Consumer complaint received 2019-03-17
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NC
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Public record information inaccurate

Complaint:
My husband and I were trying to refinance our home in XXXX, XXXX when we were made aware of an issue on our Equifax report. Our Equifax report listed two bankruptcies ; one in XXXX of XXXX filed with a local court, a true bankruptcy that we did indeed file, and another in XXXX with the same filing number, information, etc. but filed in a different court in a city we had never visited. We of course tried to contact Equifax regarding this information. They did update our credit report, but still listed both bankruptcies with the same filing information. The only thing they changed was the date. Both bankruptcies now have the same true date of filing, but show different counties. This of course has caused issues for us in terms of refinancing as it now looks like we have two bankruptcies on our history. I tried to contact the court at the number Equifax used to " verify '' the information. The number, XXXX-XXXX-XXXX, is not in service. I actually called this exact number a second time while on the phone with an Equifax representative trying to prove that there was no way they used that phone number to verify the incorrect information and was told " I should look for another number ''. I further asked how else they were able to contact to verify the information, and they only gave me a physical address. I asked them again how else they were able to verify the information, as I knew they did not personally visit the location, and I was told to look for another contact number. 

I did some research on the secondary filing location of XXXX County. This bankruptcy court has been closed since XXXX, a year before we actually even filed for bankruptcy ( XXXX ), and 3 years before Equifax accepted a new filing from that address ( XXXX ). Upon further investigation and reaching out to people to help, we have learned that this is a very common issue with Equifax. I have emails from a clerk of courts that state that numerous people have had the same issue with Equifax claiming this closed court as a viable entity and accepting bankruptcies from this court address. 

I have spent countless hours on the phone trying to get this fixed. It has been suggested by Equifax representatives and per their advertising while on hold, that we pay for a credit repair service to help us correct this issue. I even had an online message via XXXX messenger from XXXX XXXX stating that a senior representative would be contacting me. This message was sent on XX/XX/XXXX and I have yet to receive any additional contact. I do continue to receive emails that my claim has been looked at, but can no longer login to my Equifax account because my personal information, the same information I use to contact a representative live, does not match their records. I have, of course, called and the only resolution they have come to is that they verified the false bankruptcy court and changed the date of filing. 

I feel like this has been an ongoing issue for consumers like me. The fact that this bankruptcy court has been closed for 6 years and that Equifax is allowing " verified reports '' from it, is ridiculous. Additionally, the fact that they could not actually give me anyway in which they truly " verified '' the information, other than a disconnected phone number is VERY disturbing. Our credit is being held hostage and we have no way to negate what Equifax is reporting. Also, the fact that it was constantly suggested via their advertising and through their own agents that we should go through their " preferred partner '', XXXX, further incites me, as people should not have to pay to have fraudulent/unverifiable information removed from THEIR personal credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation