Consumer complaint received 2022-06-01
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX
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 have contacted Equifax Credit bureau numerous times ( 3 to be exact ) informing them that the collection agency XXXX is reporting inaccurate an erroneous information on my credit profile. I was never contacted in writing prior to the collection being placed on my account. I wasnt given an opportunity to request validation of the alleged debt. This is a violation of 606 and falls under 624. Additionally, Equifax Credit Bureau keeps ignoring my dispute letters pertaining to this alleged debt by not responding. They have failed to properly and thoroughly investigate my dispute based on the information provided directly to them from myself the consumer. I understand that the credit bureaus now have 60 days to investigate disputes. However, I never receive a response to my letters that I send by certified or by usps priority mail to ensure delivery. With the exception of my last letting for intent to file a complaint. 
Furthermore, I have no verbal or written contract with the collection agency XXXX XXXX Acct XXXX stating that I would pay them any money. I have never obtained any services with this company. Therefore, I have no debt with this company. Equifax credit bureau and XXXX have both failed to provide substantial and VALID evidence that the debt belongs to me. I have requested validity of this alleged account and still have not received it. After 3 letters I still have not received a copy of the alleged contract binding me to this supposed debt collection agency. 619 prohibits consumer reporting agencies from reporting under false pretense as it is a direct violation of title 18 of the United States Code. Until I am provided VALID PROOF in writing and sent copies of the documents obtained to validate this debt Equifax is violating my rights! 
Furthermore, Equifax Credit Bureau allows XXXX XXXX to continuously update the date of last activity on this alleged account every month. They are manipulating the alleged debt Date of last activity to falsely extend the statute of limitations on this erroneous account. However, the alleged amount owed stays the same. Additionally, Equifax Credit Bureau is reporting the alleged debt past due and closed every month which is negatively impacting my overall score for a debt that does not belong to me. Equifax has repeatedly reported invalidated information on my credit report. This action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. 


I demand that Equifax Credit Bureaus permanently delete the alleged debt and collection from my credit profile. This alleged debt is defaming my character and causing me to constantly get denied for new credit opportunities. This inaccuracy is highly injurious to my credit rating and ruining my financial credit health. 

According to the FCRA the Credit reporting agencies are obliged delete inaccurate, incomplete or unverifiable information. Neither Equifax nor the collection agency has explained how this alleged debt was validated and verified. With the exception of taking the word of this unknown company that there is alleged debt. 

Equifax Credit Bureau has neglected to properly investigate the inaccuracies on my credit report by continuously reporting erroneous information. Even after I notified them numerous times of the misinformation. My first letter was sent on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. The Equifax never responded back to me. I called to check the status of the dispute and was informed that they had not received a letter from me. This was false information because the tracking showed that the letter had been delivered. I sent a second letter on the same day I called being XX/XX/XXXX XXXX priority mail. Equifax sent me a letter in the mail only 3 days later on XX/XX/XXXX addressing other information I had disputed but left out details pertaining to the disputed collection account. I patiently waited for a response but never received one in regard to the alleged XXXX collection. I sent my 3rd and final letter on XX/XX/XXXX informing Equifax that it was my last attempt to allow them to completely remove the collection from my report. Failing to remove the unvalidated account permanently would result in me filing a formal complaint with the cfpb. Equifax responded back on XX/XX/XXXX, informing me that there were no inaccurate information on my credit report and they verified that the item belonged to me. Still failing to provide any proof to how they verified the account. 
Statue 611 -15 U.S.C. Statue 1681i section 1a states that the credit agency will conduct a reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate and record the current status of the disputed information or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph ( 5 ), before the end of the 30-day. How was this collection account properly investigated or reinvestigated when it the collect account is still currently erroneous this very day? I have continuously informed Equifax that alleged collect account is full of unverifiable information and inaccuracies.

Section 5a of Statue 611 also states that after any reinvestigation under paragraph ( 1 ) of any information disputed by a consumer, an item of the information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or can not be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall ( i ) promptly delete that item of information from the file of the consumer, or modify that item of information, as appropriate, based on the results of the reinvestigation.

I again am demanding that Equifax removed this erroneous account from my credit profile since they failed to conduct a proper investigation 3 three times by ignoring my letters and by not conducting a proper re-investigation the third time to quickly dismiss my concerns. 

I am also demanding that Equifax Credit bureau pay a fine of {$1000.00} for every dispute letter I sent them that was not properly investigated. Totaling {$3000.00} to be paid to me the consumer. 

I look forward to a response in regard to my failed attempts to have the credit agency remove the erroneous account from my credit profile.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation