Consumer complaint received 2023-01-23
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
Re : Complaint against XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX for Violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to file a complaint against XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) by duplicating the same credit account they both reported on my credit report. This has resulted in a significant negative impact on my credit score, causing me to be denied credit, loans, and other financial opportunities. 

According to my credit report, XXXX XXXX XXXX reported a charged-off account to the credit reporting agencies, which was subsequently sold to XXXX XXXX XXXX. However, both companies continue to report the same account on my credit report, causing a duplicate negative account for the same debt.

This is a violation of FCRA Section 605 ( a ) which prohibits a creditor from reporting a debt to a credit reporting agency after it has been sold to a collections agency. This means that if a creditor sells a debt to a collections agency, they are not allowed to continue reporting the debt to a credit reporting agency. This is to prevent duplicate reporting of the same debt, which can negatively affect a consumer 's credit score. XXXX XXXX XXXX is violating this provision in my case. Additionally, FCRA Section 605 ( c ) prohibits a creditor from reporting a debt to a credit reporting agency more than once for the same debt. This means that if a creditor has already reported a debt to a credit reporting agency, they can not report the same debt again, even if the account has been sold to a collections agency. This is to prevent duplicate reporting of the same debt, which can negatively affect a consumer 's credit score. XXXX XXXX XXXX is violating this provision in my case. 

Furthermore, FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 5 ) requires a creditor to provide notice to the consumer before reporting a debt to a credit reporting agency after it has been sold to a collections agency. This means that if a creditor sells a debt to a collections agency, they must notify the consumer in writing before reporting the debt to a credit reporting agency. This gives the consumer an opportunity to dispute the debt and correct any inaccuracies before it is reported to the credit reporting agency. XXXX XXXX XXXX did not follow this provision of the law and I did not receive this notice, thus violating this provision in my case. FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 7 ) - Requires a creditor to provide notice to the consumer before reporting a debt to a credit reporting agency more than once for the same debt. This means that if a creditor has already reported a debt to a credit reporting agency, they must notify the consumer in writing before reporting the same debt again. This gives the consumer an opportunity to dispute the debt and correct any inaccuracies before it is reported to the credit reporting agency. XXXX XXXX XXXX did not follow this provision of the law and I did not receive this notice, thus violating this provision in my case.

In addition, FCRA Section 611 ( a ) requires credit reporting agencies to maintain accurate and complete information in consumers ' credit reports. This includes checking for errors and omissions, verifying the information with the creditor, and giving consumers the right to dispute any inaccuracies. In this case, XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX both reported the same account on my credit report, which is inaccurate and incomplete information, and a violation of FCRA Section 611 ( a ). 

I am requesting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigates these violations and takes appropriate action to correct the inaccuracies on my credit report and hold XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX accountable for their actions. I also request that my credit score be corrected and any harm caused by these violations be addressed. 

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation