Consumer complaint received 2024-11-25 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: Harris & Harris, Ltd.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
To whom it may concern On XX/XX/XXXX I received an email notification from XXXX XXXX stating that there was a new collection account that had been reported. 
However, the account listed on my report indicates XXXX  months of being opened back in XXXX. 



This was strange because I hadnt received any prior notice about such debt or giving the opportunity to dispute the debt prior to it damaging my credit. So I disputed it thru credit karma immediately. 

On Thursday XX/XX/year> at approximately XXXX am, I received a phone call from XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX. The young lady name was XXXX and she was calling from Harris & Harris regarding a collection account on behalf of XXXX. She asked if I could confirm my address for security purposes. So i provided my current address. She informed me that was incorrect. 

I ask her what address does she have. XXXX told me an address listed in XXXX XXXX. She further tells me about the past due bill of {$97.00}. 

I immediately tell her this is a fraudulent account and Ive never loved at that address. She says ok I need to get you transferred to another department that can assist with this fraudulent account. Mind you she never said what department She transferred me to XXXX XXXX XXXX department where I spoke with XXXX XXXX 

XXXX started the call the same way, may I have your name and complete address, so I tell her. She says thats not the address on the account. 

I said I was just made aware from the previous rep that this is a fraudulent account that is affecting my employment and credit. I said I was never notified about the debt or giving proper chance to dispute. 

XXXX begins to tell me all of these steps that must be completed and an investigation will happen to determine if this account is fraudulent. 

She stated they needed ID, proof of address from XXXX XXXX showing that I lived elsewhere. 

I got so frustrated that I asked for a supervisor and was transferred to XXXX woman named XXXX! 

Supervisor XXXX, basically was trying to get my updated demographics and I was skeptical to provide them to her because I did not want them to update their records to include my current information. She wanted my Social Security number. She wanted my new address and I just wasnt comfortable with providing that information to them knowing that this account was a fraudulent account I told her that I was going to use a mediation like to CFPB to initiate dispute because it was fraudulent. 
I also stated that I never received prior notification of debt or giving the change to resolve prior to my credit being damaged I hereby swear that I XXXX XXXX XXXX, did not open, authorized or give any express permission to open this account nor did I know about this account. 

Attached is proof of address from XXXX until XXXX from XXXX XXXX proof of address from XXXX XXXX passport to confirm identification. 
FTC REPORT / XXXX XXXX Police Report Fraud Alert on all credit agencies. 
Credit is locked and frozen with all credit agencies

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