In August my identity was stolen and a stranger opened an account with Newport News Fashions/FCNB in my name. It was never paid, and I learned about it after it was charged-off months later. I responded to the first collection agency's letters in 2002 asking for validation. The agency never replied with any information and stopped collecting.
To get the item removed from my credit reports, I tried contacting Newport News Fashions by phone and in writing (certified mail, return receipt requested) several times. The company never responded to the letters or calls or validated the debt. I continued to dispute the items with the three major credit reporting agencies, and they all finally removed the fraudulent item from my reports in 2005. I wrongly believed the problem was resolved.
However, I found out that a new collection agency, Palisades Collection, has taken over my fraudulent collection account. The item was illegally given a new date of February and added to my credit report on August 5. I'm requesting validation of the debt and disputing the item with Palisades and Newport News. If this isn't corrected quickly, I plan to sue the company and the collection agency.
Based on what I've seen of Newport News so far, I'd tell anyone shopping for clothes via catalog to go elsewhere.
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