Consumer complaint received 2020-01-23
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Account status incorrect

Complaint:
Dear Sir or Madam : In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 605 [ 15 U.S.C. 1681c ] " Running of Reporting Period '', as of XX/XX/1997, reporting periods only run 7 or 10 years depending on the type of information. 
I respectfully ask you to investigate my claim and if you find my claim to be valid then I expect you to immediately remove outdated items and any additional outdated items that you discover during your investigation. Furthermore, after correcting my credit file, I request that you forward a corrected copy of my credit report to me at the address listed at the top of this letter. 
Finally, if your investigation determines the information is not outdated, I respectfully request you forward to me a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the item in question. In accordance with the FCRA I respectfully request you forward this information within 15 days of the completion of your re-investigation.

This letter is to inform you that I still dispute the listed debts. After receiving your response to my original dispute letter, I contacted the original creditor who was unable to verify this account as mine.

In my opinion, the companies listed have failed to validate this debt. I must remind you that I originally disputed this debt within the 30-day dispute period outlined in the FDCPA and that I am now also responding in a timely manner to your attempt to validate this debt. Because I still consider this debt as " still in dispute '' I do not expect to hear from you again except to provide information or documentation to clear up my reasons for disputing this debt.

I already advised you in my previous letter that I am fully aware of my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act and that I will not hesitate to take all legal steps necessary to protect myself. Be advised that I am keeping accurate records of all correspondence including tape recording all phone calls.

This letter also serves as a formal request to remove unauthorized inquiries from my credit report. I've enclosed a copy of the credit report that your organization provided me on. I've listed the unauthorized inquiries below and also circled them in red on the enclosed report Please note that before making this request, I sent letters to the organizations responsible for these unauthorized inquires asking them to remove their inquiries from my credit reports and to cease their illegal activity. Although I sent these letters return receipt requested and have proof that my letters were received more than 30 days ago, they have failed to respond therefore, I ask for your assistance in resolving this matter.

In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I respectfully ask you to investigate my claim and, if after your investigation, you find my claim to be valid and accurate, I ask that you immediately delete the unauthorized inquiries outlined below. Furthermore, I ask that you send a corrected copy of my credit profile to me at the above address.

In accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Section 809 ( b ) : Validating Debts : ( a ) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing -- ( 1 ) The amount of the debt ; ( 2 ) The name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed ; ( 3 ) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector ; ( 4 ) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector ; and ( 5 ) a statement that, upon the consumer 's written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.

( b ) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection ( a ) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.

I respectfully request that you provide me with the following information : the amount of the debt ; the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed ; Provide a verification or copy of any judgment ( if applicable ) ; Proof that you are licensed to collect debts in ( insert name of your state ) Be advised that I am fully aware of my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. For instance, I know that : because I have disputed this debt in writing within 30 days of receipt of your dunning notice, you must obtain verification of the debt or a copy of the judgment against me and mail these items to me at your expense ; You can not add interest or fees except those allowed by the original contract or state law.

you do not have to respond to this dispute but if you do, any attempt to collect this debt without validating it, violates the FDCPA ; Also, be advised that I am keeping very accurate records of all correspondence from you and your company including recording all phone calls and I will not hesitate to report violations of the law to my State Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau.

I have disputed this debt ; therefore, until validated you know your information concerning this debt is inaccurate. Thus, if you have already reported this debt to any credit-reporting agency ( CRA ) or Credit Bureau ( CB ) then, you must immediately inform them of my dispute with this debt. Reporting information that you know to be inaccurate or failing to report information correctly violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act 1681s-2. Should you pursue a judgment without validating this debt, I will inform the judge and request the case be dismissed based on your failure to comply with the FDCPA.

Finally, if you do not own this debt, I demand that you immediately send a copy of this dispute letter to the original creditor so they are also aware of my dispute with this debt.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief