Consumer complaint received 2017-09-16
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 sent a certified letter to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX requesting that they validate a debt. What I received instead was a letter back from them saying that my concern will be reviewed and that this is not an attempt to collect a debt. 

The FDCPA STATES : The FDCPA entitles you as a consumer to validate a debt when a collection agency demands money from you. If a collection agency cant validate the debt, the credit bureau can not list it as a negative mark on your credit report. When you get your debt validated, you request the collection agency to prove it has the legal right to collect the money. It also confirms that you agreed to pay the debt, and the amount of the debt is accurate. Any debt collection agency that refuses to follow these steps can be reported to both state and federal officials for violating the law. 

Instead of producing the documents I have requested which were : Please provide the following : 1. Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt. 
2. Agreement that bears my signature of the alleged debtor wherein he/she agreed to pay the creditor. 
3. Any insurance claims that have been made by any creditor regarding this account.
4. Name and address of alleged creditor.
5. Name on file of alleged debtor.
6. Alleged account number.
7. Amount of alleged debt.
8. Date this alleged debt became payable.
9. Date of original charge off or delinquency.
10. Verification that this debt was assigned or sold to collector.
11. Complete accounting of alleged debt.
12. Commissions for debt collector of collection efforts that is successful. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX sends me a letter back which I have attached and in closing said " This is not an attempt to collect a debt. '' If this is not an attempt to collect a debt then why has Equifax allowed them to place an erroneous debt on my credit report? This erroneous debt has not been validated at all. I have not received any documentation on this erroneous debt but XXXX has placed this company on my credit report. 
I have attached the correspondence received from this company and I want them removed immediately from my credit report because not only is XXXX XXXX XXXX on my credit report illegally, Equifax has conspired with this company to place them there erroneously. 
Please keep in mind that I DO NOT CONSENT TO XXXX VERIFICATION. I am requesting a reinvestigation AND your Method of Verification. Be aware that I am making a final goodwill attempt to have you clear up this matter. The listed item is entirely inaccurate and incomplete, and represents a very serious error in your reporting. I am maintaining a careful record of my communication with you for the purpose of filing a lawsuit against Equifax should you continue in your non-compliance. I further remind you that, as in XXXX v. XXXX   XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( C.D.Cal. XX/XX/XXXX ), you may be liable for your willful non-compliance. Failure to respond satisfactorily within 30 days of receipt of receipt of this complaint may result in a small claims action against XXXX, seeking {$1000.00} per violation for. 1. Defamation 2.  Negligent Enablement of identity fraud. 3. Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief