Consumer complaint received 2025-01-16 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly — Talked to a third-party about your debt
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: VA

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Complaint Against FAIR COLLECTION OUTSOURCING INC for Unauthorized Disclosure of Personal Information Description of the Issue : I am filing this complaint against FAIR COLLECTION OUTSOURCING INC. for disclosing my personal and financial information to an unauthorized third party, which I believe violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and my privacy rights. 

The unauthorized disclosure of my information occurred on XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX, referred to as XXXX XXXX, only contacted FCO once, and then FCO rep XXXX disclosed my account information, including the balance. This disclosure has caused me significant distress and poses a risk to my privacy and financial security. 

I contacted the agency on XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX to address this issue and requested an explanation, corrective measures, and assurances that such an incident would not happen again. However, FAIR COLLECTION OUTSOURCING INC on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX representative gaslighted me and told me they could not speak with me regarding my account because I had POA, which I informed FCO I never provided verbal consent for them to talk to them regarding my account. I contacted XXXX XXXX, and XXXX told me FCO gave them my account balance but refused to speak to them because I had not provided verbal authorization on the second attempt. FCO provided my information to a third party without my consent and declined to talk to me regarding the account despite being the owner. Also, I never received the documents that they stated that I did. They said they did not return to sender, but I never received the documents. To what address did they send them because I did not receive them? On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted FCO again. I connected with XXXX ; at the beginning of our call, we discussed the FCO policies regarding someone speaking on behalf of your account. She informed me that the company 's policy is that verbal authorization is the only form of communication that will authorize anyone to speak on your behalf. Once XXXX pulled up my account, she informed me that I would need to be transferred to XXXX XXXX, who I believe is an investigator. I spoke with XXXX, and At the beginning of our call, I asked the same question regarding how you can give somebody authorization to speak on behalf of your account. He also stated verbal approval from the account owner is the only form of authorization they accept. Upon discussion of the account, XXXX XXXX was insulting. He would not let me complete my statement regarding why they gave XXXX out my account balance but refused to speak with either of us regarding the account. He first stated they gave XXXX information because of the release of power of attorney, then upon my response, placed me on hold, then returned stating the same thing. I responded again, asking how they could verify that I signed that authorization. Without my verbal consent, although they requested XXXX to have me call to provide my verbal consent. They gave XXXX my account balance on XX/XX/XXXX, see attached document and then FCO refused to provide more information once XXXX made additional attempts. XXXX made the last effort on XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX informed me that a settlement was negotiated, meaning FCO discussed this account in great detail to verify the account and the deal details. 

Also, I informed XXXX XXXX that I had told multiple representatives that this debt was not valid and that I was a member of the XXXX XXXX and provided the property XXXX at XXXX XXXX my verbal statement that I'd be moving out due to XXXX XXXX and also provided a paper copy of my orders to the leasing management. Once I informed XXXX XXXX of this, his whole demeanor changed, and he tried to have me send the documents. I told him that this has been an extreme inconvenience for the past two years, Explaining over and over to representatives that this debt is not valid and that I need to prove that, yet nobody from FCO was willing to listen to allow me to provide the information. This has caused me great financial distress. This has abruptly not allowed me to provide for my family due to my rental history, y and it has caused great stress on my family and impacted my ability XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX without worrying about housing for my family. Even when trying to inform XXXX XXXX of this, he was still significantly undermining, stating that if I provided all the information and the debt was still verified, it must be valid. I informed him I never sent in this particular document because nobody sent me anything to send it

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