Consumer complaint received 2026-03-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: FAIR COLLECTIONS & OUTSOURCING, INC.
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal response to Fair Collections & Outsourcing ( FCO ) regarding your written reply dated XX/XX/XXXX in connection with my CFPB complaint. Your response states that you received my complaint and that in order to complete your investigation, you require proof of residency during the period of XXXX. You further state that without proof of residency, you are unable to determine whether the account was fraudulent and that the account will remain open in your office. Your response is not sufficient, and it does not properly address my identity theft claim. This account does not belong to me. I did not open it, authorize it, sign for it, or benefit from it in any way. I filed an official FTC Identity Theft Report affirming under penalty of law that this account was opened without my knowledge or authorization. That filing shifts the burden to you to substantiate the debt not to require me to disprove it. I. Improper Burden Shifting Your response attempts to shift the burden of proof onto me by requesting documentation proving where I lived during the relevant time period. This is improper. As the debt collector reporting and attempting to collect this account, the burden is on FCO to establish that : The debt is valid. The debt belongs to me. I opened or authorized the account. Requesting proof of residency does not establish that I opened or authorized this account. Even if I resided at a certain address, that does not prove that I entered into a contractual relationship with the original creditor. Identity theft often involves use of a victims correct address or partial identifying information. Therefore, proof of residency does not resolve the issue of authorization. II. FTC Identity Theft Report Was Filed I filed an official Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission. That report was completed under penalty of perjury. Filing a false FTC report is a federal offense. I did not file it lightly. Once a consumer files an identity theft report, the collector must conduct a reasonable investigation and provide competent evidence that the consumer is responsible for the debt. Your response does not provide : A signed contract bearing my signature An application with my verified authorization Proof of identity verification at origination Billing statements showing transactions I made Documentation linking my personal authorization to this account Instead, you are requesting proof that I lived somewhere. That does not establish liability. III. Failure to Provide Proper Validation Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), when a consumer disputes a debt, the collector must cease collection activity until proper validation is provided. Validation requires more than a balance amount and account placement date. It requires documentation sufficient to establish that the debt is mine. Your response references that the account was placed with FCO on XX/XX/XXXX for {$340.00} and remains at that balance. That is simply an internal placement summary. It does not establish that I incurred the debt. Where is the signed agreement? Where is the proof of my authorization? Where is the documentation demonstrating I personally obligated myself to this debt? None has been provided. IV. Proof of Residency Is Not Proof of Liability You are requesting : Mortgage statements Fully executed lease agreements Utility bills in my name Even if I provided such documents, that would only show where I lived. It would not prove that I opened the alleged account. Requiring me to prove residency in order to investigate identity theft improperly shifts the burden to the victim. The legal obligation is on the collector to prove the debt belongs to the consumer. V. Continued Reporting Without Proof Your response indicates that the account was previously updated as disputed and that verification documentation was provided. If documentation exists proving I signed for or authorized this account, provide it. If no such documentation exists, the account must be deleted. Marking the account as disputed is not a resolution. Continuing to report a fraudulent account even with a dispute notation causes ongoing harm to my credit profile. VI. Harm Caused by Continued Reporting This fraudulent account is currently the only derogatory account on my credit report. All other accounts are accurate and current. The continued reporting of this {$340.00} collection is damaging my credit standing and undermining my financial progress. I should not be penalized for being a victim of identity theft. VII. Your Stated Compliance Is Incomplete Your response states that you prepared your reply in compliance with the FDCPA, FCRA, and CFPB response guidelines. However, compliance requires more than stating that you investigated. Compliance requires : A reasonable investigation. Competent evidence of liability. Correction of inaccurate reporting. Requesting proof of residency without providing proof of contractual obligation does not satisfy these standards. VIII. Required Corrective Action To resolve this matter fully and fairly, FCO must : Provide a copy of the original signed contract bearing my signature ; OR Provide documented evidence of identity verification at origination ; OR Permanently delete the account from all credit reporting agencies. If you can not produce competent evidence that I authorized this account, continued reporting is unjustified. IX. This Is My Formal Notice Consider this correspondence my formal notice that : I dispute this debt in its entirety. I deny any liability for it. I assert that it is the result of identity theft. I demand deletion absent proof of authorization. I am not refusing to cooperate. I am refusing to accept improper burden shifting. X. Final Statement This account does not belong to me. I filed an FTC Identity Theft Report. You have not produced a signed agreement or proof of authorization. Proof of residency does not establish liability. The fair and lawful resolution is permanent deletion of this account from my credit file and written confirmation that I owe nothing. If FCO possesses legitimate documentation proving I signed for or authorized this account, provide it. If not, remove the account immediately. I expect prompt corrective action.

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