Consumer complaint received 2023-03-21
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: ND
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Other personal consumer report
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Public record information inaccurate

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I applied for an apartment. I paid a {$40.00} application fee as required. A background and credit check was performed. I am a victim of identity fraud that occurred in XXXX of XXXX. I had an " extended fraud alert '' placed on all 3 of my credit files with XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX. Anytime before ANY screening agency has access to any of my credit information they must first obtain my verbal consent to do so. When applying at XXXX XXXX XXXX I was sent an email link to apply. XXXX was the company listed on the application link when I applied online. A few days later I received an email telling me that my application had been denied. This was odd considering I wasn't contacted by any company requesting my permission to access my consumer information and credit information by phone, email, text, or any means of communication for that matter. I was told the denial was based on criminal history ( 2 ) misdemeanors for theft, and also previous evictions. I was then given a copy of the adverse action letter. Upon reading this letter I noticed right away that the address the company had on file was wrong and inaccurate. There were also 2 previous items that had been paid in full that were on my file. The ( 2 ) misdemeanor theft charges I received a " deferred judgement for meaning that upon payment of any fines and fees in full ( which I have already paid in full ) the charges would be dismissed. I then noticed that 3 different consumer/credit screening companies were obtaining this inaccurate, false, derogatory, and outdated information and have used it to deny this application with the rental company. I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX and inquired as to why I was not contacted before my consumer/credit information was accessed. All they did was provide me with the Adverse Action letter. They then told me that the reason for denial was due to " criminal '' history and 2 unpaid judgements. I responded to their email with PDF copies of my sentencing paperwork which proved that I had indeed complied with the Judge 's orders to pay in full fines and fees. I then sent them a PDF of the previous judgement amounts and a ledger showing that they were both paid in full. I waited a week for a response and received nothing. Not even an email back to say that my email was received. My main complaint is that even with an " extended fraud alert '' placed on all 3 credit Bureaus my consumer/credit report was not only accessed but shared with 2 other companies and allowed to produce inaccurate, false, derogatory, and outdated information to be used in denying me the ability to rent at this property. If a company is going to charge me {$40.00} I would expect them to exercise good business practices and be straight forward with a potential tenant and disclose the company or " companies ' they are using to screen applicants. I also would expect the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to disclose if they happen to go by another name as I discovered after looking over the adverse action letter. ( XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX ) is the property name on the adverse action letter. Misleading applicants and then taking their money isn't good business practice nor is it lawful. Once again a consumer is taken advantage of because of companies negligence and failure to make certain the information they receive is correct and truthful. Also the FCRA was violated based on the fact that my information was accessed without my permission and an extended fraud alert was ignored. I even tried to give an opportunity to the management company and their tenant screening/consumer/credit report agencies to fix this discrepancy to which I was completely ignored and also branded as a criminal. My next step is to move forward with litigation and have the courts grant me monetary compensation. I however am hoping that maybe this issue can be resolved with, mediation before I move forward with any legal actions. I have attached proof of address with a phone bill and my recent filing of my LLC here in ND. I have also included the bills that were paid in full that were supposedly unpaid according to the ( 3 ) companies.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation