Consumer complaint received 2023-06-10
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MS
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: Investigation took more than 30 days

Complaint:
This is the second issue I have had with XXXX XXXX. With the first issue, they were dishonest, and I stand by that because several of us consumers will ask merchants what the credit requirement is prior to applying for credit to avoid a hard inquiry. I asked XXXX what they required, and I felt I was lied to or deceived as I met the requirements per what they told me which was indeed the reason I applied. It wasn't entirely about being denied but more so of telling me one thing and when I received the denial letter, I could clearly see that other criteria were used in making their decision. 
And now this time around, they have reported me to the credit bureaus as being 30 days late for a line of credit that I didn't apply for. XXXX sent me an email that spoke about {$250.00} of overdraft protection. I did NOT apply for a line of credit with them and who would think overdraft protection would have anything to do with a line of credit. I tried explaining this to them. I had no idea that it was a line of credit that I would have to pay a monthly note on as they NEVER approve me for anything, and the email didn't mention anything about a line of credit. Additionally, judging by the credit scores they really use which is Vantage Score, I wouldn't expect to be approved for anything which is why I don't apply for anything with them anymore and I'm now considering switching banks. They are either using Vantage Score for all and just telling people they use Fico. Or they only using Vantage Score for some people and Fico for others which I don't feel is right. It should be the same for everyone. I spoke to a rep at Regions who contacted me about the balance. I explained to him that I was not aware it was some like a credit card or line of credit. However, I brought the account current that same day after he explained to me what it really was. Regions waited nearly 2 weeks later and reported me to the credit bureaus as being 30 days past due before the next payment was even due. I contacted them directly and spoke to a rep about reporting me after I got an alert from Equifax. Why wait two weeks later to report me. And the reason he gave was that they have no control over what's reported to the credit bureaus and that if you are 30 days past due, the bureaus automatically receive that data all on their own. I have never heard such a thing. I feel that yet another rep was being dishonest like that entire bank seems to do ; lie! Since when do lenders/creditors do not report to credit bureaus. However, the rep did submit a dispute to the credit bureaus. Although, he had no idea what to put on the dispute and was asking me for a reason when he knew very well the entire reason for my call. Therefore, I have no idea what he submitted. I do however know that that Equifax has alerted me of the dispute. It has been completed and the results are still the same. My credit score dropped XXXX points for an account I didn't apply for and had no idea was a line of credit that I owed a balance on. I thought just like with any overdraft I owed including the {$250.00}, they would take funds automatically out of my account when my funds post to it. I explained this and they still reported me. I don't feel that its right. I feel they should have made an exception considering I didn't apply for anything. No social or anything was provided to obtain this supposedly line of credit. And if they don't agree to have the mark removed, I'll be penalized until 2030 for an account I didn't apply for and had no idea what it actually was.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief