Consumer complaint received 2018-05-01
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Public record information inaccurate

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I ordered my credit report and wanted to make sure everything was inline and I wouldn't have any issues with getting a home loan and it was at that time. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a notification from a credit monitoring program that Equifax made 121 changes to my credit report and I immediately logged in to see that a public record and collection ( s ) were added to my credit report. I immediately contacted the bureau to get to the bottom of it and was told by supervisor " XXXX '' that they had a system issue over the weekend and it caused issues to several consumers and they were working to resolve the issue. She said she would put a ticket in and it should be fixed immediately, to give it 24 hours. I waited two days later and nothing. I then disputed the information and provided a copy of my report with issues and a letter disputing the items and requested that the method of verficiation, in addition to the contact name and information be provided to me should such item returned as verified. I filed this request in writing and listed FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ). Several phone calls took place and then on the XX/XX/XXXX of XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke with a " XXXX '' who stated the public record and collection was " verified '' and I immediately asked for her to provide me with the method of verification and also the contact information, she indicated she couldn't assist me and placed me on hold. I then was placed on hold for 2hrs and 44min and received a message the department I was trying to reach was closed. I immediately called back and spoke with a supervisor " XXXX '' and he stated that the prior rep should have not provided me with the dates anything came back as verified and that he couldn't disclose the method of verification or any backup or contact information for that matter, until the other items were completed. Fast forward, I called again to get this issue resolved and spoke with XXXX again and she again provided the dates items were verified and I requested the method once again and her response was that it's all done electronically through a system and not through an actual person and that I need to contact the courts because thats who verified the information I disputed. I then immediately got the contact information of the XXXX XXXX of Illinois XXXX Court and spoke with a court clerk who provided a letter that states they didn't find any information on me, in addition, they do not have any activity with the credit bureau and I would need to contact Equifax to get this record deleted immediately. That they do not provide information to XXXX ( Equifax 3rd Party Vendor ) and that I should request someone of a higher status to help me. Today, XX/XX/XXXX I called Equifax and spoke to XXXX, another supervisor, and explained to him what took place with the clerk 's office and I asked him to provide me with the contact information of the person who verified the disputed item and he shared he doesn't have it that it's done electronically through the bankruptcy courts, I then told him what the county clerk stated and documented for me, he then shared that it was a 3rd party company and I explained that " verfication '' must be by the courts directly and/or creditor and he stated he agreed but that he couldn't do anything. I shared with him that I had a right based on the law, FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ), to request the informaton of the contact they utilized and he again clearly stated that there isn't a specific person. I then questioned then how do you know if something is accurate he stated he doesn't, but that he didn't choose who Equifax uses to gain information and that he recommended I contact the CFPB immediately. I explained that verification by a 3rd party who is not privy to any conversations in court, or a direct creditor or related to a case - does not constitute as a valid verifyer of information. He again agreed and said he can't help me. After 2 hours talking with him, I decided to reach out to the CFPB as he suggested. Let me make it clear that the items disputed was supposedly reporting as of XX/XX/XXXX ; however, in the credit report from Equifax ON XX/XX/XXXX, DID NOT SHOW ANY OF THESE ITEMS. THEY JUST AUTOMATICALLY APPEARED.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation