Consumer complaint received 2026-01-28 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding a Bank of America account that appears on my credit report as a derogatory charge-off/collection and does not belong to me. This account was not opened, authorized, or agreed to by me and is the result of identity theft. Despite taking appropriate and timely steps to report the fraud and dispute the account, it continues to be reported inaccurately. 

I first became aware of this Bank of America account after reviewing my credit reports and noticing a derogatory tradeline reported as a charge-off or collection with a past-due balance. I did not recognize the account and immediately determined that it was not mine. I have never applied for this account with Bank of America, never signed any credit agreement or contract, and never received or benefited from any funds, goods, or services associated with it. 

Because I did not authorize this account, I concluded that my personal information had been used by an unknown third party without my knowledge or consent. Once I identified the fraudulent activity, I acted promptly to protect myself and formally document the identity theft. 

I filed an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), declaring under penalty of perjury that this Bank of America account was opened fraudulently and does not belong to me. This report was submitted truthfully and in good faith and reflects my status as a victim of identity theft. 

After filing the FTC identity theft report, I disputed the Bank of America account and requested validation. In my disputes, I clearly stated that I do not own this account and that it was opened through identity theft. I requested that Bank of America provide documentation proving that I am legally responsible for the alleged debt. 

Specifically, I requested evidence such as : A signed or electronically executed credit agreement or application Proof of my authorization or consent to open the account Identity verification records used at account origination Account statements or transaction history showing my use of the account Proof that funds or benefits were delivered to or received by me Despite these requests, Bank of America has not produced competent, original documentation establishing that I am responsible for this account. No signed agreement, no proof of authorization, and no evidence of identity verification tying me to this account have been provided. Without such documentation, there is no factual or legal basis to continue associating this account with my credit profile. 

In some responses, the account has been described as verified or left reported while marked as disputed. However, verification based solely on internal records or automated confirmation does not constitute proper verification in an identity theft case. Verification must be based on actual evidence demonstrating that the consumer opened and agreed to the account. That evidence has not been provided. 

The continued reporting of this Bank of America account as a charge-off or collection is inaccurate and misleading. It falsely represents my credit history and financial behavior and causes ongoing harm. Derogatory credit reporting of this nature can negatively impact access to credit, interest rates, employment opportunities, housing decisions, and overall financial stability. 

I want to be clear that this is not a billing dispute and not a disagreement over balances, interest, or payment terms. I am not refusing to pay a legitimate debt. I am asserting that no legitimate debt exists between me and Bank of America because I did not open or authorize this account. There is no valid contractual relationship. 

I have acted responsibly and in good faith throughout this process. I reviewed my credit reports, identified the fraudulent account, filed an FTC identity theft report, disputed the account, and requested validation. The failure to correct the reporting despite these steps has left me with no choice but to escalate this matter through the CFPB. 

An account that was opened through identity theft and can not be validated should not remain on a consumers credit report in any status. Marking the account as disputed or leaving it reported during an investigation does not remedy the harm caused by fraudulent reporting. 

I am submitting this complaint so that the Bank of America account can be properly investigated and removed in full. Fraudulent charge-off and collection accounts should be blocked, deleted, and permanently removed once identity theft has been documented and the account can not be substantiated. 

I respectfully request that this matter be reviewed thoroughly and that Bank of America be required to correct the inaccurate reporting so that my credit reports accurately reflect my true credit history and do not include an account that was opened through identity theft.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation