Consumer complaint received 2021-05-27
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OH
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:
ON XX/XX/2021 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM XXXX XXXX XXXX DATED FOR XX/XX/2021 OFFERRING A SETTLEMENT FOR A DEBT I WAS NOT AWARE OF FROM XXXX XXXX XXXX THE VERBIAGE ON THE LETTER WAS EXTREEMLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER COLLECTION LETTER MI RECEIVED IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT DID NOT STATE THAT " THIS LETTER WAS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT ''. THE VERBIAGE ON TNHIS LETTER FROM THIS UNKNOWN COMPANY WAS " CONGRADULATIONS YOU HAVE BEEN PRE-APPROVED FOR AN OPTION DESIGNED TO SAVE YOU MONEY '' THIS WAS SUSPICIOS TO ME BECAUSE I DID NOT APPLY FOR ANYTHING WITH THIS COMLPANY AND DIDNT WANT TO SEND MONEY TO A SCAM DURRING THE PANDEMIC WHEN I WAS ALREADY EXPERIENCING REDUCTION IN INCOME AND WORRIED ABOUT HOW TO STAY SAFE AND PROVIDE FOR MY HOUSEHOLD. 
BECAUSE, OF THIS I RESPONDED WITH A DEBT VALIDATION LETTER TO THE ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY THAT WAS ON ORIGINAL LETTER I XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX CA XXXX 
I RECEIVED A REPONSE FOR MY DEBT VALIDATION REQUEST FROM XXXX XXXX XX/XX/2021. THE RESPONSE LETTER WAS DATED XX/XX/2021. THE RESPONE INCLUDED A LETTER FROM XXXX XXXX CONFSIRMING THAT THE RECEIVED MY DEBT VALIDATION BY STATING IN THEIR LETTER " WE ARE AWARE THAT YOU AVRE DISPUTING THE ACCNURACY OF OUR RECORDS. '' A DISCLOSURE STATEMENT LETTER THAT STATED, " THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT '' ( WHICH WAS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL REQUEST ) A STATEMENT FROM XXXX  XXXX DATED XXXX NOT SOWING ANYTHING BUT PAYMENT COUPON NO ACCOUNT STATUS OR ANYTHING TO CONFIRM THAT THE DEBT BELONGED TO ME OR WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY HANDLED WITH ORIGINAL CREDITOR. 
BECAUSE OF THIS I COMPLETED THE FORM THAT WAS PROVIDED BY XXXX XXXX XXXX AND ADVISED THAT I NEEDED SUFFUCIENT PROOF OF DEBT AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE SENT DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT. I ALSO PROVIDED A LIST OF DOCUMENTATION I WOULD FIND ACCEPTABLE TO PUT ME AT EASE ABOUT PAYING THIS COMPANY. AND NOT BE SCAMED OUT OF MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY SCARCE IN MY HOUSEHOLD. I SENT THE ASSIGNED FORM FOR CONTINNUED VALIDATION AND MAILED IT USPS VIA CERTIFIED MAIL. THE FORM WAS MAILED XX/XX/2021 WITH TRACKMING NUMBER XXXX. I CONFIRMED THE LETTER WAS RECEIVED TO THE SAME ADDRESS THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY USED VIA THE USPS.COM WEBSITE " Your item was delivered to the front desk, reception area, or mail room at XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/2021 in XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX. '' AT THIS POINT I AWAIED A RESPONSE ALLOWING THE STANDARD 30 DAY TIMING FOR A MORE VALID AND DETAILED RESPONSE. ( WHICH WOULD HAVE LAPSED XX/XX/2021 ). AS A PERCAUTION I DECIED TO ALSO SEND LETTERS TO ALL 3 CREDIT BUREAUS XX/XX/2021 LETTING THEM KNOW OF THE DEBT PROVIDING ALL COPIES OF DOCUMENTS SENT TO ME FROM XXXX XXXX XXXX AND A CLEAR LETTER ADVISSING THAT THE COLLECTION COMPANY DID NOT PROVIDE VALID DEBT VALIDATION. TO MY DISMAY I DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
ON XX/XX/2021 I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM MY CREDIT MONITORING COMPANY THAT XXXX XXXX XXXX ADDED THIS UNVARIFABLE DEBT TO MY REPORT CAUSING ME TO LOSE 40+ POINTS FROM EACH CREDIT BUREAU REPORT. 
THIS PROCESS HAS CAUSED ME EXTREEM XXXX IN THESE ALREADY STRESSFUL TIMES. ALSO, TO KNOW THAT I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING ON MY END BY THE BOOK AND TO SEE COMPLETE DISREGARD TO THE SECURITY OF MY PERSONAL INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL REPRETATION FROM ALL THREE OF THE BUREAUS THAT PLAY SUCH A BIG FACTOR IN HOW LENDERS, EMPLOYERS AND EVEN SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICES VIEW ME. 
THIS ACCOUNT HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY VERIFIED TO ME SO I AM CONCERNED WHAT INFORMATION THE BUREAUS ARE ACCEPTING BEFORE RUINING CONSUMERS LIKE ME LIVES AND HELPING UNVALIDATED COLLECTION COMPANIES SMEAR OUR FINANCIAL IDENTITY. XXXX XXXX XXXX DID NOT FOLLOW THE FDCRA PROCESS AND NEITHER DID XXXX EQUIFAX NOR XXXX WHEN THEY ASSISTED THE COLLECTION AGENCY AND ADDED THIS FRAUDLAT DEBT TO MY ACCOUNT. I DEMAND THIS BE DELETED IMMEDIATLY AND MY SCORE THAT I AM WORKING HARD TO IMPROVE IS RESTORED AND I RECEIVE AN UPDATED REPORT CONFIRMING THE DELETION OF THE DEBT FROM XXXX XXXX XXXX. ALSO, LETTER FROM XXXX XXXX XXXX CONFIRMING THE DEBT IS NO LONGER COLLECTABLE BY THEM AND ANY OTHER CONMPANY DUE TO ITS INABILITY TO VALIDATE.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation