Consumer complaint received 2020-05-08
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MA
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: Investigation took more than 30 days

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a letter, dated XX/XX/XXXX to Equifax via USPS Certified Mail, Tracking Number XXXX. The letter was received by Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX ; it was delivered to XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Georgia XXXX. 

The letter included a cover page, that identified two attachments to the letter ; The first attachment was a request under the Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 611.a, Paragraph 7, requesting a Method of Verification for a previous dispute investigation, into an account being reported by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( I had initially sent Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX a letter, dated XX/XX/XXXX, disputing inaccuracies regarding the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account that were reporting on my Equifax consumer credit file. I requested that Equifax investigate numerous items that I believe to be inaccurate, which as a result was damaging my credit score. I sent the XX/XX/XXXX dispute letter on XX/XX/XXXX by USPS Certified Mail, Tracking Number XXXX. The dispute letter was received by Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX  ; it was delivered to XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Georgia XXXX ). 

The second attachment was a request for Equifax to open a new dispute investigation into an account being reported by XXXX XXXX. 

XXXX XXXX was reporting two 30 Day Late marks on my Equifax consumer credit file. 

I decided to call Equifax customer service phone support on XX/XX/XXXX. Equifax was mandated to reply to me within 15 days, as specified under the Fair Credit Reporting Act Section 611.a, Paragraph 7,  regarding the letter for the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account XXXX 

Also, regarding the XXXX XXXX dispute, the 30-day period specified in the Fair Credit Reporting Act, in which the Credit Reporting Agency must complete a dispute investigation, was almost elapsed, so I decided to contact Equifax to see if the investigation had been completed as of XX/XX/XXXX, which was 28 days after they received the request from me to open a dispute investigation into the XXXX XXXX account, and also to inquire why I had not been contacted with 15 days regarding the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account. 

I was connected with an Equifax phone representative who identified herself as XXXX. XXXX stated that her Employee ID Number was XXXX. I asked XXXX if she could provide me with the status of my letters dated XX/XX/XXXX for the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX accounts. After placing me on a lengthy hold, XXXX returned to the phone to inform me that Equifax had initiated a re-dispute of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account. I explained to XXXX that my letter clearly stated that I was exercising my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 611.a, Paragraph 7,  which states A consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer a description referred to in paragraph ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) by not later than 15 days after receiving a request from the consumer for that description. I explained to XXXX that the Fair Credit Reporting Act is a Federal law that regulates credit reporting agencies, such as Equifax, compelling them to ensure the information they gather and distribute is a fair and accurate summary of a consumers credit history. I proceeded to explain that Section 611.a, Paragraph 7 of the FCRA states that a consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer a description referred to in paragraph ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) by not later than 15 days after receiving a request from the consumer for that description. I explained to XXXX that the 15-day period had elapsed on XX/XX/XXXX. 

XXXX was unable to assist me much further regarding my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account. I then asked her what that status of the dispute I initiated in my XX/XX/XXXX letter for XXXX XXXX ; XXXX replied to me that there was no record of any dispute for the XXXX XXXX account. 

In closing, the reason I am filing this complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) is that Equifax has willfully neglected me to exercise my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. My XX/XX/XXXX letter clearly stated I was requesting them to provide me information, and that Federal Law mandated them to respond within 15 days, regarding the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account. In addition, they completely neglected my request included in the XX/XX/XXXX letter to open a new dispute investigation into the XXXX XXXX account. Seeing as it appears that Equifax has blatantly violated Federal Consumer Protection Law,  I am requesting that Equifax rectify this error on their part by completely deleting any and all derogatory late marks reporting on my consumer credit file for both the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account, as well as any derogatory late marks reporting on my consumer credit file for the XXXX XXXX account. 


ATTACHMENTS : 1 ). INITIAL DISPUTE LETTER DATED FOR XXXX XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX XXXX ). XX/XX/XXXX COVER LETTER REQUESTING METHOD OF VERIFICATION/DESCRIPTION WITHIN 15 DAYS FOR XXXX XXXX XXXX  AND REQUEST FOR NEW DISPUTE INVESTIGATION INTO XXXX XXXX ACCOUNT 3 ). USPS CERTIFIED MAIL TRACKING NUMBER STATUS FOR THE  INITIAL XXXX DISPUTE LETTER DATED XX/XX/XXXX 4 ). USPS CERTIFIED MAIL TRACKING NUMBER STATUS FOR THE LETTER DATED XX/XX/XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation