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HSBC North America Complaint - Terrible, Damaging Response to Identity Theft - Credit account
Credit account - Complaint
SALIANS, CALIFORNIA -- HSBC is the administrator/finance company for a company called Furniture Row. My ex and, apparently, her boyfriend, forged my name to establish a credit account with this company.
I only learned about this some 9 months later, because this was one of those "no-payments for 18 months" financing arrangements. When I contacted Furniture Row, they hastily sent me along to HSBC.
I've been fighting HSBC for nearly 2 years now: this is not my account. It was established fraudulently in my name; they can provide not one single document that in any way ties this account to me, yet they refuse to stop attempts to collect it from me and continue reporting the debt as mine, and as in arrears to the credit reporting agencies.
Like so many other companies, HSBC has much to say about how they are "fighting" identity theft and fraud on their web site, but when confronted with a case of it, the only thing they can think to do, is ignore the facts and attempt to re-victimize the victim of the fraud.
They are leaving me no choice but to seek restitution for slander of credit and other damages, I suppose.
I only learned about this some 9 months later, because this was one of those "no-payments for 18 months" financing arrangements. When I contacted Furniture Row, they hastily sent me along to HSBC.
I've been fighting HSBC for nearly 2 years now: this is not my account. It was established fraudulently in my name; they can provide not one single document that in any way ties this account to me, yet they refuse to stop attempts to collect it from me and continue reporting the debt as mine, and as in arrears to the credit reporting agencies.
Like so many other companies, HSBC has much to say about how they are "fighting" identity theft and fraud on their web site, but when confronted with a case of it, the only thing they can think to do, is ignore the facts and attempt to re-victimize the victim of the fraud.
They are leaving me no choice but to seek restitution for slander of credit and other damages, I suppose.
Comments:
Posted by At Your Service on 2012-01-18:
Mike, if what you say is true, you have nothing to worry about and really do not have to pursue this in court. There are two federal laws that protect you. You can review them at
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf and
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf
These two laws prevent anyone from harassing you for a debt you really don't owe or reporting a debt, thus damaging your credit report, for the same such merchandise.
Simply, I would put your request in writing and send it certified, signature requested mail. In your request, ask them to either send you a copy of the account and purchase with your signature on it, showing that it is your debt. Realize that if you've opened an account with your ex-wife and given permission to sign on the account, it's perfectly legitimate for her to do as she did. However, if they are unable to send you such proof of liability, then you need to tell them you are in dispute with such debt and they are to not contact you further.
At this point, they have two options, to either file in court, requiring you to legally pay the debt, or to drop said debt. If they report the debt to any of the three credit reporting agencies, they are required, by law, to communicate the debt is not being paid because you are, in fact, disputing said debt. In addition, you can then request the credit reporting agency receives nothing more than the same proof you've requested or the debt has to be removed from your credit report.
This whole process can be tedious. I'll grant you that. But it is also fair and insures that you cannot be held responsible for a purchase your ex-wife made without your consent or written permission.
Please let us know how things work out.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf and
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf
These two laws prevent anyone from harassing you for a debt you really don't owe or reporting a debt, thus damaging your credit report, for the same such merchandise.
Simply, I would put your request in writing and send it certified, signature requested mail. In your request, ask them to either send you a copy of the account and purchase with your signature on it, showing that it is your debt. Realize that if you've opened an account with your ex-wife and given permission to sign on the account, it's perfectly legitimate for her to do as she did. However, if they are unable to send you such proof of liability, then you need to tell them you are in dispute with such debt and they are to not contact you further.
At this point, they have two options, to either file in court, requiring you to legally pay the debt, or to drop said debt. If they report the debt to any of the three credit reporting agencies, they are required, by law, to communicate the debt is not being paid because you are, in fact, disputing said debt. In addition, you can then request the credit reporting agency receives nothing more than the same proof you've requested or the debt has to be removed from your credit report.
This whole process can be tedious. I'll grant you that. But it is also fair and insures that you cannot be held responsible for a purchase your ex-wife made without your consent or written permission.
Please let us know how things work out.
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