Consumer complaint received 2025-07-25 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: HEAD MERCANTILE CO., INC.
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
multiple collection accounts being reported by Head Mercantile Group ( HMC GROUP ) on my XXXX credit report. All of the following accounts are connected to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and are being reported inaccurately, incompletely, and in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the FDCPA, and federal policy related to COVID-era medical debt.

Accounts in Dispute : 1. Account Number : XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Original Balance : {$2000.00} Current Balance : {$2300.00} Status : Collection account. {$2300.00} past due as of XX/XX/XXXX On Record Until : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. Account Number : XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Original Balance : {$1500.00} Current Balance : {$1700.00} Status : Collection account. {$1700.00} past due as of XX/XX/XXXX On Record Until : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. Account Number : XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Original Balance : {$2100.00} Current Balance : {$2700.00} Status : Collection account. {$2700.00} past due as of XX/XX/XXXX On Record Until : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. Account Number : XXXX Original Balance : {$1000.00} Current Balance : {$1200.00} Status : Collection account. {$1200.00} past due as of XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX On Record Until : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA 609, 611, 623 ) Each of these accounts contains incomplete, inconsistent, or unverifiable data, specifically : Irregular or missing payment history ( marked ND in some months from XXXX ) Inflated balances with no documentation justifying fees ( e.g., {$2000.00} {$2300.00} ) Discrepancies in date and status reporting Failure to furnish itemized billing or validation upon previous disputes These issues render the information inaccurate and misleading, in violation of the FCRA and the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX reporting standards. 

2. COVID-Era Hardship & CARES Act Guidance All debts originated in early XXXX, during the declared COVID-19 public health emergency. I experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic, including medical stress and income loss.

Under the CARES Act and CFPB guidance, data furnishers were expected to : Adjust or pause negative reporting for those affected by COVID Honor forbearance or hardship requests Avoid aggressive collections and reporting, especially if federal COVID relief was received If XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX accepted Provider Relief Funds or other federal COVID aid, they were bound by terms restricting negative credit reporting and required to accommodate patient hardship.

Continued collection reporting, despite these protections and no resolution efforts, is unethical and may violate federal funding terms.

3. Failure to Validate Debt ( FCRA/FDCPA Noncompliance ) Your records indicate prior disputes were verified but no supporting documentation was ever sent to me, including : No itemized billing No proof of HIPAA-compliant transfer No original signed contracts No explanation of added fees or interest Under FCRA 609 and FDCPA 809, these accounts have not been properly validated. Verification alone is insufficient. Without full validation, these items must be deleted.

4. Demand for Immediate Deletion or Correction Given the above, I am demanding the following : Permanent deletion of all four collection accounts from my XXXX credit reports Immediate cessation of all future reporting related to these accounts A full copy of any documentation used to justify continued reporting Written confirmation of results within 30 days, as required by law If this request is not honored, I will proceed to : File a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Notify the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and State Attorney General Consider legal action for continued reporting of unvalidated and inaccurate accounts in violation of the FCRA and FDCPA

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation