Consumer complaint received 2025-11-28 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: W&A Intermediate Co., LLC
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Current Creditor/Owner : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX Issue Category : Debt collection Sub-Issue : Attempting to collect debt that is not owed or for which proof is not provided. 

Narrative : Collection Agency Failed to Validate Debt and Violated FDCPA 's Cease-Collection Mandate This complaint details Wakefield & Associates pattern of behavior that shows intentional evasion of legal duties and multiple violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), including attempting to collect an unvalidated, disputed, and likely unenforceable medical debt. 

XXXX. Evasion of Formal Debt Validation Request ( FDCPA Violation ) XX/XX/year> : Discovered an unknown charge-off on the consumer 's credit report ( Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

XX/XX/year> : The consumer sent a notarized, Certified Mail Debt Validation Request to the address listed on the credit report ( XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, TN XXXX ). 

Evidence : [ XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] XX/XX/year> : XXXX tracking ( Ref. XXXX ) confirms the letter was forwarded to the collector 's current XXXX XXXX  address but was deliberately returned as " Unclaimed '' ( see attached image showing " RETURN TO SENDER '' ). This constitutes intentional avoidance of the legal duty to validate the debt. 

Evidence : [ XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX ] and [ XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX ] XXXX. Collection Attempts Without Validation & Discovery of Defective Debt XX/XX/year> : The consumer called the agency to dispute the debt. The agent could not provide any basic validation details ( XXXX location of service ) but immediately attempted to negotiate a settlement, in violation of the FDCPA, which requires collection activity to cease until validation is mailed. 

XX/XX/year> : Research confirmed the original creditor, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, was acquired by XXXX XXXX XXXX, which subsequently filed for XXXX XXXX Bankruptcy ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). The current owner is XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, confirming this debt is a purchased, distressed asset with a questionable Chain of Title. 

XX/XX/year> : The consumer submitted a detailed settlement offer and notice of FDCPA non-compliance via the agency 's web portal, referencing the original creditor 's bankruptcy and the 100 % XXXX billing error defense. 

Evidence : [ XXXX successfully submitted XXXX XXXX ] XXXX. Second Validation Request and FDCPA Cease-Collection Violation XX/XX/year> : The consumer sent a second Certified Mail Validation Request, explicitly citing the bankruptcy of the original creditor and demanding legal proof of the chain of title, in addition to the original bill. 

Evidence : [ XXXX XXXX ] XX/XX/year> : An agent advised the consumer that a letter was in the mail, which listed the original bill information needed to validate the debt. The agent also confirmed they were collecting on behalf of XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. The consumer followed up the call with an email which advised that the second certified letter would arrive on Monday, triggering the FDCPA cease-collection mandate, reiterating prior concerns, and proposing an amicable settlement of {$400.00}. 

Evidence : [ XXXX of email sent XXXX ... ] XX/XX/year> : The second Certified Letter was DELIVERED ( Ref. XXXX ) to Wakefield & Associates ' current address. Under XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( b ), the agency is now legally required to cease ALL collection activity, including credit reporting. 

Evidence : [ XXXX from XXXX Email showing delivery.pdf ] and [ XXXX from XXXX online showing delivery.pdf ] XX/XX/year> : The " validation letter '' arrived. It was NOT validation, but an expired, generic settlement offer ( due date of XX/XX/XXXX ) from XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, proving they are attempting to collect while ignoring validation requests. 

Evidence : [ XXXX ] XXXX. Continued Reporting ( Ongoing FDCPA/FCRA Violation ) XX/XX/year> ( Today ) : The collection entry remains open and active on the consumer 's credit report without reference to active dispute, despite the required FDCPA cease-collection mandate triggered on XX/XX/year>.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief