Consumer complaint received 2022-03-04
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: TX
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: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX DOB : XX/XX/XXXX Last 4 of SSN : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX XXXX is reporting a charge off to my consumer credit file. It is currently under the " loans '' category. I never took out a loan with XXXX and after doing some of my own personal research XXXX doesn't even originate loans. They simply chose to report as a loan so they can report a charge off. XXXX is not a credit furnisher in regard to reporting actual payment history. This method was utilized to report a charge off for an account that I never authorized. In accordance with the FCRA this account should not be reported as a loan. It appears to creditors as if I received a loan of {$900.00} to anyone who pulls my credit. 

XXXX states that the account that they are reporting was created in XX/XX/XXXX. 

When I contacted XXXX, XXXX DID NOT have a correct email address or phone number on the account for me but the account was in my name. I never knew the account existed. XXXX allowed the account to be opened in my name without any proper ID validation. Per XXXX the account was opened online. Every utility company that I have actually utilized has always requested a validation of my identity within days of opening or the account will close. XXXX NEVER received any type of ID validation from me upon opening this account. I confirmed this when I spoke with XXXX. 

Although XXXX never took any steps to validate identity on the initial opening of the account once I began this dispute process, XXXX went back to do " research '' through the XXXX on my license and property ownership to attempt to validate that I authorized the account. I did not authorize an account with XXXX ever. The fact is I own XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX but I rented the XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX out to tenants in XX/XX/XXXX - XX/XX/XXXX. I did not file a homestead on that property until the year XXXX because I in fact did not live there. I have provided homestead paperwork and lease paperwork but XXXX continues to ignore that paperwork and chooses to go with what they assume and are continuing to report such to my credit in an attempt to force me to pay them. 

After I initiated a dispute, XXXX researched my residence address change on my driver 's license and stated that it changed in XXXX of XXXX. My address did not change in XXXX of XXXX. XXXX did not obtain a copy of my drivers license from me nor did XXXX obtain my authorization to research my XXXX records. 

The address change on my driver 's license took place 17 months after an account was created with XXXX. This still does not validate the account ever being authorized.I provided a copy of my drivers license to Experian on XX/XX/XXXX. 

The facts are XXXX does not have any copies of identifying information to verify that I ever authorized an account with them. The biggest red flag is the amount of research and the attempts that XXXX made on the back end in an attempt to validate the account that they never validated upon opening. The fact is XXXX should utilize their research up front to avoid unauthorized accounts being created. 

Experian should follow the FCRA section 611 guidelines just like XXXX and XXXX have done. Both XXXX XXXX XXXX heard my dispute, truly looked into the facts and removed the erroneous reporting from my credit file in accordance with the FCRA. XXXX has no supporting information that I authorized such an account at the time that they opened it and should not be able to report derogatory information to my public consumer credit file. The obligation of accurate reporting essentially falls on Experian particularly when the credit furnisher is not actively following the requirements of the FCRA. I have disputed this with Experian quite a few times, the last time ( XX/XX/XXXX ) with copies of my email communication with XXXX, the lease agreement, my homestead paperwork and still Experian has not provided me with any of the following. 
A contract agreement for the XXXX account. 
Proper ID validation to prove that I authorized the account ever being opened. 

XXXX did not have my email address or phone number on file for this account until I began this dispute process. 

Experian needs to IMMEDIATELY provide proof that I authorized the opening of this account through a signed contract agreement or identification validation at the time of opening or otherwise remove the erroneous reporting in accordance with the FCRA. 

This is a request for the information that Experian has to validate this reporting. 


XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX Last 4 of SSN : XXXX

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