unaware of. When I called Citicards, they were unable to find any record of any account in my name or with my SS #. When I asked how is possible then that a delinquent account from Citi would show up as " Adverse Information '' on my credit report, the rep did not have an answer. The Citicard rep on the phone seemed like she would be taking action to correct the problem, but I don't know what is happening. ( I only discovered the Citicard account issue this week even though the account was opened in XXXX. My credit report shows the negative information will not be removed until XX/XX/XXXX unless something is done. ) In XX/XX/XXXX, I filed an Identity Theft statement with the FTC and sent it to XXXX and XXXX. I spoke with XXXX again by phone earlier this week, provided all the information again, but nothing has changed. The representative suggested I file a complaint with the CFPB, which is what I am doing now. 

I am guessing my name an SS # were part of a data leak ( likely through the Government Personnel Office who did a background check on me and whose data breach was massive is widely known ). Whatever the source, data leaks are extremely common and credit issuers should know this and take basic steps to confirm someone's identity before issuing credit ( the CFPB did more to confirm my contact information to use this website than the credit card issuers did for whoever opened these accounts in my name. ) In a more just world, the burden would not be placed on the victims to correct the problems that occur through credit card companies being negligent in their processes. In an even more just world there would be fines or class action suits for all the harm they cause by doing this. I am sure I am not the only one whose credit has been ruined by these bogus accounts. Despite my excellent record on my actual credit accounts, these relatively small fraud items are killers. I did not do anything wrong, but the burden is on me to keep calling giant and uncaring institutions, dealing with their automated replies, writing new letters in response, filing forms with the FTC and CFPB. How is this system fair? I was not in a position to prevent what the card companies did ( they could have prevented it ) but I am the one who gets screwed.

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 non-monetary relief