Consumer complaint received 2016-10-26
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: DC
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Credit reporting company's investigation
Sub-issue: Problem with statement of dispute

Complaint:
There was an item on my credit report that had incorrect data in it. I put in a dispute with Equifax to have the item either corrected or removed. I did my own due diligence in trying to reach out to the company to resolve the matter however, the information provided by Equifax and the information I could gather for this company offline was all non working numbers. The physical address for the business is also the business address of another company. At the end of the investigation I had to call Equifax because they did not send me any information concerning the status of this dispute. They informed me that the company verified that the information on my report was correct. I then asked who did you speak to. Equifax agents stated that they sent an electronic verification to the company and the company responded. I then stated that if you have communication with someone from this company then you should be able to provide me updated information so I can contact this creditor to resolve this problem. Equifax agents then informed me that they do not require updated contact information be sent to them from the creditor. They also informed me that the responses they get are on behalf of the company so they do not have a person they speak to. So I asked how is it that my information on my credit associated with my social security number does not require Equifax to check that 1. ) the company is a legitimate business or is still in business 2. ) Update contact information so that a consumer can address the problem with the debt collect, and 3. ) Why does Equifax not obtain documentation verifying that the account in fact belongs to me and is the correct amount. They have no documentation stating that I owe the amount on there ( because I do n't ) but Equifax takes the word of a system response with no supporting documentation or a POC to validate the information. I was forced to do yet another dispute ( provided ). This would make the third dispute on this same item and no shred of proof from the debt collector or Equifax that this information is true. Additionally, equifax stated that they do NOT have to share with me any information that the collector sent to them if they had recieved anything!! That ludicrous! This is associated with my credit, my social security number, I have every right to the information. Furthermore why is it that they do not have contact information for a creditor that has " verified '' information? What are they doing with my information and who are they sending it to? How is it that they are allowed to maintain information on your credit file without proof or valid verification ( through documentation ) that the item is true? Please help. Equifax will only re open a dispute despite what their site says about how the dispute works. 

I have attached a snapshot of my Equifax credit file so that you may see what they are reporting. I also attached a copy of the only company profile for the debt collector where additional numbers are listed. None of the information is correct. All the numbers are non working numbers and the address is for another business. Please note that the company has used a few names but the consistent variations have been XXXX XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX, XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation