Consumer complaint received 2024-04-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: Rowland Avenue Management, Inc. A/KA Columbia Debt Recovery, LLC d/b/a Genesis
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I was alerted by one of my monitoring services that a derogatory remark was placed on my credit file ( s ). After numerous phone calls to various companies, I finally reached COLUMBIA DEBT RECOVERY LLC DBA GENESIS XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, WA XXXX, doing business as Genesis Debt Collectors. I was asked on the phone during a conversation with XXXX XXXX XXXX if my phone number ended in a certain last XXXX digits and if my email address was what she told me over the phone. I responded that neither were mine but seemed similar to fraudulent information used to take out other accounts in the past. Upon further investigation, I found out that the rental contract that was taken out illegally using my identity was during the period from XXXX XX/XX/XXXX until XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. When I called back to their office on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX and talked to XXXX, she informed me that she could not provide me the email address nor phone number. Between XXXX XXXX and XXXX XX/XX/XXXX I have provided Genesis with information they requested. Specifically where I lived during the time this fraudulent rental contract was taken out in my name, a copy of my resume and companies I have worked for during this timeframe, as well as proof that I could have never been in State of Georgia, including a previous police report for a similar instance during this time period for other identity theft issues. I am seeking the email address and phone number used to take out fraudulent accounts using my identity. What bothers me most is that Genesis did not perform their own background investigation on me, prior to issuing a negative derogatory remark on my credit files. Had they done so, my credit file would have come back with a comment stating that I am a victim of identity theft and that anyone trying to issues debt for products or services in my name is to call my mobile number listed in my identity theft statement on my credit files, before issuing said debt. Had Genesis or their client they represent at XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, GA done a proper credit check, they would have seen my XXXX identity theft statement on my files, starting on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. This apartment contract should have never been issued in my name, had they followed the legal guidelines set forth on my credit files. What's worse about this situation is that it appears that the credit bureaus are assisting Genesis with placing these derogatory comments on my credit file, despite the XXXX identity theft statement and a plethora of previous examples in the XXXX, GA area that are not my doing. I've never lived in Georgia. When these incidents occurred, I lived in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I still live in Virginia, and haven't moved out of this Commonwealth territory since late XXXX. After XXXX years of going through, and constantly having to repair my credit files, I have enough proof that the laws in this Country regarding credit, finance, and consumer protection are not working correctly. Companies like XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, Genesis, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX do not follow the regulations as written. The question left is : Do I declare War on the United States of America for allowing these companies to violate my constitutional rights as an American Citizen, and to skirt around the laws and regulations of our Sovereignty as a Nation?

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation