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: BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint specifically regarding a derogatory account being reported under the name Bank of America on my credit report. I am disputing this account entirely because it is fraudulent and does not belong to me. I did not open this account, I did not authorize it, and I never entered into any form of agreement or contract with Bank of America for this credit line. I have already filed an FTC Identity Theft Report stating that this Bank of America account was created through identity theft without my knowledge or permission. Because this account is fraudulent, I am taking the proper steps to have it removed from my credit file, and I am requesting that the CFPB intervene to ensure that the correction is completed. 

This Bank of America account appears on my credit report as a derogatory charge-off with negative payment history. These notations include past-due amounts, missed payments, and delinquency remarks that severely damage my credit profile. I want to be absolutely clear : none of these charges, balances, or negative activities are mine. I have never opened a Bank of America credit card, loan, line of credit, or any other financial product with them. I have never received a card, never applied for XXXX, never activated XXXX, and never used XXXX. I have XXXX connection to this account. Its presence on my credit report is the direct result of identity theft. 

When I discovered the fraudulent Bank of America account on my credit report, I immediately took action. The first step I took was disputing the account with all three major credit bureausXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. In each of these disputes, I clearly stated that the Bank of America account was fraudulent and not mine. I asked the bureaus to conduct a full reinvestigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and to provide documentation showing the accounts origin, including any application materials, signed agreements, identification documents, or any evidence linking me to the account. The credit bureaus failed to provide such documentation. 

Instead, the bureaus responded with automated statements claiming that Bank of America had verified the account. These responses did not include any real evidence, any documentation, or any explanation showing how the account was verified. Under FCRA 611 ( a ), the bureaus must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, not simply accept a furnishers automated response. They must also provide a Method of Verification ( MOV ) when requested. I did not receive any meaningful MOV, nor did I receive original signed documents that prove I opened this account. 

After the credit bureaus failed to validate or remove the fraudulent account, I filed an FTC Identity Theft Report. This is a formal legal document that states, under penalty of perjury, that I did not open the Bank of America account and that it is the result of identity theft. Filing this report triggers additional protections under FCRA 605B, which requires credit bureaus to block fraudulent information unless the furnisher can provide certified proof of legitimacy. In this case, Bank of America has not provided any such proof. 

Bank of America has not shown : A signed credit application A signed account agreement An account opening authorization Any ID verification documents IP logs or device data Card activation records Any communication between the applicant and the bank Any proof that I initiated or used this account None of these documents exist because I never opened the account. The failure of Bank of America to produce original documentation shows that the account can not be verified and should never have been reported. 

Despite this, the Bank of America account continues to appear on my credit file. This fraudulent reporting has caused substantial harm to me, including damage to my credit score, difficulty obtaining credit, potential loan denials, and emotional stress. It is deeply unfair for me to suffer these consequences for an account that I did not open and do not own. 

I have done everything required of me under the law. I submitted disputes. I requested documentation. I asked for verification. I filed the FTC Identity Theft Report. I notified all parties that the account is fraudulent. And still, the account remains on my credit file. This is why I am requesting CFPB assistanceto ensure that Bank of America and the credit bureaus comply with federal law and remove this fraudulent account. 

Under FCRA 623, furnishers such as Bank of America must report accurate information. Reporting a fraudulent account is a violation. Under 623 ( a ) ( 3 ), they must also mark the account as disputed once they are notified of a dispute. If they did not do this, then they failed to comply with federal law. 

Under FCRA 602A and 607 ( b ), credit bureaus must maintain maximum possible accuracy. Allowing a fraudulent account to remain on my credit file especially after an FTC Identity Theft Report violates that requirement. The bureaus should have immediately blocked or removed the account when I filed the report. 

Under FCRA 605B, when a consumer submits an identity theft report, the bureaus must block the fraudulent information unless the furnisher provides authenticated documentation proving the account is legitimate. Bank of America has not provided such documentation. They can not provide it. Therefore, the fraudulent account should have already been deleted. 

This fraudulent Bank of America account has placed me in a position where I am forced to repeatedly challenge something that I did not do and did not create. I am being held accountable for charges, payments, and negative entries that have nothing to do with me. This is a clear case of identity theft, and all parties have been notified accordingly. 

I am requesting the CFPB to intervene because Bank of America and the credit bureaus have failed to take the proper action. I am asking for the following resolution : Immediate removal and permanent deletion of the fraudulent Bank of America account from all credit bureaus. 

Removal of all negative information connected to the account, including late payments, derogatory remarks, past-due balances, and charge-offs. 

Removal of any hard inquiries made by Bank of America or its affiliates linked to this fraudulent application. 

Permanent suppression/blocking of the account under FCRA 605B since it is tied to identity theft. 

XXXX of all reporting activity by Bank of America regarding this fraudulent account. 

XXXX of all collection activity, whether internal or through third-party collectors.

Written confirmation from both Bank of America and the credit bureaus that the account has been deleted and will not be reinserted. 

Guarantee that the account can not be resold or transferred to a collector or debt buyer in the future. 

Documentation ensuring compliance with FCRA 602A, 607 ( b ), 611, 623, and 605B.

Bank of America should also review how this fraudulent account was opened in the first place. A fraudulent account opening implies that there were failures in identity verification processes. Whether the process involved online verification, in-branch verification, or phone-based application systems, something went wrong that allowed a fraudulent individual to access credit in my name. This needs to be addressed to prevent similar harm to other consumers. 

It is important that Bank of America acknowledges that they can not produce proof of ownership because the account does not belong to me. This acknowledgment should be provided to the credit bureaus along with the deletion request to avoid any future confusion, reinsertion, or mishandling. 

This fraudulent Bank of America account should not remain on my credit file under any circumstance. The account is not mine. It is harming me. I have followed every legal step available to me. The credit bureaus should have already blocked it, and Bank of America should have already stopped reporting it. 

I am asking for full intervention from the CFPB to ensure that this matter is resolved properly, fairly, and in accordance with federal law. I need this inaccurate, identity-theft-related account permanently removed from my credit file so I can restore the accuracy of my financial profile. 

Everything stated here is true, accurate, and based on documented evidence from my FTC Identity Theft Report and credit bureau disputes. I am a victim of identity theft. I do not own this Bank of America account. I respectfully request the CFPBs assistance in ensuring the fraudulent account is removed permanently and that no further harm is done to me.

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