Consumer complaint received 2025-12-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: DISCOVER BANK
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint specifically about the account being reported under the name DiscoverCard on my credit report. I am disputing this account in its entirety because I do not own it, I never opened it, and I never authorized anyone to open it on my behalf. This DiscoverCard account is fraudulent and was created without my knowledge or consent. Because of this, I have already filed an FTC Identity Theft Report stating that this account does not belong to me and that my information has been used without authorization.

This DiscoverCard account is currently reporting as a derogatory charge-off with a past-due balance. I dispute all of it. I am not responsible for the charges, balance, or any negative reporting associated with it. I have never applied for a DiscoverCard account, never signed an application, never signed any credit agreement, never activated any card, and never made any purchases. I have no relationshippast or presentwith DiscoverCard. The account simply appeared on my credit file without my consent, which is the exact reason I filed an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission.

When I discovered this derogatory DiscoverCard account on my credit report, I immediately attempted to dispute it with the credit bureaus. In my disputes, I made it clear that the account is fraudulent and does not belong to me. I specifically requested that the credit bureaus conduct a full reinvestigation as required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). I asked for verification, including any documents, contracts, signatures, account-opening records, or evidence that could link me to the DiscoverCard account. Despite these requests, the bureaus failed to provide me with any documentation or proof that I opened or authorized this account.

Instead, I received generic responses claiming that the DiscoverCard account had been verified, but the bureaus never provided an actual Method of Verification or any original documents. The bureaus did not produce a signed credit agreement or any evidence showing that this account belongs to me. Under FCRA 611 ( a ), I have the right to a complete reinvestigation, but that did not happen. The lack of documentation shows that the DiscoverCard account is unverifiable, inaccurate, and fraudulent.

Because of the seriousness of having a fraudulent account on my credit report, I proceeded to file a formal FTC Identity Theft Report. In this report, I declared that the DiscoverCard account was opened fraudulently and that I did not authorize or initiate the account in any way. I followed all required steps, including documenting the fraud, submitting my identity theft statement, and notifying the credit bureaus. Once an FTC identity theft report is submitted, the credit bureaus are required under FCRA 605B to block fraudulent information unless the furnisher provides evidence proving the account is legitimate. To this date, DiscoverCard has not provided any documentation proving that I opened the account.

Despite the FTC identity theft report, DiscoverCard continues to report the account as a charge-off on my credit file. This has significantly damaged my credit, affected my creditworthiness, and caused emotional, financial, and personal hardship. My credit score has been negatively impacted even though the account is fraudulent. I have been forced to spend time disputing the account multiple times across multiple credit bureaus and contacting different agencies because DiscoverCard and the bureaus have failed to remove an account that I clearly do not own.

I have taken every legal step available to me. I filed the FTC Identity Theft Report. I disputed the account with each credit bureau. I asked for proof, validation, and verification. I asked for the Method of Verification. I requested original signed documents. I asked for the chain of responsibility and confirmation that the account was legitimately connected to me. None of that documentation has been provided because the account does not belong to me.

Furthermore, DiscoverCard has not provided any evidence that they correctly verified my identity at the time the account was allegedly opened. They have not provided application data, IP addresses, device information, or any authentication evidence that proves the account belongs to me. Because the account is fraudulent, DiscoverCard can not produce documents that do not exist.

The continued reporting of this fraudulent DiscoverCard account violates my rights under the FCRA. Furnishers and credit bureaus are both responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information they report. Under FCRA 602A and 607 ( b ), financial institutions must ensure maximum possible accuracy in reporting. Reporting a fraudulent accounteven after being notified that it is identity theftis a direct violation of these federal standards. 

Additionally, under FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ), the furnisher is required to mark the account as disputed. In this case, both the bureaus and DiscoverCard should have added the dispute notation immediately after my first dispute. If this dispute notation has not been applied, this is an additional violation.

The DiscoverCard account should never have been reported in the first place. Once the FTC Identity Theft Report was submitted, the bureaus should have blocked the information unless the furnisher provided documentation proving ownership. Since no documentation has been provided, the account should have already been removed. The continued presence of this fraudulent account causes me ongoing harm and stress.

I am requesting CFPB assistance because DiscoverCard and the credit bureaus have failed to remove this fraudulent account, even though I have followed every legal step required to demonstrate that the account is not mine. I do not own this DiscoverCard account. I never opened it. I never authorized anyone to open it. I never signed anything. The account was created through identity theft or fraudulent use of my information, and I have taken appropriate action by filing an FTC report. 

I am asking for the CFPB to require DiscoverCard to produce real documentation proving that I opened the account. If they can not produce itwhich they can not, because I never opened the accountthen the only fair, accurate, and lawful resolution is the immediate and permanent deletion of the DiscoverCard account from all of my credit reports.

The damage caused by this account is significant. It shows as a charge-off, which is one of the most damaging negative marks that can appear on a credit file. It falsely portrays me as someone who defaulted on a major credit obligation, which is completely untrue. This prevents me from obtaining credit, increases my interest rates, and adds unnecessary barriers to my financial stability. It is unfair for me to suffer these consequences for an account that was created without my consent.

I am requesting the CFPB to require DiscoverCard and the credit bureaus to comply with federal law by removing the fraudulent account permanently. I am also requesting that they prevent reinsertion of the account unless DiscoverCard provides verifiable, original documentation proving that I opened the accountwhich they can not do.

Everything written here is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I am a victim of identity theft, and the DiscoverCard account is fraudulent. I respectfully request full removal to restore the accuracy of my credit file.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief