Consumer complaint received 2024-07-31 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Rental debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I received a text notification from XXXX about my credit score had been reduced by XXXX points on XXXX XXXX. When I checked my credit account there was more information about Southern Management Systems has flagged my account as collections on XXXX XXXX. I immediately XXXX searched company to locate a phone # to call ( As I had never heard of or known of this company. ) I called the phone number under their XXXX listing. I got a recorded message that I had reached a number that is no longer in service or has been disconnected. There was XXXX other sponsored listings that mentioned Southern Management Systems so I dialed the very first listing. The call was answered by Representative XXXX with XXXX XXXX that XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX  for Southern Management Systems. I asked her to please verify the debt that was reported to the credit reporting company ( XXXX ) because I am not aware of any debt owed cause certain steps were not taken nor were the rules about how to contact me. As well as other laws not followed before reporting debt to the credit reporting agency. A debt collector must use at least one of the following ways to contact me about any debt they claim I owe before it sends any information about the debt to a credit reporting company. 
1.Speak with me in person 2.Speak with me by phone 3.Mail me a letter and wait a reasonable amount of time ( generally 14 days ) for a notice that the mail was not delivered. 
XXXX. Send me an electronic communication, and wait a reasonable amount of time ( generally 14 days ) for a notice that the email was not delivered. 
NONE of these ever took place. I was NEVER contacted. I reached out to them ( Southern Management Systems ) for Validation on XX/XX/year> after I received a text alert from the credit reporting company XXXX. 
Also if I receive a validation notice about a debt, from a debt collector, it means they have satisfied their requirement to contact me and in general can begin to report the debt to credit reporting companies. I did not receive a validation notice nor was I reached or attempted to be reached by any means, by any collection agency about any debt at any time. 
This debt collector Southern Management Systems ( XXXX  XXXX  on behalf of the previously mentioned company ) has improperly reported and failed to meet their obligations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. 
I was also told by agent XXXX that in order for her to validate and to see if I was eligible to disputed and have this removed or reversed from my credit profile there would be a one time fee of {$1.00} for pull the report, while neglecting to tell me that she was signing me up for a 7 day trial with Standard Scores, And my card used to pay the {$1.00} would be charged XXXX once the trial period was over. I found out from an email 2 days later from Standard Scores, that my card would be charged and thanked me for signing up. I was lied too. it seems that it is the practice of deception. I want this removed from my credit profile. It has not been validated that I owe any debt and the rules and laws were not followed accordingly.

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