Consumer complaint received 2025-11-01 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: National Credit Systems,Inc.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I pulled my credit report and found a collection account for {$4800.00} listed as past due as of XX/XX/XXXX. The account is reported by National Credit System on behalf of the original creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. The account number is XXXX, and it shows as opened on XX/XX/XXXX. 
Heres the full story : In XX/XX/XXXX, my mother needed an apartment at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. She could not qualify on her own, so I agreed to co-sign the lease only as a favor to help her get approved. I never lived at the property, never paid rent, never received statements, and never intended to be financially responsible beyond the initial approval process. I was told my role was limited to helping her qualify and that I would not be liable unless she defaulted and they pursued me directlywhich never happened during the tenancy. 
The lease ended, my mother moved out, and I believed the matter was closed. I had no knowledge of any unpaid balance until this collection appeared on my credit report in XXXXover 6 years later. 
The apartment complex never contacted me about any balance during or after the lease. They never sent me a bill, a demand letter, or any notice of delinquency. I was not aware of any debt until it hit my credit report as a collection. 
A prior dispute was apparently filed ( comment on the account says : Completed investigation of FCRA dispute - consumer disagrees dated XX/XX/XXXX ), but that investigation was clearly flawed. I was never contacted during that process, never provided documentation, and the account remains reported as if I am the primary debtor, not a co-signer who was never pursued. 
This is not accurate reporting. Even if I was a co-signer : I was never notified of any default ( required before reporting to credit ). 
The debt was not pursued against me within a reasonable time. 
Georgia law ( where I reside ) has a 6-year statute of limitations on written contracts. The lease was from XXXXany claim against me is now time-barred. 
Reporting a stale, unverified co-signer debt as a current collection violates FCRA accuracy and timeliness rules. 

This erroneous reporting is damaging my credit score and preventing me from qualifying for a mortgage. 
Actions I have taken : XX/XX/XXXX : Pulled my credit reports from all three bureaus and confirmed the account appears on all. 
XX/XX/XXXX : Contacted my mothershe confirmed the debt is hers and that she was the sole resident. 
XX/XX/XXXX : Reviewed old emails and documentsI have no record of ever being billed or notified by the apartment or collector. 
I am now filing this CFPB complaint to force a proper, documented investigation. 

What I want : Full deletion of this account from my credit files at XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. 
Written confirmation from National Credit System and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that : They have no documentation showing I was ever billed or notified of this debt. 
The debt is not being pursued against me and is outside the statute of limitations.

They will permanently block this information from being re-reported ( per FCRA 1681c-2 ).

An explanation of why this account was reported 6 years later without prior notice to me. 

This is not my debt to carry. I helped my mother once in XXXXI should not be punished for life on my credit report. 
Please enforce a complete and permanent removal. Thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation