Consumer complaint received 2021-06-09
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL
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:
I purchased a vehicle from a company on XX/XX/XXXX in XXXX, Florida. The original loan amount was {$10000.00}. I made my final payment in the amount of {$1300.00} on XX/XX/XXXX. The vehicle was paid off and the loan was reflected closed on my credit report as of XX/XX/XXXX. 

I happen to pull my credit in XXXX of XXXX and noticed the I had two auto loans on my credit from the same company, but two different locations. They both showed the same original loan amount of {$10000.00}. They both showed the same loan origination date of XX/XX/XXXX. The loan from the XXXX, Florida location showed a XXXX  balance and a status of Paid As Agreed account closed XX/XX/XXXX. The loan from the XXXX, Florida location showed a charged off account. 

XX/XX/XXXX I disputed the account showing the XXXX, Florida account. Equifax closed the investigation claiming the item was verified. 

XX/XX/XXXX I wrote Equifax requested a detailed method of verification. Equifax updated the item and closed the dispute. At this point I still had two auto loans on my report. 

XX/XX/XXXX I wrote Equifax again to follow up on my request for a detailed method of verification. Equifax then deleted the correct auto loan and left the second loan reporting on the credit file claiming the account was involved in a Chapter XXXX Bankruptcy, which it is not. 

XX/XX/XXXX I write Equifax back reaffirming that my account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was closed and paid as agreed back in XXXX. Equifax failed to properly investigate this item. Equifax then updated the item to a Charged Off Account. At this point, it's clear Equifax is not conducting an independent investigation as they are firing back responses the same day they receive my letter. 

XX/XX/XXXX Although frustrated I know it is my right to dispute inaccurate information being report to my credit file so I write Equifax again. I pointed out all of the inaccurate, inconsistent, and duplicate information and demanded the item be deleted. Equifax responded claiming the item was accurate. 

XX/XX/XXXX I decided to take a different approach and point out each item that was inaccurate, incomplete, or unverified and requested the item be deleted. I received another rapid response claiming the account was accurate. At this point, Felt I needed to take screenshots from my Credit Report and show Equifax the proof. 

XX/XX/XXXX I wrote Equifax again and pointed out that this company had 2 different locations reporting an auto loan to my credit file. Both items originated on the same day. Both original loan amounts were for the exact same amount. Both items had two different account numbers and both had two different account status. I stressed I did not have a Charged Off account with this company. The charged off account was from their XXXX location. The paid as agreed account was from the XXXX location. I live 4 minutes away from XXXX. XXXX is where I bought my car. XXXX is where I made the final payment to pay off my car. I was very detailed and expressed I disputed this account due to the inaccurate, incomplete, and unverified information. Equifax responded claiming the account was accurate. Ironically, both XXXX  and XXXX  investigated the same item and found it unverified and deleted the item. 

XX/XX/XXXX I wrote Equifax yet again making them aware of my intent to file this complaint. I also provided them a screenshot showing that both XXXX  and XXXX investigate this item and did not receive valid proof from this company for the item to remain. I'm aware that the Bureaus talk to each other so if there was anything to support this item it would've been made available to not just Equifax. 

In good faith before filing this complaint I called Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX and spoke with a Rep of the Bureau. The Rep was able to pull up my written letters and see proof of both accounts being reported on my credit file. The fact that my credit file had been injured by the reporting error for so long warranted the item to be removed and the agent agreed. The Rep stated he would initiate a dispute and this should resolve the concern. On XX/XX/XXXX the dispute submitted just days before was closed claiming the account was accurate as reported. 

I called today XX/XX/XXXX and spoke with a company Rep, XXXX XXXX, who offered the worst customer experience I have ever had to endure from any company. Resulting in me moving forward with this complaint. 

At the end of the day, Equifax has reported 2 different loans that originated on the same day for the same amount of money from the same company with multiple locations. Clearly, there is no way this could be accurate. The location where I bought my car reported my loan as paid as agreed and closed. The location where I did not buy my car reported a charged off account. Equifax deleted the correct account leaving the incorrect account. Each dispute letter I send they have tried to change the account status from Charged Off to Included in a Bankruptcy. Equifax has tried to re-age the account claiming a payment was made in XXXX which there was not. They had tried to update this account every which way they possibly could to avoid deleting this account. Despite the inaccurate information even the wrong account will age off my credit as of XX/XX/XXXX. It's the principle of the matter. As a consumer, it is my right to dispute an inaccurate item. I have used information this company has supplied to Equifax to prove there is no way this account could be accurate. How do you have one account paid as agreed, no lates, no delinquency, and with a XXXX  balance. The location of the satisfactory is 4 minutes from where the consumer lives which makes practical sense the consumer probably bought the car there. Then you have an account opened on the same day for the same amount of money as the other account that is charged off. The accounts are from XXXX and it's XXXX. The inaccurate information has been reported all this time. When Equifax deleted one account they should've done the right thing and deleted both. The amount of time this company has invested in going back and forth. The fact that my rights as outlined in the FCRA have been ignored and the fact that I was treated so poorly by their Rep XXXX XXXX is the basis of this complaint.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation