Complaint Review: Palisades Collection - Englewood New Jersey

On or about August 6th, 2005, I received a phone call from Palisades Collection indicating an AT&T debt account had been purchased from GC Services of Texas and this was an attempt to collect. I had no knowledge of any business relationship with the Palisades Collection.

As is the my lawful right in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), I sent via USPS Certified Return Receipt, a letter requesting formal debt validation. This letter was sent on August 10, 2005 and signed for by Palisades office on August 12th, 2005 well within the 30-day period expressly provided by the FDCPA.

Palisades Collection failed to respond with any type of requested validation.

I initiated an investigation via Experian and Trans Union regarding the validity of the debt.

On or about April 11, 2006, I received a phone call from Palisades again informing me that an account had been purchased from GC Services of Texas and they were attempting to collect on the debt. I notified Palisades Collection that validation had been requested and all further communication should be in writing.

On or about August 21th, 2006, Palisades Collection received a printout of what appeared to be statements from the original creditor. I specifically asked for the original contract bearing my signature, billing/invoices, Past Due amounts, as well as the Palisades Collection right to collect on this debt.

On January 31st, 2007, in a good faith effort to allow Palisades Collection more than ample opportunity to validate the alleged debts, I sent a second letter via Certified Mail with Return Receipt requested, which was signed for by Palisades Collection on February 2nd, 2007.

Palisades again failed to respond to request for validation.

On February 9th, 2007, I received an alert from Equifaxs Credit Watch service and learned that Palisades Collection had updated the trade line on my credit profile, again violating my rights under the FDCPA.

On February 10th, 2007, I contacted the Palisades Collection via telephone, to inform them of the possible legal ramifications. Palisades Collection then demanded payment of the debt from the me, another violation of the FDCPA Section 809 (b), continuance of debt collection before the validation of debt.

On February 15th, 2007 I sent via USPS Certified Return Receipt, a 3rd and final letter referencing prior attempts of formal debt validation, and demanded the immediate removal of derogatory trade line information, or Plaintiff would be forced to seek legal relief. This letter was signed for by Palisades Collection office on February 19th, 2007.

To date, Palisades Collection has failed to respond to requests for validation.

Since August 8th, 2005, this account was and is still being reported to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion in 3 separate violations of the FDCPA, the FCRA, and an FTC staff opinion letter which clearly state that a collection agency may not report an account to the credit reporting agencies during the pendency of its verification of the account to the debtor, if the debtor has so requested.

Because of the Palisades blatant disregard for the my rights as allowed by the FDCPA and FCRA, the I have been denied $9,000 in credit with current creditors. Palisades has also hampered the my ability to obtain a mortgage.

Nathan

LIC, New York
U.S.A.