Consumer complaint received 2026-01-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Electronic communications — Frequent or repeated messages
Company: January Technologies, Inc
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint against January Technologies , Inc. ( " January '' ) for egregious and systematic harassment through XXXX ( XXXX ) COLLECTION EMAILS sent over a XXXXmonth period in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 


PART XXXX : THE HARASSMENT - XXXX EMAILS BACKGROUND : January is attempting to collect an alleged debt of {$710.00} related to XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account # XXXX ). This account appears on my XXXX credit report as a charge-off dated XX/XX/XXXX. 

THE EXTREME HARASSMENT : Between XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, January sent me XXXX ( XXXX ) COLLECTION EMAILS to my email address. I have documented all XXXX emails with XXXX screenshots showing : - Complete email history from XXXX - Dates ranging from XX/XX/XXXX through XX/XX/XXXX - Consistent pattern of multiple emails per week - Average frequency : XXXX emails per month for XXXX consecutive months FINAL STRAW : On XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX, January sent me their XXXX harassment email with subject line " XXXX : Pay your XXXX XXXX XXXX credit card balance with a plan. '' At XXXX XXXX that same evening - just XXXX hour and XXXX minutes later - I was forced to send January a formal CEASE AND DESIST letter demanding they stop this harassment. 

I have email tracking confirmation that January received and OPENED my cease and desist letter. Any further contact from them will constitute willful violation of my legal rights. 

EVIDENCE OF XXXX EMAILS : I am attaching XXXX screenshots showing : XXXX. Search results for " XXXX '' showing " XXXX of XXXX '' emails XXXX. Page XXXX of emails ( XX/XX/XXXX- XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. Page XXXX of emails ( XX/XX/XXXX- XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. Final harassment email dated XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX. My cease and desist response sent XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM These emails span from XX/XX/XXXX through XX/XX/XXXX - over XXXX months of continuous harassment. 


PART XXXX : FDCPA VIOLATIONS VIOLATION # XXXX : HARASSMENT AND ABUSE ( 15 U.S.C. 1692d ) The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from engaging in " any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. '' Sending NINETY ( XXXX ) collection emails over XXXX months - averaging XXXX emails per month or more than XXXX email per week - is textbook harassment. This conduct : - Is excessive and unreasonable by any standard- Was designed to wear me down and force payment - Caused me severe emotional distress and anxiety - Disrupted my daily life and peace of mind - Continued relentlessly for over a year No reasonable person would consider XXXX emails over XXXX months to be acceptable collection communication. 

VIOLATION # XXXX : HARASSMENT BY REPEATED COMMUNICATIONS ( 15 U.S.C. 1692d ( 5 ) ) The FDCPA specifically prohibits " causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number. '' While this provision references phone calls, courts have applied the same principle to electronic communications. Sending XXXX emails over XXXX months constitutes " repeated '' and " continuous '' communication with the clear intent to annoy and harass me into paying. 

VIOLATION # XXXX : UNFAIR PRACTICES ( 15 U.S.C. 1692f ) The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from using " unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt. '' January 's systematic campaign of XXXX emails over XXXX months is unconscionable. This level of communication : - Goes far beyond normal collection practices- Is oppressive and coercive - Shows a pattern and practice of harassment - Was designed to overwhelm me into submission VIOLATION # XXXX : COMMUNICATION WITHOUT CONSENT I NEVER : - Contacted January to set up a payment plan - Agreed to receive emails from January - Provided consent for multiple emails per week - Authorized January to contact me XXXX times - Initiated any communication with January January obtained my email address through the debt purchase from XXXX XXXX XXXX. I did not give them permission to bombard me with XXXX emails over XXXX months. 


