Consumer complaint received 2019-05-28
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA
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:
In short, I have had an issue with the Equifax credit bureau willfully violating federal law by reporting unverified information on my credit file. After disputing the information several times over the course of the last year, they have not removed the unverifiable information, nor have they responded as required by law, by providing me with any documentation from the original creditor, or any documents regarding any investigation purported investigation done by Equifax. The details are below. 

- In XX/XX/XXXX I sent a letter to Equifax requesting information regarding a closed XXXX account be verified or removed. The account was removed from my file within 30 days of their receipt of the dispute. 

- In XX/XX/XXXX, I checked my credit again to find that the account had been updated an reinserted on to my credit file. I sent another letter disputing the account and, also contacted Equifax dispute dept by phone on XX/XX/XXXX and they told me that yes the XXXX XXXX account had been reinserted into my file, but since Equifax did not provide any proof of verification, that the account would show on my file as " positive '' closed account " in good standing '' " with NO delinquencies ''. I was willing to accept the account on my file as long as the unverified delinquencies were removed. The audio of this call was recorded and is attached in this complaint. 

- In XX/XX/XXXX, upon checking my credit the following, I saw that the closed XXXX account had updated, but instead of reporting as Equifax 's dispute dept had promised ( with no delinquencies ) the account now showed 4 erroneous late payments. Equifax also sent a response letter noting the account would be updated to a negative account. 

- On XX/XX/XXXX I sent Equifax my third dispute letter, also requesting method of verification regarding this late payment. Equifax responded with a generic letter claiming the item was verified ( citing a 2 digit XXXXr code ) and would not be changed. I did not receive any valid method of verification documents from Equifax, or documents from the original creditor. 

- On XX/XX/XXXX, I called and spoke to an Equifax dispute representative, XX/XX/XXXX regarding the late payment on XXXX XXXX account ( my Equifax report is now only showing a late payment on XX/XX/XXXX ) I told him a 2 digit XXXX code was not considered legal form of verification regarding my dispute, and that I had requested all documentation regarding their investigation. I was told I had to send a copy of my ID and SSN card before my file could be corrected. I was also told that I could fax additional said additional information directly to Equifax. 

- In XX/XX/XXXX, I also contacted XXXX myself regarding the late payment, and was told that XXXX could not find any documentation regarding the account in question. I asked for XXXX to send me a letter stating they did not have any documents that legally could verify the account in question. XXXX sent me that letter and it is also attached in this complaint. 


- On XX/XX/XXXX, I faxed, and Mailed my 4th dispute letter, requesting a removal of the unverified late payment, and 2nd time requesting method of verification be sent to me otherwise. ( Both the letter and fax return receipt are attached in this complaint ). 

- I did not receive any response for over 45 days. Nor was the information deleted from my file. 

- In XX/XX/XXXX, I again received the same generic response letter from Equifax citing a 2-digit XXXX code, stating they would not be correcting the error. Again no additional documents regarding method of verification or documents from original creditor were included. ( this letter is also attached in this complaint ). 


- As ofXX/XX/XXXX I have sent another dispute letter requesting deletion of the late payment yet again, letting them know that they are are in willfully in violation of multiple sections of FCRA. I have also sent them the letter from XXXX stating that the original creditor DOES NOT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS to legally verify this account according to FCRA section 609. 

Please assist at getting Equifax to respond appropriately and legally to this situation. 

Thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation