Consumer complaint received 2025-08-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Impersonated attorney, law enforcement, or government official
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
DEFICIENCIES IN YOUR VALIDATION RESPONSE Your response consisting solely of invoices fails to satisfy the validation requirements under 15 U.S.C. 1692g of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Specifically, you failed to provide : 1. PROOF OF LEGAL STANDING No documentation establishing your firm 's relationship to American Express No proof of authorization to collect this alleged debt No assignment agreement or chain of title documentation No evidence of your legal standing to pursue collection 2. DEBT OWNERSHIP VERIFICATION No proof that American Express currently owns this debt No documentation showing debt was not sold/transferred No purchase agreement if debt was assigned to your firm or client No proof of amount paid for debt if purchased 3. ACCOUNT VERIFICATION Invoices alone do not constitute validation under Chaudhry v. Gallerizzo, 174 F.3d 394 ( 4th Cir. 1999 ) No original signed agreement creating the debt No complete payment history from account inception No itemization of fees, interest, and charges added to principal No proof of last payment date and amount 4. LEGAL COMPLIANCE ISSUES No disclosure of Pennsylvania debt collection license Contradictory identification as both " law firm '' and " debt collector '' Failure to provide method of credit reporting verification LEGAL VIOLATIONS AND DEMANDS FDCPA VIOLATIONS : Your inadequate response while continuing collection efforts violates 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ), which requires cessation of collection until proper validation is provided.

DECEPTIVE PRACTICES : Using attorney letterhead while identifying as a debt collector may constitute deceptive practices under 15 U.S.C. 1692e.

STANDING DEFICIENCY : Without proof of your relationship to American Express or authorization to collect, you lack legal standing to pursue this matter.

FORMAL DEMANDS Based on your inadequate response, I hereby demand : 1. IMMEDIATE CESSATION of all collection activities until proper validation is provided 2. COMPLETE VALIDATION including all documentation previously requested 3. PROOF OF STANDING to collect this alleged debt 4. CREDIT REPORTING REMOVAL if any negative information has been reported 5. CLARIFICATION of your firm 's capacity- are you acting as attorneys or debt collectors?

LEGAL NOTICE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS : This alleged debt may be time-barred under Pennsylvania 's 4-year statute of limitations ( 42 Pa.C.S.A. 5525 ). Collection attempts on time-barred debt may violate state law.

CONTINUING VIOLATIONS : Any further collection activities without proper validation will constitute continuing violations of the FDCPA, entitling me to statutory damages up to {$1000.00} plus actual damages and attorney fees under 15 U.S.C. 1692k.

CREDIT REPORTING : Any reporting to credit bureaus without proper validation violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

DOCUMENTATION PRESERVATION : I am preserving all documentation related to this matter for potential legal action.

FINAL DEMAND You have fifteen ( 15 ) days from receipt of this letter to provide complete, adequate validation addressing all deficiencies noted above, or to : 1. Close this account as uncollectible 2. Remove any negative credit reporting 3. Provide written confirmation that no further collection efforts will be made 4. Confirm this matter is closed This is a formal dispute of the alleged debt. I do not acknowledge any liability and reserve all rights under state and federal law.

Failure to comply with these demands will result in appropriate legal action for violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, and Pennsylvania consumer protection laws.

GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

Very truly yours, XXXX XXXX CC : Pennsylvania Attorney General Consumer Protection Division CC : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief