Consumer complaint received 2020-09-07
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: MO
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Information belongs to someone else

Complaint:
On XX/XX/2020, I opened a checking account with XXXX XXXX, based on its location to the home I had relocated to a year-and-a-half ago, free checking without a minimum balance, and alert measures it has in place for individual accounts. I deposited {$500.00} in cash. I was then offered Overdraft Protection, which I know is an unsecured loan. When the banks representative asked me if I knew my credit score, I told her it was nearly 800. I completed the form, then left the bank shortly thereafter. 

The rep called me later to say the loan department was requesting a form of identification and Social Security. She said I should bring them up and shed make copies to send them. I did as she requested, although since she had already taken my Drivers License, I found this suspicious. She later called to say I had been denied. She was afraid I would be upset, but I told her it wasnt a problem, since I had lived at my current address for less than two years and the Overdraft Protection was for {$1000.00}, as opposed to the {$250.00} I carry at my credit union. I had not yet closed that account because of the timing of my Social Security auto deposit. Later that evening, it occurred to me that I had recently had to notify a retailer that the statement they had sent me was addressed to a person whose name has plagued me for several years. We have the same first name, although spelled differently, different middle names, and last names, except for one of hers, beginning with the same letter. I was served with papers several years ago by XXXX  XXXX XXXX for one of her debts. My attorney provided numerous forms of identification, birth certificate, marriage certificates, and divorce papers, along with photo ID to the prosecutor before the suit was dropped against me. 

Later that evening, I received an email through my secured XXXX account that my loan had been denied based on my Experian credit report. So, I checked my Experian report, only to find the other persons name appearing on the reports cover page. My name, along with 13 variations of her name, a spouse I never had by that name, and five addresses not associated with me, and my Social Security number, along with two others, numerous creditors not belonging to me, along with an account in collections. The credit score was nowhere near accurate.

All information on my XXXX and XXXX  accounts are correct. After two disputes filed with Experian, the information under my name is correct. I was told by an Experian representative, laughingly, that the files have been merged. The first rep started correcting information to be disputed without even asking me what needed to be disputed, so the mistake was obviously made by Experian. The remaining problem : If HER name, MY Social Security number, address, and phone number are queried in Experian, her accounts come up. I have frozen my credit. 

I now have closed the XXXX account based the turmoil created by Experian, as well as a rep in their Loan Department telling me the Hard Inquiry, based on an inaccurate credit report, would only remain there a couple of months, then it will drop off, which is totally inaccurate and a great underestimate. I have also spent {$85.00} to mail certified/return receipt requested letters to all creditors on my account that belong to her.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief