Consumer complaint received 2022-09-27
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CO
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: Problem with personal statement of dispute

Complaint:
Compliant about : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Mail Inquiries To : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Customer Service XXXX XXXX Late payment for the month of XX/XX/2022. 

I have made several complaints to XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX in regards to my XXXX AND ONLY late payment which was reflected on the month of XX/XX/2022. When I first contacted XXXX Bank in regards to this late payment, I was told that the late payment would no longer be reflected on my 3 credit reports any longer. Months have passed, and no changes had been made. So recently a couple days ago on XX/XX/2022 at XXXX, with a conversation lasting 25 minutes from the beginning of the phone call ( as stated on XXXX ). I was told that according to consumer reporting policies, they would not be able to dispute and remove the late payment at all, and under any circumstances. I mentioned the fact that I have disputed with other more REPUTABLE consumer financial services in the past that hold much more leverage in the financial markets for consumer credit and those more reputable financial institutions have indeed been able to remove past late payments due to the exact same reason I am disputing this late payment. 

In XX/XX/2022, I was late on my XXXX payment solely due to the fact that I was infected with XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX ) which is considered a part of a natural disaster under the CARES Act, approved by XXXX, XXXX and the President of the United States.

As stated on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website : The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act has forbearance and credit reporting requirements that may apply to your situation.

As with other natural disasters and emergencies, your creditors or lenders may be willingand in some case are requiredto provide forbearance, loan extensions, a reduction in interest rates, and/or other flexibilities for repayment. Some lenders are also saying they will not report late payments to credit reporting agencies or are waiving late fees for borrowers due to this pandemic. Under the CARES Act, in certain situations, lenders are required to report your accounts as current. 

You can reach out to your lender or creditor and find out what options or programs are available. These programs are sometimes called " hardship '' or " relief programs. '' These programs may allow you to enter into an agreement to : Defer or pause one or more payments Make a partial payment Forbear ( temporarily stop paying ) any delinquent amounts Modify a loan or contract Receive a suspension for federal student loan payments Other assistance or relief The CARES Act calls these agreements accommodations. 

I feel as if XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX is not only avoiding my complaint as negligent, but also as discriminatory towards the fact that this is a well known global epidemic that is still continuing to this very day. This is the ONLY LATE PAYMENT Ive had with this trade line or any other trade line on my credit reports, because this account does not have automatic bill pay and every time Ive used my main XXXX  account, it does not allow me to use it. I did not have the energy, the focus and the ability to make a payment due to being affected by XXXX and I feel like its more important for everyone to be aware that a SECURED CREDIT CARD THAT ISNT EVEN A REAL CREDIT CARD BECAUSE THEY USE THE CONSUMERS MONEY AGAINST THE CONSUMER FOR CREDIT REPORTING SERVICES TO BUILD A CONSUMERS CREDIT REPORT IS DISCRIMINATORY TOWARDS THOSE IMPACTED BY THE XXXXXXXX XXXX 

This is irresponsible, against federal laws enacted by both the legislature and executive branches of the United States, is a virus recognized by the : XXXX ( XXXX XXXX )XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ), XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ), US Federal Reserve, USA ( United States of America ), XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and pretty much every nation, agency, consumer providing company, corporation, lender, financial institution across the world. 

I demand an immediate reversal of this trend and behavior with XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX on all three major credit reporting agencies : XXXX XXXX Equifax And other agencies : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX Preferred not only in regards to my specific account, but with anyones complaints in regards to those impacted by XXXX who were unable to make financial obligations while impacted by THE DEADLY virus which takes more precedence for life and health, before a payment made to a secured credit card payment where they use the consumers money against the consumers credit report. 

They are violating the CARES Act and should be investigated and reasonably penalized by the Federal Government for making such adjustments not possible under Federal Law.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation