Consumer complaint received 2021-10-19
Company: TRANSUNION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
State: NY
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Information belongs to someone else

Complaint:
Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) I would like to give you some insight on why I am writing you today for your assistance. My complaint is against TransUnion for taking what I feel to be a neglectful stand on my dispute against a fraudulent account placed on my credit report by XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ). I will give the history of this fraudulent debt, along with some of the actions taken thus far. I am currently pursuing legal action against XX/XX/XXXX but I will provide to you documents that I feel maybe helpful. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, a resort by the name of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) forged credit card loan documents in my name which they submitted to their business partner XXXX XXXX XXXX. I initially disputed the charges with XXXX XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX due to Lifestyles misrepresenting what they were in fact offering me in a club membership. XXXX used forged instruments, and were also deceitful in regards to payments for my membership. In a fax that I sent to XX/XX/XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX were witness statements, and even a recorded transcribed dialogue of the manager who I dealt with at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ). I have only interacted with two individuals from XXXX concerning a club membership. The first interaction was with the sales representative who mislead me with counterfeit paperwork ( Noted by multiple ( 2 ) witness statements sent to XX/XX/XXXX ). The second interaction was with her manager who she introduced me to, who would become my orientation/member guide in the future. 

The witness statement I submitted to XXXX helps to display acts of False Imprisonment ( XXXX would not allow us to leave their place of business, XXXX transported us to and from their place of business ), predatory lending tactics, and the use of a counterfeit instruments with the intent to deceive. The witness statement also explains that we were under the impression that we were attending a social event/party ( I have saved messages where I tell XXXX that I wish they were honest, the day after this false event ). I also made it known to XXXX that XXXX intentionally mislead us into drinking alcohol knowing that they would attempt to have us enter into a membership with them later on. All of this was explained to XXXX XXXX XXXX but they never bothered to investigate any of this. 

The transcribed dialogue that I faxed to XXXX demonstrates acts of conspiracy. The manager at XXXX claims that she does not who the Sales representative is who handled my membership agreement, nor does she know the names of the people who work there. This is the same manager who was brought out to meet me by the Sales representative. The manager claims that the sales representative, and her assistant ( Whom I know is in fact the Sales representative ) have similar voices ( pg. 2 of the transcribe dialogue sent to XX/XX/XXXX ). 

The main concern of my dispute until XX/XX/XXXX was the deceptive practices of XXXX, which XXXX ignored and never investigated. XXXX claimed that I signed a membership agreement and knew what I was getting into. In XX/XX/XXXX, I was presented with the Membership Agreement that XXXX claimed I had signed. When I reviewed this membership, I noticed how my initials were forged. XXXX even added an additional sheet of paper to the membership ( Which looks out of place ), which dealt with membership cancellations ( They forged my initials on this too ). 
The Membership Agreement ( Sales Contract as XXXX refers to it ) explains what your entitlement is as a XXXX member, and the breakdown of payments for the membership. The membership has no bearing on the credit card loan application that XXXX processed separately with XXXX XXXX XXXX in order to establish a line of credit in my name. 

XXXX Processed two credit card loan applications with my name on it in order to receive a payment for their membership. One credit card loan application was with XX/XX/XXXX ( Interval ) XXXX  XXXX, and the other one was with XXXX XXXX. I disputed both accounts as fraudulent. 

XXXX mailed me a copy of their Credit Card Loan Acknowledgement and Consent forms in early XX/XX/XXXX. Until this point, I have never seen any Credit Card Acknowledgement and Consent forms from anyone. I have never filled out any credit card Acknowledgement and Consent forms, nor did I give anyone permission to fill out any for me. The criminal craftsmanship was of lesser quality on these forms. The forms have names and signatures of XXXX Representatives that I have never met before ( Who I believe do not exist ). Even as of today, I have never seen a Credit Card Acknowledgement and Consent form from XXXX XXXX XXXX. The XXXX Consumer Compliance department was made aware of the falsified documents on XX/XX/XXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I spoke with Ms. XXXX from the XXXX XXXX XXXX Compliance Department via telephone. I made her aware of the recent discovery of the forged Credit Card Loan Application Acknowledgement and Consent forms, and I reiterated how my signature was also forged on their version of the membership agreement. She explained her level of concern, and how she would report this to her supervisors. I received a reply back ( Dated XX/XX/XXXX ) in the mail from XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. In this reply letter XXXX states " We received the additional concerns you reported to us by phone. We've reviewed them, and this is what we've found. We're enclosing our previous response to address your concerns. '' XXXX previous response was on XX/XX/XXXX, which never addressed any of the complaints/disputes that have been made on my behalf. In the XX/XX/XXXX letter from XXXX, XXXX refuses to investigate any of the disputes. In the XX/XX/XXXX letter, XXXX says they are addressing my concerns with their letter dated XX/XX/XXXX which deals with the " Membership Cancellation policy ''!? XXXX never investigated any of the accusations/ disputes they were notified about, but still reported this fraudulent account to TransUnion as valid. 

How can XXXX send a reply back that does not address the allegations of a recently discovered dispute of blatant forgery? XX/XX/XXXX has never investigated any of the claims/disputes that have been made on my part or on behalf of the witnesses to these acts. Why have I never received any documents pertaining to the opening of a Credit Card Account with XXXX, from XXXX?! The membership ( Sales contract ) is with XXXX, not XXXX. 

