Merrick Bank Customer Service I've never done business with Merrick Bank, or any DBA, yet I'm getting collection notices. Old Bethel Page, New York

Three months ago, I started getting phone calls from a collection agency named FBCS, Inc. They informed me that I had a past due amount of $911.96 from a place called Merrick Bank, which until then I had never heard of. They informed me that it was from an account I had opened in 2009. That is impossible, as I was disabled, and had no income or any financial transactions that year, aside from a meager state disability check that barely paid the few bills I had. I informed the collection agent  of such, and he was very professional, and promised to look into it.

A week later, I received another notice that Merrick was willing to settle the account for twenty cents on the dollar, or $182.40. That kind of drop raised yet another red flag for me. I'd never heard of a creditor willing to so quickly settle for such a small sum.

Finally, last week, I was sent the most recent correspondence from the collection agency asking that, if I wish to protest this as a fraud case, I needed to obtain a police report and send them a copy. I called my local police department, and they informed me that identity fraud is a federal matter, and I'd have to take it up with the FBI. ANY creditor would know this, so that's red flag #2.

I do not believe Merrick has a case against me, and I don't know how they got my social security number. But I will send them a letter stating that if they intend to pursue the matter, I will consider their attempts as fraud in itself, and I will contact the FBI to make a complaint against them. I doubt it will do any good, but I can only do so much without spending thousands on a lawyer over a $900 debt. Even if you stay clear of them, you aren't necessarily safe.