Merrick Bank allowed fraudulent activity to occur even though it took me over my credit line South Jordan UT

On 12/1/22 I was alerted via text by Merrick Bank that a transaction of more that $200 had transpired.  I immediately called them.  Found it was a $1,000 charge I did not authorize.  They said it was pending and would take care of it. 

A few days later I checked online and discovered they allowed the charge to go through, even though it put me hundreds over my credit limit and even though I'd told them it was not my charge.   The only proof they had was the name of the fraudster, the amount, and an SQ code.   I filed an appeal twice.   They removed the charge and then would put it back on at least four times throughout the next several months.  They had no proof it was my charge.  In the end they said it was my normal charge amount I'd made in the past and they found it to be accurate.   

I have over 80 pages of certified letters I sent them, phone conversations with dates, times, and people I spoke with.   In the end they said they had no way of reaching the merchant and that I might be better equipped since I'd done business with them and I should see out the merchant.   Through my own research, which took hours and hours, this was a fraudulent charge using Square Trade for sunset photography in Idaho (I'm in Michigan).  I didn't even know what sunset photography was.   I had to google it.  It's photography taken at sunset.   Why on earth would I order such a service on the other side of the continent?

Through BeenVerified, which I know is not 100% accurate, I find this personal has a less than desirable background, menial past job history, never worked in photography, and had since moved to Port Charlotte, FL.  Merrick Bank has been harrassing me with phone calls, emails, and letters, adding late fees and interest on top of it.  Then recently they sent an offer letter to cut it back to $600 and most recently $400.  I owe them zero, and I don't trust them.   

After I confirmed the $1,000 charge was removed and I paid off my balance and confirmed I was at zero balance, I closed the account over the phone, which was verified with a secondary person.  And a few days later, though my account was now closed, they reinstated the $1,000 charge.   

I've contacted the Consumer Protection Agency who directed me to the FTC where they filed a report on my behalf and offered up form letters to send, but I'd been sending letters to Merrick Bank via certified mail right along, about eight letters.   They continue to send me the same rote response -- that I am responsible and am expected to pay. 

I thought  the purpose of using a credit card is so you're protected against fraud and would get reimbursed.  In this situation I never used the card.  It sat in my desk drawer at home and was used sparingly for not more than $300 at a time.   

I believe the fraudster may have gotten my credit card information through a data breach with Equifax a few years earlier; that the information lay dormant and then the information was sold on the dark web.  I relayed this information to Merrick Bank, but it feel on deaf ears.

I have also written Equifax as I am part of the data breach, and while I sent them all supporting documentation and written report via USPS overnight (with confirmation it arrived in Merrick Bank's PO Box0, I have yet to hear back.  I since called Equifax and they're looking into the whereabouts of the packet.

It's going on a year.  Now Merrick Bank has contacted the credit bureau and collections is next.  I believe them continuing to hold me accountable for a charge I did not make is because I closed out my account is an act of retribution.   I am 60 years old and have always paid my bills.   I am an upstanding citizen  who has worked for everything I've ever gotten.   I hold firm that this is not my charge and I cannot believe the number of times I've broken out in a rash or lost sleep over this, not to mention the countless hours trying to prove my point.  This is such poor business practice.  And they're a MasterCard company.   Whatever happened to backing your client?  I was with them for over 15 years.