I immediately went to hire an attorney once I seen this reply along with the counterfeit credit card loan forms that XXXX provided. I retained counsel in the latter part of XX/XX/XXXX. The attorney representing me against XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX is XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. He can be reached at XXXX or XXXX. 

I later filed a dispute with the three major Credit Bureaus. I took the advice of the NY Department of Finance in reporting this matter to the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ). I filed an FTC Identity theft report in which XXXX, and XXXX honored along with other documents. TransUnion denied my dispute multiple times. TransUnion is the only Credit Reporting agency that continues to report this fraudulent account on my record despite receiving an FTC identity theft report. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, who fraudulently opened up this line of credit in my name, has a horrible criminal history. They have been sued in the past by the XXXX XXXX law firm on behalf of XXXX XXXX for their criminal behavior in XXXX. There are numerous websites where individuals are reporting their negative encounters with this company ( XXXX XXXX, complaint board ). There is a petition online ( located at XXXX ) entitled Stop XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX from Selling Corrupt and Fraudulent Memberships. There are even news articles ( The XXXX XXXX ) calling into question the corrupt practices of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. There is no way that a company such as XXXX XXXX XXXX could be oblivious to the criminal acts of XXXX and not investigate any of the accusations on my behalf. The forging of documents, the use of counterfeit instruments, all of these unscrupulous acts are not solely my experience. These types of criminal acts have been common place against many American Citizens for quite some time now. It is a shame that companies such as XX/XX/XXXX get to benefit off the criminal exploitation of U.S. Citizens and others. 

In order to get a better understanding of why TransUnion continues to deny my disputes, I contacted TransUnion via telephone on two occasions. The first time I called was on XXXX XXXX XXXX. The TransUnion dispute representative explained to me that my dispute was denied due to my FTC report not containing an account number for XXXX XXXX XXXX . I was advised to create a new one or to send in one with the account number listed on it. I was confused by this because the FTC report that I submitted did in fact have an account number listed on it. I resubmitted the same FTC report and TransUnion denied my dispute again. 

I contacted the TransUnion Dispute department a 2nd time via telephone on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX XXXX. This time I spoke with a supervisor in the dispute department. The Supervisor explained to me how they ( TransUnion ) report what is given to them by the Creditors. I explained my situation and told the supervisor about the FTC report, and even mentioned how TransUnion is the only Credit Bureau that does not honor it. I told the Supervisor that the credit account was opened fraudulently and that is why I am disputing it. The supervisor explained how I could add a security freeze to my account, but they ( TransUnion ) have the obligation of reporting the information given to them by Creditors. I gave up with TransUnion at this point. 

The Final Letter which I mailed to XXXX in regards to this fraudulent debt, was received by them on XX/XX/XXXX ( Provided ). XXXX sent a reply back dated XX/XX/XXXX which was 35 calendar days after they received my letter ( I had asked if they would reply back within 30 days ). In this letter I asked for a verified statement from an individual with original knowledge of this debt, that can verify that this debt was incurred legally. I would also request competent evidence that I had some obligation to this tradeline. 

The reason for me asking of these statements/evidence from XXXX, is due to me strongly believing that the names of the persons who fraudulently opened up these lines of credit dont exist. Meaning, the names of the people on these fraudulent credit card applications are of people who do not exist. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX refused to provide the information which I asked of them in their response ( Note The letter sent, and the reply given ). XXXX could not confirm that the fraudulent debt was incurred Legally. They claim that the debt is mine because it was opened with my email and phone number, and an address that was on my credit report. XXXX has been made aware on multiple occasions ( Via phone and faxed dispute ) that a XXXX XXXX Representative led me to think that I ( we ) was attending a social ( Concert/Party ) event, where we were asked to provide phone numbers and emails so that I could be contacted ( I have saved text messages ) by them and driven to their Resort. How would they be able to pick us up from our hotel, or send information for future events if I did not give them my contact information? I still have messages from the drivers that were sent on behalf of XXXX to pick us up. XXXX intentionally turns a blind eye to the criminal practices of their business partner XXXX. 

I feel that the FTC Report that TransUnion rejects serves in place of a Police Report. I reported this matter to the Federal Trade Commission, which is a Federal Law Enforcement Agency. Similar to when you file a police report, youre legally obligated to tell the truth to the best of your knowledge, and subject to criminal penalties if you dont. This fact should make my Identity Theft Report evidence that I am telling the truth. For TransUnion to tell me that they will report whatever the creditor tells them, should be illegal. The creditor can not even tell TransUnion that this credit account was opened Legally. With so many red flags surrounding this fraudulent account, I believe that TransUnion should be held responsible for their dismissive/ negligent stance on this case. If there was even a small chance that an account might be corrupt/ fraudulent, why would you report it causing damage to an individual? I have never made a payment on this Fraudulent account but TransUnion reported that I made a payment in XX/XX/XXXX? I thought this was odd due to me never paying anything on this account from the time it opened in XX/XX/XXXX. I find this strange but wonder if it was some scheme to help them benefit somehow. 

I am submitting some documents that may be useful. The FTC Report that TransUnion continues to reject is attached. I will include the letter that I sent to XXXX, and their reply. I have documents that I am prepared to display in court ( Such as the forged membership agreements and the real one, and phone dialogue ). If there is anything that the CFPB might find necessary to review, I will accommodate. I just dont feel it necessary to share certain documents that will be presented in court with TransUnion XXXX for TransUnion to share with XXXX. I believe XXXX would then contact XXXX to help them improve their schemes instead of condemning their actions. Thank you for your time. 

V/r XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation