Legal Theft: A Caution of a Hidden Law in NC

It's been a long time since I had to write a post about the evils of some people and/or organizations. But, it's what I do when someone is doing something to harm me or others close to me, or not close to me. With this one, I want everyone in the United States, especially North Carolinians, to know what has happened to me and be wary of it. Some of you may know this already, but a lot others like me, may not know this can happen.

What Has Happened Is

My State Tax Refund was taken. It is small, and insignificant, but it's was still mine and it was taken. The entity that took it is the Town of Robersonville here in North Carolina. You probably don't know Robersonville because it is very small, kind of empty/abandoned, and yes, quite insignificant. I was sent a letter by the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) telling me that my State Tax Refund was taken, and in small print at the bottom of the document it gave a number to an automated voice system that gave me a name and number to contact the person who initiated this issue.
Of course, I contacted this person who represents the Town of Robersonville NC, the Town Clerk, and asked all these questions concerning everything. I had time to write down my questions as I had to wait until her break was over and she got off the phone to call back and speak with her. Here's the information I got based on my questions.

In my conversation with, this lady (I'll be a little nice), on 02/28/2020, she said the amount I owe is $276.09. She said this bill is for Lights and Water/Sewage that was in my name. She said the claim is for the address, 102 North Outerbridge Street in Robersonville NC. She said the claim is based on the cut off time of service in July of 2002. She said a letter notifying me of the actions taken this year in (2019) and the ability to appeal my State Tax Refund being taken, was sent to a PO Box 542 in Robersonville NC. She said she did not know when this notification and ability to appeal letter was sent. She said she had no proof that I set up services to have Lights and Water/Sewage, and had no ID for this, Social Security Number, or Signature. She admitted that this has happened to people before, as that was the way they did things in the past, and admitted this is the reason why the methods for getting services in Robersonville NC has changed today. She said that no money had been taken away from me any time before this tax year of 2019. She said the bill is associated with 102 North Outerbridge Street, Robersonville NC. 

After speaking with a North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) Fraud representative, she called me back at 2:30pm 02/28/2020 about another address, 106 South Broad Street in Robersonville NC. She said a lease was in my name. She said she has an image of my Social Security Card/Number and a Student ID from Martin Community College from the year 2002, but it actually shows the ID was from 1999, which is attached to this address and lease. In 1999, I turned 18 years old. I was born August 31st 1981. This was also the year that the Tropical Storm/Depression Floyd hit NC with it Winds, Rain and Flooding. She did not mention if my signature was on this lease when I asked and the call ended. 

Overall, I went to Robersonville NC to get this application, all these documents I supposedly filled out. Turns out there is no application. I was given two sheets of paper. My 1999 Martin Community College ID and Social Security Number images was on one sheet of paper and the other paper had my name associated with a lease and at the bottom, the North Outerbridge Address. There is no official application, no signature, no proof of income to pay this bill for these addresses, nor for the lights and water/sewage.

Recently I contacted NCDOR fraud and was told adhere to Identity Theft steps. A NC Identity Theft Representative contacted me and told me they only handle theft regarding multiple tax returns filed in a person's name. The NC Identity Theft Representative also told me this most important fact which was that a business/organization/town/city can just file a claim in your name due to a North Carolina Law that allows them to do this. In my case, the only thing the Town of Robersonville has as an important proof of identity is an image of my Social Security Number/Card. I was told the person/persons effected by these claims would have to deal with the entity that made the claim. That call ended.

Curious, I called the IRS to check and see if they have to approve these claims in order for them to occur. Again, essentially looking for the entity that approves claims like this and allows a business/organization/town/city to place a claim on your fucking money without you showing up in court or being able to dispute this. You recall, I was told a letter was sent to me, but they sent the letter to a mystery PO Box in their own town and didn't know when they sent it. Regarding my question of, who approves this claim that was put in on my State Tax Refund, I was basically told by an IRS representative that it's not their fault, they didn't do it, and was rushed off the phone with the mention of the Bureau of Fiscal Service. Upon calling the Bureau of Fiscal Service, curious about them, they referred me to a Debt Office, who referred me to an Offset Office, who referred me to the Department of Treasury, who had no record of me owing a bill to any entity. The Department of Treasury Representative ALSO told me that a person/persons effected by a claim put in on their State Tax Refund would have to deal directly with the entity that put in that claim.

So, what I learned is there is NO WAY to dispute this claim through NCDOR, IRS, or any other government entity. But, I did learn who allowed this to happen. I spoke with a North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) representative and this person said they just put in these claims once they receive them, after that, YOU must work with the business/organization/town/city that put it in to get it taken care of or paid off or whatever. They offer no assistance with getting this removed from your State Tax Refund yet they allow an entity with only a little of your information to claim what is yours.

Why I'm Sharing All This Shit With You

Well, I am sharing all this shit with you because it is truly bullshit. It is bullshit that has occurred in my already busy and quite hectic life, but it is also very important for a number of reasons.

I share this with everyone so you can be wary of entities that get your social security number/card and place a claim on your hard-earned funds even if it was18 years ago with no application, signature, and no real proof of the transaction. 
So all that don't know will know that such a law exists, at least in NC, that allows entities to take your hard-earned money after 18 years with no application and no proof that any transactions occurred. 

Because in this situation, I MUST get legal assistance to get this removed and protect myself because this entity was allowed to just do this and it didn't matter if they had the wrong information, wrong person, or wrong address; they were allowed to do it. This also means they could use my Social Security Number/Card to take more money for something else that is unknown to me. 

Last, Accountability is not here as far as my situation is concerned. Businesses/Organizations/Town/Cities should not be able to make a claim on your money without valid proof of services given. It doesn't matter who took my information and started all this, it matters that the Business/Organization/Town/City allowed it to be done this way. This was gross negligence on the part of this entity and now it wants me to pay for their negligence. So to everyone in North Carolina and the U.S, be wary out there, take care, and protect yourself and your information. 

toni

@toninorthern on Twitter