PART XXXX : TIMELINE OF HARASSMENT The XXXX emails were sent between : START DATE : XX/XX/XXXX ( first email ) END DATE : XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX ( XXXX and final email ) DURATION : Approximately XXXX months ( XXXX days ) FREQUENCY : XXXX emails XXXX  months = XXXX emails per month average PATTERN : - XX/XX/XXXX : Multiple emails - XX/XX/XXXX : Multiple emails weekly - XX/XX/XXXX : Multiple emails weekly - XX/XX/XXXX : Multiple emails weekly - XX/XX/XXXX : Multiple emails weekly - XX/XX/XXXX through XX/XX/XXXX : Continuous harassment - XX/XX/XXXX : Final email at XXXX XXXX MY RESPONSE : - XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM : Sent CEASE AND DESIST letter - Email tracker confirmed : January received and OPENED the cease and desist - January now has actual knowledge I demand they stop all contact PART XXXX : HARM SUFFERED January 's XXXX harassment campaign has caused me severe harm : EMOTIONAL DISTRESS : - Severe anxiety from constant collection emails ( XXXX over XXXX  months ) - Stress and worry checking my email only to see more harassment - Feeling overwhelmed and helpless to stop the barrage - Fear and dread of opening my inbox - Sleep disruption from worry about the harassment - Emotional exhaustion from XXXX months of continuous contact CREDIT DAMAGE : - Collection account damaging my credit score - Difficulty obtaining credit due to this negative reporting - Potential denial of loans, housing, or employment opportunities - Higher interest rates on any credit I can obtain - Damage to my financial reputation TIME AND EFFORT : - Hours spent dealing with and documenting XXXX emails - Time researching my rights under the FDCPA - Effort taking screenshots and organizing evidence - Stress of preparing this complaint and cease and desist letter - Mental energy consumed by this harassment for XXXX months INVASION OF PRIVACY : - Constant unwanted emails invading my inbox - Feeling harassed in my own email account - Unable to avoid the harassment without abandoning my email PART XXXX : CREDIT REPORTING ISSUES In addition to the harassment, January is reporting this collection to TransUnion : ACCOUNT INFORMATION : - Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX - Account Number : XXXX ( ending in XXXX on credit report ) - Balance : {$710.00} - Status : Charge-off - Date of Last Activity : XX/XX/XXXX CREDIT REPORTING VIOLATIONS : I dispute the accuracy and validity of this debt and the manner in which it is being reported. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) : XXXX. LACK OF VERIFICATION ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ) January has never provided me with : - Original signed credit agreement - Itemized accounting of the alleged balance - Proof they are authorized to collect this debt - Chain of custody documentation XXXX. INACCURATE REPORTING Any collection account being pursued through illegal harassment should not be reported as accurate information on credit reports. 

XXXX. IMPROPER COLLECTION PRACTICES INVALIDATE REPORTING January 's FDCPA violations ( XXXX harassment emails ) demonstrate they are not a legitimate debt collector operating within legal bounds. Their credit reporting should be rejected as coming from an unlawful source. 

I have approximately XXXX weeks ago disputed this account with XXXX, but the credit bureau 's investigation is separate from January 's federal law violations documented here. 


PART XXXX : JANUARY 'S CALIFORNIA LICENSE STATUS - POSSIBLE VIOLATION In January 's most recent email ( XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX PM ), they state : " January is a licensed debt collector. NMLS ID # XXXX. CA License Number Pending. '' POTENTIAL UNLICENSED COLLECTION : The phrase " CA License Number Pending '' suggests January may NOT be properly licensed to collect debts in California. 

California law requires debt collectors to be licensed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation ( DFPI ). If January 's license is " pending '' ( meaning not yet approved ), they may be collecting ILLEGALLY in California. 

This would constitute an additional violation : - Unlicensed debt collection in California - Operating without required state authorization - Violating California debt collection licensing laws I request the CFPB investigate whether January is properly licensed in California and whether their XXXXemail harassment campaign violates California state laws in addition to federal FDCPA violations. 


PART XXXX : NO PRIOR COMMUNICATION WITH JANUARY I have NEVER contacted January about this alleged debt. I have : - Never called them - Never emailed them ( until my cease and desist ) - Never visited their website to set up a payment plan - Never signed up for their communications- Never agreed to receive emails - Never acknowledged the debt All XXXX emails were UNSOLICITED and UNWANTED. 

The only communication I have ever sent to January is my cease and desist letter on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX demanding they stop harassing me. 

I did not contact January before filing this complaint because : XXXX. I am aware of my legal rights under the FDCPA XXXX. I do not wish to validate or acknowledge this alleged debt XXXX. Any communication would likely have resulted in more harassment XXXX. I prefer to resolve this through federal oversight and enforcement

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation