Consumer complaint received 2020-12-05
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NC
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:
I have disputed the reporting of four medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies to Equifax. The companies are ( 1 ) XXXX XXXX, ( 2 ) XXXX XXXX XXXX, ( 3 ) XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX. I noticed these accounts listed on my report for XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax while dealing with an Identity Theft Issue after having filed a formal report with the FTC. I disputed these 4 medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies with all three of the credit bureaus on XX/XX/2020. Before the 30 day time period had expired, both XXXX  and XXXX were able to successfully verify that I do not own and am not associated with any of the medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies and promptly removed them from my credit reports. Equifax stated that these accounts were verified as accurate because the medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies were able to provide them with a matching name, phone number, and address for me. I stated that I had never received a bill and requested these be sent back for a second dispute requesting proof that these were my accounts because this was not substantial proof, the medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies only updated their files with information that was accessible via public record. At this point, I mailed a dispute letter to each one of the medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies letting them know that I was officially disputing these charges and I formally requested they send me all documents that would prove and validate that the accounts and charges listed were mines including dates, signatures, original reporting creditors, etc. I have not yet received this information and it has exceeded the 30-day limit. I sent in a third dispute with Equifax on XX/XX/2020 and again sent formal disputes via mail to each medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies, I called this time to verify that the first correspondence sent by me had been received, all medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies confirmed that they were currently reviewing the accounts and that my request had been received. I have not received a response from the 2nd round of letters as part of the 3rd inquiry, again exceeding the 30-day limit. I called Equifax today ( XX/XX/2020 ) and was on the phone for the better part of 4 hours. I had been hung up on 4 times, transferred 6 times, and spoke to the customer service department, the fraud department, and the dispute department. The last person I spoke with before being hung up on for the final time was a supervisor who stated that they could not remove the items because they had received validation, I asked for proof of the validation from each dispute, and would respond by asking me if I had proof that these were not my accounts. I have never received correspondence from any of these medical collection 3rd party reporting agencies and because they are not sending me what I have requested multiple times I do not have anything to send in. He asked if I had any bills and I said that I didn't because I don't. I asked if they could dispute these items as a final dispute requiring that each medical collection 3rd party reporting agency provided hard evidence including the name of the medical office I was supposed to have visited, the dates of service, were these reported for the correct patient, had they verified my name at the time of service and not what was listed on public record at the date of dispute if these were mine, was insurance filed, which insurance, copies of the explanation of benefits providing proof that the claims were processed correctly, etc. He said " No '' and hung up the call.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation