Consumer complaint received 2026-04-30 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: AFNI INC.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
A predatory company named AFNI sent me a letter dated XX/XX/year> stating that I was responsible for a payout to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I responded with a letter on XX/XX/year> asking for : 1. Written confirmation that AFNI , Inc. is the entity that issued this notice 2. The name and direct contact information of the AFNI representative handling this account 3. The name and address of the original creditor 4. The original account number 5. The amount of the debt, including an itemized breakdown of all fees, interest, and charges 6. A copy of the original signed agreement or contract 7. Proof that your agency is licensed to collect debts in Illinois 8. The date the debt was incurred and the date of last payment AFNI responded on XX/XX/XXXX with a letter claiming I owed money for starting a fire in a apartment in which I have never lived in a state in which I have never lived. They did not include any documentation that bore my name or information. The only documentation they sent was the payout from the insurance company to the landlord. I responded on XX/XX/XXXX with a letter that included such information : 3. No Valid Evidence Has Been Provided Establishing Me as the Responsible Renter Despite my previous request, you have provided no competent evidence establishing that I was a tenant at the property in question or that I bear any legal responsibility for the alleged damages. Specifically, you have failed to produce : A copy of any lease or rental agreement bearing my signature ; Proof that I personally occupied, controlled, or had legal possession of the rental property at any time ; A move-in and move-out inspection report or condition checklist signed by me ; Dated photographs or other contemporaneous documentation of the alleged damage attributed specifically to my tenancy ; Itemized repair invoices or estimates from licensed contractors establishing the nature, extent, and cost of the claimed damage ; Documentation showing that the claimed damage was not the result of normal wear and tear, pre-existing conditions, or causes unrelated to me ; and A complete account history and chain of assignment from the original landlord or property owner to your organization. Without this documentation, there is no verifiable basis linking me to this alleged obligation. A bare assertion that property damage occurred and that I am responsible does not constitute proper validation under the FDCPA. 4. Formal Demands In light of the foregoing, I formally demand that you : a ) Immediately cease and desist all collection activity on this account, including any telephone calls, written communications, or credit reporting ; b ) Provide complete and proper debt validation as required by 15 U.S.C. 1692g, including all documentation identified in Section 2 above ; c ) Immediately remove any negative tradeline, derogatory mark, or collection entry associated with this account from all consumer credit reporting agencies ( XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and any other applicable bureau ) ; and d ) Confirm in writing that this account has been closed, recalled, and that no further collection efforts will be pursued against me. On XX/XX/XXXX, they sent me an invoice for the amount and what amounts to a extortion -- they offered to close the account for a reduced amount of payment. This letter is a violation of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), in which they are required to cease all collection activity until the debt has been validated. They did not validate the debt and will never be able to, as it is not mine.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation