Consumer complaint received 2022-05-13
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:
I have had issues with my credit report with Equifax since their data breach occurred in XXXX. Every few months, my credit score drops over 150 points because they continue to report that all of my credit accounts are closed. Today, I reviewed my credit score, and it dropped from nearly an XXXX to XXXX. I have had credit since I was XXXX XXXX XXXX and have over 27 years of credit history. I haven't had one late payment on my credit report in over 8 years. I have no history of any delinquencies or bankruptcies. Why would I close every account on my credit report and take my total available credit from over XXXX to XXXX? I have never had any problems with XXXX and XXXX reporting that I have available credit and debt. 

Each time that I call Equifax, I am told to send in my identity documents ( social security card and drivers license ) to fix the issue. I have sent my identity documents ( ID & Social security card ) in to them several times, and they have record of it. The representative acknowledged this on the phone today. It fixes the issue temporarily. Then several months later, my score drops again for the same reason. Today, XX/XX/XXXX, I called Equifax again for the same issue and was given an excuse about a bank reporting error. The representative informed me on their side, it does not look like all my accounts are closed. However, to financial institutions, who are pulling my credit, it appears that they are closed. When I log into my Equifax account, it says the reason that my score dropped is because I have no open accounts. So, I don't know if I what he is saying is correct. When I questioned the representative, he could not tell me which bank or how to fix it. I have numerous accounts from student loans, to car loans, to credit cards, etc. All he could say is to send in a copy of my social security card and drivers license in the mail with a cover letter to explain the issue once again and request that my information be fixed. 



That is right! He had the audacity to tell me that I had to send my personal identifiable information in the mail. I questioned him about requiring me to put a copy of my social security card in the mail, when I have already been a victim of their data breach and already experienced problems because of them. I asked him again before hanging up if there was a way to electronically send them these documents, he said no, I needed to a copy of the license and social security card in the mail. They do not know how to fix the problem, and they do not care if my data is breached further is what I got from all of this. He acknowledged that I may have to do this indefinitely until the error is magically fixed. Another issue with this company is that they reported XXXX hard inquiries on my credit report while I searching for a home loan within a 30 day period between XXXX and XXXX of XXXX instead of counting it as one hard inquiry. 

Credit companies should not have the ability to do what they are doing and just tell a customer to deal with it. I am upset because I am in the process of purchasing a home, and this will negatively affect my interest rate or prevent me from obtaining the amount of loan I requested. At this point, this major credit error could affect me getting the loan altogether. The other major issue is that I work for a federal agency and have to undergo a financial security check for a promotion I obtained. So, now Equifax is playing with my job, and my ability to get certain federal positions. I have filed a claim some time ago due to the Equifax breach. Tell me if I have heard anything? No. At this point, I just want the problem fixed and am tired of the mental and emotional strain created by their errors. Everyone makes mistakes, but this is just negligence. I have been dealing with their reporting errors on and off for XXXX, and this is the first time that I have filed a report. I feel I have nowhere else to turn other than obtaining an attorney and fighting this civilly. If they are the gatekeeper to credit and identity, why are they not held to a higher standard? I do not believe that Equifax even knows what the issue is. How can one bank reporting error be responsible for it showing that all of my credit accounts are closed? I appreciate anything you can do to help me. If consumers are required to pay accounts or time for accurate score reporting, why is Equifax not required by law to do what is in their power to fix error reporting when they have the ability to impact someone's quality of life?

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation