Consumer complaint received 2026-03-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding multiple Navy Federal Credit Union charge-off accounts that are currently reporting on my credit file with a reported balance of approximately {$17000.00}. These accounts do not belong to me. I did not open these accounts, I did not authorize anyone to open these accounts on my behalf, and I did not benefit from any credit extended under these accounts. These accounts are the result of identity theft. I became aware of these Navy Federal Credit Union accounts after reviewing my credit report and noticing multiple charge-off tradelines reporting significant balances and severe delinquency history. The reported balance of approximately {$17000.00} is substantial and extremely damaging to my credit profile. The presence of multiple charge-offs from Navy Federal creates the appearance that I defaulted on large financial obligations, which is not true. I have never knowingly applied for or opened these Navy Federal Credit Union accounts. I did not sign any loan agreements, credit applications, or membership documents associated with these accounts. I did not authorize the use of my personal information to establish any financial relationship with Navy Federal Credit Union for the accounts being reported. Upon discovering the fraudulent accounts, I immediately took action to protect myself. I filed an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) documenting that these Navy Federal accounts were opened fraudulently using my personal information. I also initiated disputes with the credit reporting agencies, clearly stating that these accounts were the result of identity theft and do not belong to me. Despite filing the FTC Identity Theft Report and submitting formal disputes, the Navy Federal Credit Union charge-off accounts continue to report on my credit file. In some instances, the accounts appear to be duplicated or reported inconsistently across credit bureaus, which further increases the damage. The continued reporting of these fraudulent accounts is causing ongoing harm to my creditworthiness and financial stability. These charge-offs reflect serious delinquency and default prior to being written off. I did not make late payments on these accounts because I did not open them and was not aware of their existence at the time they were allegedly active. The negative history associated with these accounts is not a reflection of my financial behavior but rather the result of fraudulent activity conducted by an unknown third party. I have requested that Navy Federal Credit Union provide documentation proving that I personally opened and authorized these accounts. Specifically, I have requested : Copies of the original signed account agreements or loan documents. Proof of membership application and approval documentation. Documentation showing the identity verification procedures used at the time the accounts were opened. Full account statements from inception to charge-off. Documentation showing how the reported balance of approximately {$17000.00} was calculated. To date, I have not received original signed documentation bearing my authorization. I have not received proof that I personally entered into a contractual relationship with Navy Federal Credit Union for these accounts. Generic responses indicating that the accounts were verified are not sufficient to establish responsibility, particularly when identity theft has been formally reported. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), furnishers and credit reporting agencies are required to ensure maximum possible accuracy of the information reported. Reporting accounts that were opened fraudulently and attributing them to me violates this requirement. Furthermore, under Section 605B of the FCRA, when a consumer provides an Identity Theft Report, the credit reporting agencies must block the reporting of fraudulent information unless they determine the report was false or made in error. I have complied with the requirements for reporting identity theft. I filed the FTC Identity Theft Report and notified the credit reporting agencies. The continued reporting of these Navy Federal charge-off accounts suggests that proper blocking procedures have not been followed or that a meaningful investigation was not conducted. It is also concerning that multiple Navy Federal accounts are reporting, which suggests that my personal information may have been used repeatedly by an unauthorized individual. I did not receive account statements, membership confirmations, or notices of account activity during the time these accounts were allegedly active. Had I been aware of them earlier, I would have immediately reported the fraud. The financial impact of these accounts is severe. A charge-off in the amount of approximately {$17000.00} is highly damaging to a consumers credit score. The presence of multiple large charge-offs significantly reduces my creditworthiness and may affect my ability to obtain housing, financing, or other opportunities that rely on credit history. In addition to the financial harm, this situation has caused emotional distress and uncertainty. Discovering that someone used my identity to open substantial financial accounts is alarming. The burden of correcting fraudulent information should not fall entirely on the victim. I am not attempting to avoid legitimate financial responsibility. If I had opened these accounts, I would address them accordingly. However, I can not accept responsibility for debts that I did not incur and did not authorize. If Navy Federal Credit Union believes these accounts belong to me, I request that they provide detailed documentation demonstrating : The date the accounts were opened. The method of application ( online, in-branch, phone ). The identity verification process used at the time of account opening. Any identification documents submitted. IP address logs if the accounts were opened electronically. Copies of signed agreements bearing my signature. Without such documentation, there is no basis for continuing to report these accounts as mine. I also request clarification as to whether these accounts have been sold, transferred, or assigned to any third-party collection agencies. If so, I request documentation of the chain of assignment and confirmation that the identity theft dispute was communicated to any third parties involved. The Fair Credit Reporting Act was enacted to protect consumers from inaccurate and fraudulent reporting. The continued presence of these Navy Federal charge-offs on my credit file undermines the purpose of the law and causes unjust harm. I respectfully request that this complaint prompt a thorough and meaningful investigation into the legitimacy of these accounts. If Navy Federal Credit Union can not produce original documentation proving that I personally authorized and opened these accounts, they must be permanently removed from my credit file. The resolution I am seeking in this What Happened section is straightforward : recognition that these accounts were opened fraudulently, correction of the inaccurate reporting, and restoration of accuracy to my credit profile. I have acted responsibly by reviewing my credit report, filing an FTC Identity Theft Report, and submitting formal disputes. I am willing to cooperate fully in resolving this matter and to provide any additional documentation required to support my claim. The continued reporting of these accounts despite identity theft documentation suggests that the dispute process has not been handled with the level of scrutiny required by federal law. I am requesting that this matter be escalated within Navy Federal Credit Union for proper review by its compliance or fraud investigation department. I appreciate the opportunity to formally document this issue and seek corrective action. I look forward to a written response explaining the findings of the investigation and confirming that the fraudulent Navy Federal Credit Union charge-off accounts have been removed from my credit file.

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