A collection agency mistakenly sent collection letters to nearly 400 individuals who did not owe anything, according to a published report.
The agency sent letters, alleging the individuals had unpaid debts from traffic violations in Pinellas County, Florida. In some cases, the letters even went as far as to tell people that their driver’s licenses may have been suspended by the state’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles as a result of the unpaid fine.
The collection agency, Penn Credit, said the collection letters were sent out accidentally because it had an “issue” with its skiptracing data system.
Penn Credit said it is sending a letter of apology that includes an explanation of what happened to all of those who received the notice.
The Pinellas County criminal court customer service center has been receiving calls for several weeks and from individuals across the state of Florida as well as some from outside the state who are worried that they owe money when in fact then do not.