Consumer complaint received 2023-10-24
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TN
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Investigation took more than 30 days

Complaint:
I am writing to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding the lack of a reasonable investigation performed by your organization in response to my dispute regarding a collection account on my credit report. This matter is in reference to XXXX XXXX XXXX and/or XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX . 

On XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  I submitted a written request for investigation, along with supporting documentation, and a complaint with CFPB disputing the accuracy and validity of the aforementioned collection account. As per the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), it is the responsibility of the credit bureau to conduct a thorough and reasonable investigation into any disputed information within 30 days of receipt. 

To my dismay, despite providing clear and compelling evidence indicating potential inaccuracies or errors in the reporting of this collection account, I have not received a comprehensive response from your organization. The lack of communication and failure to conduct an appropriate investigation is disconcerting and raises doubts about the integrity of your reporting process. 

The XXXX XXXX XXXX and/or XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX reported I owed their client XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX I moved out without paying rent. I disputed this incorrect/ inaccurate information to XXXX , Equifax , and XXXX . I provided XXXX XXXX XXXX and/or XXXX XXXX  XXXX with evidence of the day I moved out and which was XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX and/or XXXX XXXX XXXX  Is saying I moved out of the apartment in XXXX of XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX and/or XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Said they acquired this ledger for their client, but when I called their client they said they have no records of that ledger. 

Accordingly as per the FCRA you are required to conduct a reasonable investigation, and delete the disputed information, as I requested before the end of the 30 day period of the date upon you received my dispute letter and complaint. Instead of sending me a response letter to the result of your investigation that comply with FCRA, you stated that your company certified this debt. According to the FCRA, Section 609 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), you are required by federal law to verify - through the physical verification of the original signed consumer contract - any and all accounts you post on a credit report. 

Clearly, you have willfully failed to delete the disputed information as I have requested. In lieu of the disputed information, you willfully failed to conduct a reasonable investigation of my dispute because you verified it but without documentation. However, your excuse, or assumption is not a valid reason under the FCRA to not re-investigate my dispute. Note, you have not made any reasonable determination that the dispute was frivolous or irrelevant. Nor have you sent me a notice of such determination that complies with the FCRA. Furthermore, I directly dispute the completeness and the accuracy of information contained in my consumer file. As per the FCRA, your failure to reinvestigate properly is a negligent FCRA violation. 

As a result of your conduct as described above, you should promptly delete the disputed information. Additionally, as per the FCRA, you are liable to me for damages from your conduct. Thus, in addition to deletion of the disputed information,

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation