Why is false debt collector showing on "Account Review Inquiries"?

[Anonymous]

I'm concerned about something I just noticed on my TU report after receiving a "fake" debt collection letter in the mail today. I recieved a letter today saying I owed this debt collector for a credit card I closed and PAID off 6 years ago. They want me to think I still owe this debt apparently, though the original account shows up on my credit report as paid and closed, should drop off soon altogether. I have recently requested all my credit reports anyway, so I went to check them to make sure this "debt collector" isn't trying to put this old and PAID debt on my credit again (so far so good). 

But I did notice on my TU report that this debt collector is showing up under "Account Review Inquiries", three times in the past year. So they obviously have my SSN, but why would this false debt collector, who has to know this is not a legit debt, be accessing my report? And what should I do about this? 

Thanks for any help. I'm really confused and worried. 

[IOBA]

Just some thoughts...

1.  The "false debt collector" could be a legit debt collector.

2.  The debt collector could believe  that they have a valid debt to collect.  (So many things - including mistakes/errors - happen when companies change computer systems, people, vendors, etc.)

3.  If they are monitoring your credit report, they are probably assessing whether it's worth an attempt to collect the "debt" from you.  People will pay false debts so they can go through with a purchase of a car or a house.

4.  I would suggest sending a debt verification letter to the debt collector right away.  Send it CMRR (certified mail, return receipt).  Doing this stops all collection activity until the debt collector has responded.

5.  While you are waiting to hear back from the debt collector, go through all of your records and make copies of everything that shows the debt was paid off in full six years ago.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. I'm definitely going to send for debt verification. 

I remember when I paid off this credit card, I had gotten behind and paid via a lawyer the original creditor hired. It was not a debt collector through third party. However, this debt collector sending me mail now, and calling, IS third party. Their information on the debt (amount, etc.) was off too. It's pretty obvious this has nothing to do with the REAL debt, and the real debt shows up on my credit reports as paid and closed, reported by the original creditor. So I know this is not legitimate, and I have no intention of paying them, it had just better not show up on my report. 

This is why I'm so curious as to why they are inquiring on my credit report, but have reported nothing and have not tried to. It's just...weird. 

[RobertEG]

I agree with sending a DV, but you might consider going a step further.

Sending a DV, assuming it is timely, will invoke a cease collection bar on them, preventing their conduct of continued collection activities until they choose to provide the requested debt verification.  However, they could choose to sit on it, while the issue of their past and potention future credit inquiries remains unaddressed.

A DV is a debt collection practices matter, and does not address their compliance with the permissible purpose provisions of the FCRA.

With apparent documentation of payment, and thus absence of debt, and thus absence of any legitimate collection authority, their pulls would be  a clear violation of FCRA 604, either as an owner of the debt for account review, or collection on he debt as an assigned debt collector.

An additional letter from the OC stating that they have never sold or assigned the debt to the asserted debt collector would nail the lack of any collection authority, and thus permissible purpose to receive your credit report.

I would thus recommend also sending a dispute to the CRA of the accuracy of their permissible purpose for access to your CR.

The CRA must conclude a reinvestigation of the dispute, including obtaining response from the debt collector, within 30 days.

If the debt collector does not provide verification of their permissible purpose, and/or the CRA agrees that there was none, deletion from your CR is mandated.

[IOBA]

+1 to what RobertEG said.

Adding to that, I would suggest writing a PAPER dispute with the CRA's and mailing it in, CRMRR.