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Certified Recovery Systems RIPOFF! Multiple violations of FDCPA & FCRA - No state or federal agency will help! Houston Texas
My name is Lauren . I am a resident of the state of Florida. For the last two years, I have been trying to clear my name and credit profile, from the damage caused by a company located in and doing business from the state of Texas.
Two years ago, I took a cash advance of $300.00 from ONE (1) company. Which I paid in full. (All documents attached).
Four months after it was paid, I received a notice from Certified Recovery Systems, stating that my account had been turned over for collection activity. I mailed them a copy of the money order receipt and wrote a note on a copy of their bill by return mail, stating it was paid prior to placement with them. I did not hear from them again. Until I tried to refinance my home several months later. Certified has (and still does to this date) reported that I owe this money as a collection account.
I have contacted the collection agency several times, by mail, telephone and facsimile. Each contact is worse than the previous. The collectors refuse to divulge any information regarding the actual creditor. They have cursed at me, hung up on me, made slanderous comments about my heritage, my professional life, my family and have threatened me with litigation and criminal charges.
Not one single employee there will give me any information about this alleged debt or the original creditor.
I have repeatedly provided the collection agency and the three major credit reporting agencies with proof that I do not owe this debt. These attempts have been useless.
The credit reporting agencies claim the creditor - Certified Recovery Systems, Incorporated, is validating the debt. However, as a collections professional for over 20 years, I am aware of what the process is for validation...the credit bureau asks the reporting creditor if the debt is valid. If the reporting creditor says it is, then the credit profile in question remains. This is not true validation. However, it is the way the system functions.
I have contacted the Texas Attorney General's office. They have done nothing to intervene on my behalf. I was told that they only will investigate if the citizens of the state of Texas are harmed as a whole.
I contacted the Federal Trade Commission. They too accepted the complaint, but handle these matters in the style of the Texas Attorney General. Only getting involved when the good of the people as a whole is jeopardized.
I have done an advance search on this company and have included only a few of the results I have found. It would seem to me that the tactics of this company would require the intervention of the Attorney General - as it seems that it would be in everyone's best interest if they were out of business.
I contacted your office with the hope of discovering which (if any) agency in your state governs collection agencies business conduct. I was told that this particular industry is not governed by anyone, that they essentially run amok. Hence, the reason for my letter to you now.
I have gone to extraordinary lengths to attempt to clear my name and credit report. All to no avail.
I am a member of the U.S. Navy Reserves and have been called to Active Duty. I will be going to Iraq for a (minimum) tour of twenty-one (21) months on October 30, 2006. I have managed to make arrangements for every aspect of my life while I am gone. I am a single woman, that must rely on a distant relative to handle my mundane affairs while deployed. I cannot expect her to become embroiled in this horrific situation. Nor can I willingly subject her (or anyone else) to the blatant verbal abuse and foul behavior of the employees of Certified Recovery. However, I want my name cleared.
I believe I have abided by the very letter of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, with regard to disputing and providing proof that this debt was paid. I have contacted every conceivable agency in an effort to obtain intervention. I cannot afford, either financially or in the interest of time, to hire private counsel to defend this complete disdain of the laws of this country.
L.F
NPR, Florida
U.S.A.