Merchants' Credit Guide Ripoff Fraudulent attempt to collect past due account Chicago Illinois

I received a letter from Merchants' Credit Guide Co. informing me that I owed money on some past due account, HFN-Fleet Bank. They provided three handy ways for me to pay the past due amount directly to them.

I have never paid a bill late in my life so I called to get further information on this matter, fearing a case of identity theft.

The CSR told me that I opened this account in May, 1999 and that I never paid the bill. He assured me there was "no identity theft" that I simply didn't pay my bill. He told me that if I "insisted" on proof of my negligence that I would need to request that in writing, he further told me that the original debt holder wasn't even listed on the letter, it was a Visa account.

I told him I've had ONE credit card for the past 22 years and it's paid in full every month. He called me a liar and the conversation quickly deteriorated at this point.

The next day when I felt sufficiently recovered to try to ask this company which of the numerous addresses they have listed on their letter I should write to in order to request the information on this account (I still am concerned about identity theft), I discovered the phone number is no longer a working number.

Maybe this company is no longer in business? I don't trust what they are trying to do.

But I am still concerned about being a victim of identity theft, obviously Merchant's Credit Guide was able to get valuable information about me and try to use it against me.

Toni
Randleman, North Carolina
U.S.A.