Consumer complaint received 2024-03-09 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Bread Financial Holdings, Inc.
State: UT

Complaint narrative:
I had received multiple phone calls from a number I did not recognize. The caller ID indicated the calls were from Cominity Bank but I did not recognize that name. I finally answered a call and was told that I owed the bank more than {$100.00}. When I asked for the reason that I owed the bank this money I was told that they had been attempting to contact me by email and phone multiple times during the past two or three months, I told the person that I had NEVER received their email. I also told the person I had NEVER received any written communication by mail. 

I also told the person that I had NEVER received any messages on my phone either by recording nor by text. 

The person was very rude and demeaning and demanded I pay the amount being claimed. 

When I asked for verification of the charge that had been made I was told by the person that they had sent all that to me before and that I needed to pay immediately, I explained to the person multiple times that I had NEVER received any communication from them before and had NEVER received any correspondence by mail, by email nor by text. 

I told the person that I wanted to know what I was being charged for and what I had purchased. He was not able to provide me that information but said he would check and asked me to wait on the phone. I agreed to do this and a few minutes later the call was disconnected by the caller. 

I called the number and spoke with a different person who more or less repeated what the first person had said. This person also caused the call to be disconnected. 

I called back again and this time was able to be transferred to a department which I was told by the colletion department would be able to answer my questions about the purchase and the amount owed. I was again disconnected. 

I called again and this time I was able to speak with a person who was able to answer my question about the purchase and to also explain the reason that the bill they were trying to collect was more than 7x the original purchase price. 

When I explained that I had NEVER received a bill from the company the person with whom I was speaking verified that the company had entered my email address incorrectly. 

Thus the reason that I had NEVER RECEIVED A BILL. 

I asked if it were possible to waive the late charges and fees. The person with whom I was speaking referred me back to the collection department. The call was disconnected. 

I called again and finally spoke with a person who was able to waive the penalties and late fees. 

However, the company had issued a late payment to the credit reporting bureaus and as a result my credit worthiness has been severely impacted. 

When I called the company to ask about this I was told to present a request and reason online which I did. 

I have received a response to that request I made by the company saying I am not qualified to have special consideration. 

I am filling reports with the various credit reporting bureaus -- this is something I have had to do on my own without any statement by the credit card company that this is my right to protest.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief