Consumer complaint received 2026-07-02 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: CCS Financial Services, Inc.
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint because * * Credit Collection Services * * continues to report a collection account on my consumer credit reports that I believe is inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, and has not been properly verified as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). I exercised my rights under the FCRA by disputing this account with the consumer reporting agencies and requesting that a reasonable reinvestigation be conducted. Despite my dispute, Credit Collection Services continues to report the account without providing competent documentary evidence establishing that the information is accurate or that it has the legal authority to collect and report the alleged debt. Rather than providing the documentation I requested, I received only generalized responses indicating that the account had been " verified '' or would continue to be reported. These responses fail to explain what records were reviewed, what evidence was relied upon, who conducted the investigation, or how Credit Collection Services concluded that every aspect of the reporting was accurate. Simply stating that an account has been verified does not satisfy the requirements imposed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The Credit Collection Services account continues to appear on my consumer credit reports as a derogatory collection account and has caused substantial harm to my credit profile. A collection account is XXXX of the most damaging types of information that can appear on a consumer report because lenders, landlords, employers, insurers, and other businesses rely on credit reports when making important financial decisions. The continued reporting of this account has negatively affected my creditworthiness and my ability to obtain credit on favorable terms. Because of these serious consequences, I requested that Credit Collection Services conduct a complete and meaningful investigation supported by original business records rather than relying solely upon automated electronic verification systems or computerized responses. Under * * 15 U.S.C. 1681i * *, when a consumer disputes information appearing on a credit report, the consumer reporting agency is required to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is accurate. Likewise, * * 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) * * requires consumer reporting agencies to maintain reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of the information they report. These statutory obligations require more than forwarding an electronic dispute and accepting a computerized response from the furnisher. A reasonable investigation requires a review of competent documentary evidence establishing that the disputed information is accurate, complete, and legally reportable. Because Credit Collection Services is a third-party debt collector, I requested documentation establishing that it has the legal authority to collect and report the alleged debt. Specifically, I requested copies of any assignment agreements, collection placement agreements, transfer documents, servicing agreements, or other documentation demonstrating that the alleged obligation was lawfully assigned or transferred to Credit Collection Services. I also requested documentation identifying the original creditor, records establishing the complete chain of assignment, and documentation demonstrating that Credit Collection Services has the legal authority to furnish information regarding this alleged account to the nationwide consumer reporting agencies. To date, I have not received competent documentary evidence establishing its legal authority to collect or report the alleged debt. I also requested copies of the original agreement or contract that created the alleged obligation, any documents bearing my signature, complete account statements, the complete payment history, account ledgers, documentation supporting the balance being reported, records establishing the date of first delinquency, documentation supporting any interest, collection fees, penalties, administrative charges, or other amounts added to the account, and every record relied upon during Credit Collection Services ' investigation. If Credit Collection Services contends that the account is accurate, then it should have no difficulty producing the original business records supporting every aspect of its reporting. Without these records, I have no reasonable basis to conclude that the information appearing on my consumer credit reports is accurate or legally reportable. I specifically requested disclosure of the method of verification used during the investigation. I requested the identity of the individual or department that conducted the investigation, the documents reviewed, the source of the information relied upon, and the procedures used to determine that the account was accurately reported. Instead of providing this information, Credit Collection Services merely concluded that the account had been verified. This type of response provides no meaningful explanation regarding how the investigation was conducted and prevents me from determining whether Credit Collection Services complied with its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I am also concerned that the investigation conducted by the consumer reporting agencies relied primarily upon automated verification systems rather than an independent review of original source documentation. A reasonable investigation requires more than accepting a furnisher 's electronic confirmation without examining the underlying records. When a consumer specifically disputes a collection account and requests supporting evidence, the furnisher should review the original account records, assignment documents, collection placement records, payment history, account statements, and every other relevant business record before concluding that the account is accurate. Additionally, I dispute the balance currently being reported by Credit Collection Services. If the reported balance includes accrued interest, collection fees, penalties, administrative charges, or other amounts, I request documentation explaining how those amounts were calculated, when they were added, and the contractual or statutory authority permitting those charges. If Credit Collection Services can not fully substantiate the reported balance using contemporaneous business records, then the reported balance should be corrected or the account should be removed entirely. I also requested documentation establishing the date of first delinquency and demonstrating that the account is being reported within the period permitted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Accurate reporting of the date of first delinquency is essential because it determines the maximum period during which adverse information may legally remain on a consumer credit report. If Credit Collection Services can not provide reliable business records establishing the correct date of first delinquency, then the account can not be considered accurately reported. If the alleged account was originally owed to another creditor, I requested documentation establishing that the information transferred from the original creditor to Credit Collection Services remained complete and accurate throughout every transfer. Any missing documentation, incomplete transfer records, or breaks in the chain of assignment raise serious concerns regarding whether Credit Collection Services has the legal authority to report the alleged account. The continued reporting of this Credit Collection Services collection account has caused ongoing financial harm. Consumer credit reports are relied upon by lenders, landlords, employers, insurance companies, and other businesses when making important financial decisions. The presence of an unsupported collection account may result in credit denials, higher interest rates, increased insurance costs, reduced housing opportunities, and other adverse financial consequences. Congress enacted the Fair Credit Reporting Act to ensure that consumer reporting agencies furnish only information that is accurate, complete, and capable of verification. Allowing unsupported or inaccurate collection accounts to remain on consumer credit reports undermines these important consumer protections. I am not requesting that accurate information be removed simply because it is unfavorable. Rather, I am requesting that Credit Collection Services comply with its obligations under federal law by substantiating the disputed account with competent documentary evidence. If Credit Collection Services possesses original business records establishing the accuracy of the account and its legal authority to collect and report the alleged debt, then those records should be produced. If Credit Collection Services can not produce the original documentation necessary to verify the account and establish its authority, then the account should not continue to appear on my consumer credit reports. I also request that Credit Collection Services review every data field it is furnishing to the nationwide consumer reporting agencies, including the account status, collection status, reported balance, payment history, date of first delinquency, collection placement date, and every other item of information associated with the account. If any portion of the information being reported is inaccurate, incomplete, inconsistent, misleading, or unsupported by original business records, it should be corrected or deleted immediately. I respectfully request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau require * * Credit Collection Services * * and the consumer reporting agencies to conduct a complete, lawful, and reasonable reinvestigation of this disputed account. I request that Credit Collection Services provide copies of the original agreement or contract, documents bearing my signature, complete account history, payment records, account statements, account ledgers, documentation supporting the reported balance, documentation establishing the date of first delinquency, assignment records, transfer documents, documentation establishing its legal authority to collect and report the alleged debt, and every document relied upon during its investigation. I also request disclosure of the complete method of verification used and a detailed explanation of how Credit Collection Services concluded that the account was accurately reported. If Credit Collection Services can not produce competent documentary evidence establishing that this collection account is accurate, complete, legally enforceable, and properly reportable, I request that it be permanently deleted from all of my consumer credit reports. I further request written confirmation of the investigation results, copies of every document relied upon during the investigation, and an updated copy of my consumer credit reports reflecting the deletion of any information that can not be verified in accordance with * * 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), 1681i, and 1681s-2 ( b ) * *. My request is based on my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to have a consumer credit report that contains only information that is accurate, complete, and supported by competent documentary evidence.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief