Consumer complaint received 2025-11-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: SANTANDER HOLDINGS USA, INC.
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this statement in response to the letter provided by XXXX XXXX dated XX/XX/scrub>XXXX XXXX XXXX, which is included in the file they sent to the CFPB. Their letter claims they reviewed my concerns, validated the account, and assert that I signed a contract and am responsible for the debt. I am writing to make it explicitly clear that I do not own this account, I did not sign any contract with XXXX XXXX and this account is the result of identity theft, which is why I filed an FTC Identity Theft Report. Nothing XXXX XXXX  has provided changes the fact that this account is fraudulent, does not belong to me, and must be removed. 

1. XXXX XXXX Letter Incorrectly Claims I Signed a Contract ( Directly referencing their statement ) XXXX XXXX states : We have enclosed copies of documents which validate the account and its status. By signing the Contract as the Co-borrower, you agreed to the terms and conditions therein. 
Page 1 of their letter This is not true. I did not sign any contract with XXXX XXXX, I did not co-borrow any vehicle, and I never entered into any financial relationship with this company. The documents they attached do not prove I opened this account, because I did not. 

Identity theft frequently involves : Forged signatures Fraudulent applications Unauthorized personal information usage False employment or income entries The presence of handwriting on a contract does not establish that I legitimately opened the account or authorized the debt. XXXX XXXX is incorrectly assuming that a signatureone I disputeproves ownership of the account. It does not. 

2. I Filed an Official FTC Identity Theft Report Because This Account Is Not Mine As soon as I discovered this fraudulent auto loan, I filed a formal FTC Identity Theft Report to document that : This account was created without my permission I did not sign any credit application I did not approve any auto financing I do not recognize any vehicle associated with this loan I have no relationship with the dealership listed I did not authorize XXXX XXXX to furnish or report any information about me This identity theft report triggers protections under FCRA 605B, requiring : Blocking of fraudulent information Immediate cessation of reporting Termination of collection efforts Written confirmation of account removal XXXX XXXX refusal to remove fraudulent informationafter receiving notice of identity theftis a violation of federal law. 

3. Their Own Letter Confirms They Never Received a Direct Dispute From Me XXXX XXXX wrote : Our records do not show that we received any direct credit reporting disputes or requests for debt validation from you.

Page 1 This statement is misleading and inaccurate.

I had already filed : A dispute with the credit bureaus An FTC identity theft report A CFPB complaint Their claim that they never received anything directly from me does not negate the fact that : They did receive the CFPB complaint They were placed on notice They were required under FCRA 623 to investigate They were required to validate the debt They were required to mark the account as disputed They were required to stop furnishing unverifiable information Their statement is a deflection, not a valid justification.

4. They State They Validated the Account, But Provided No Proof It Belongs to Me Their letter says : We have enclosed copies of documents which validate the account Page 1 The documents included : A credit application A retail installment contract A Missouri vehicle title application Right-to-cure notices addressed to an old address A multi-page payment history None of this proves : I signed anything I authorized anything I opened the account I owned the vehicle I received the notices I made payments I lived at the address used I participated in this transaction in any way Identity thieves often use past addresses, stolen personal information, and forged documentation. XXXX XXXX  can not use unverified documents as proof against a consumer actively reporting identity theft. 

5. Their Validation Fails to Meet FDCPA Requirements Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, XXXX XXXX must provide : A copy of any signed contract Original application with verified identification Proof of ownership transfer Proof the consumer authorized the credit A complete itemized accounting Proof that the data being furnished is accurate Proof the debt was never disputed during the transaction Simply attaching documentsmany of which appear generic or incompletedoes not constitute legal validation when the consumer asserts identity theft. 

6. Their Payment History Does Not Match Anything Related to Me The payment history enclosed in their packet details : Dozens of financial transactions Fees Failures to pay Charge-off calculations But I did not : Make any of these payments Receive any of these statements Authorize these transactions Own the vehicle Participate in any activity shown on the logs The presence of these logs only proves that someone had an account not that it was me.

7. Their Address Records Do Not Match My Life They sent : Notices to old addresses Documents listing addresses not associated with me Information inconsistent with my history For example, the Right to Cure Default notice was mailed to : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Page 9 image in their file I did not live at that address at that time, nor did I receive any notice. 
Identity theft often uses old or incorrect addresses to mask fraudulent activity. 

8. Their Letter Confirms They Will Continue Reporting the Fraudulent Account They said : After a review of the account, we determined the reporting is accurate. No request will be made to change or delete the information Page 12 This is unlawful under : FCRA 605B ( identity theft block ) FCRA 611 ( failure to reinvestigate ) FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ) ( failure to mark disputed ) FDCPA 807 ( false representations ) FDCPA 809 ( b ) ( must cease collection on disputed debt ) A furnisher can not simply declare reporting to be accurate after identity theft is claimed and evidence is provided.

They must : Conduct a real investigation Obtain original documents Validate the identity of the applicant Compare signatures Confirm identity through lawful means They did none of this.

9. They Incorrectly Claim I Provided Permission to Report the Account XXXX XXXX  states : By signing the credit application and Contract, you provided the required permissions to report the account Page 1 Again, I did not sign anything.

Identity theft invalidates any supposed permissions, and the law requires removal of fraudulent accounts even if documentation existsbecause the documentation is fraudulent.

10. The Vehicle Listed Is Not One I Owned or Purchased The documents show a XXXX XXXX with a VIN I do not recognize. 
I have never : Owned this vehicle Driven it Purchased it Registered it Financed it Been associated with it The photos and images included in the file ( pages 47 ) show details unrelated to me.

The dealership listed on the contract is not one I ever engaged with. 

I do not own this vehicle, and I do not own this account. 

11. XXXX XXXX Admits They Are Attempting to Collect the Debt Their letter includes the federal disclosure : THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT Page 3 Attempting to collect an identity theft-related debt violates : FDCPA 809 ( b ) FCRA 623 FTC Identity Theft Rules CFPB regulations They are continuing illegal collection efforts.

12. Why the FTC Identity Theft Report Overrides Their Claims Under FCRA 605B : Furnishers MUST block fraudulent accounts Furnishers MUST stop reporting Furnishers MUST stop collection The consumer is NOT required to prove innocence The furnisher MUST prove the account is legitimate I filed an FTC report because I do not own this account, and XXXX XXXX has not proven it belongs to me.

Their refusal to remove it is illegal.

13. The Burden of Proof Is on XXXX XXXX Not Me Identity theft law is clear : The consumer must declare the account is fraudulent The consumer must provide an FTC report The furnisher must provide REAL proof The furnisher must stop reporting if proof can not be obtained Attaching unsigned photocopies or unverifiable forms does not satisfy the legal standard.

14. I Never Benefited From This Account in Any Way I did not : Receive money Gain property Drive the vehicle Make payments Receive tax documents Receive any correspondence Receive any benefit whatsoever Identity theft accounts provide zero benefit to the victim. 

Yet XXXX XXXX  is trying to hold me responsible for a fraudulent transaction. 

15. My Rights Under Federal Law Have Been Violated XXXX XXXX  has violated : FCRA Rights 602 : Accuracy 607 ( b ) : Maximum possible accuracy 611 : Reinvestigation 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) : Deletion 623 ( a ) ( 3 ) : Failure to mark disputed 623 ( b ) : Failure to investigate 605B : Identity theft block FDCPA Rights 807 : False representations 808 : Unfair practices 809 ( b ) : Must stop collection on disputed debt They also ignored the FTC Identity Theft guidelines.

16. This Account Has Caused Significant Harm This fraudulent account has caused : Credit score damage Difficulty obtaining housing Denied credit applications High interest rates Emotional distress Time spent disputing Financial hardship XXXXXXXX XXXX  refusal to remove the account is prolonging the harm. 

17. My Official Position I do NOT own this account.

I did NOT sign any contracts.

I did NOT authorize any transaction.

I did NOT apply for this loan.

I did NOT purchase or drive the vehicle.

This is identity theft, and I have filed an FTC Identity Theft Report to formally declare the account fraudulent.

18. Requested Resolution I request : Immediate deletion of the XXXX XXXX  account from all bureaus Cessation of all collection activity Blocking of the account under FCRA 605B Written confirmation of deletion Removal of all negative reporting associated with this account Ceasing of any further furnishing of information Conclusion This XXXX XXXX account does not belong to me. 
I filed an FTC Identity Theft Report because this debt is fraudulent. 
XXXX XXXX documents do not prove ownership. 
Their refusal to remove the account violates federal law and must be corrected immediately. 

I do not own this account. 
I am a victim of identity theft. 
This account must be removed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation