Consumer complaint received 2019-09-13
Company: TRANSUNION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
State: CA
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:
In XX/XX/XXXX I was contacted by XXXX XXXX via telephone, regarding an account, about which I had no knowledge. I immediately informed them that the account must be a mistake or error and requested that they verify the validity/origin of the debt. Initially, the operator I spoke with couldn't tell me much about the alleged debt, except the original source - XXXX XXXX XXXX. I explained that not only did I not owe XXXX XXXX   anything, but I actually never got my deposit back from them when I previously moved out of my apartment, so if anything, they owe me some money. I said this in a phone call they recorded the very first time I was contacted by them. The operator went over after-move-out charges with me, that totaled less than my security deposit and when I pointed out that this might've been where the arithmetic error occurred ( perhaps turning a negative number to positive, I'm not sure ). I was informed that " there must be more charges somewhere. '' Well, I again asked that they verify and validate that in writing with me. I sent my request in writing and what I received back from XXXX XXXX was merely a copy of the document acknowledging that I do not owe any money. Rather, I am owed money. This math has been stated by XXXX XXXX, and confirmed in writing by their own documentation, which I have included here. Yet they are still saying that I owe them money. Again, individual operators have admitted to me that the math doesnt add up, but they still continued on with saying that I owe money. Page 2 of the attached document that I received from XXXX XXXX shows my security deposit in the amount of {$530.00}, and after-move-out charges in the amount of {$63.00} for countertop replacement, {$48.00} for painting and {$200.00} for rent ( {$310.00} total ), I am owed {$210.00}. I have twice pointed this out to XXXX XXXX and have not heard anything from them in months. It has been far longer than thirty days and they have failed to verify or validate that I owe them any debt, which they are required to do according to the FCRA. They have instead demonstrated and admitted on multiple occasions that I am owed {$210.00}. Therefore, this account is fraudulent and should not be on my credit report and I ask that it be removed immediately. 


When I contacted Transunion about this issue to submit an official dispute, they seemed to side with me and reduce the amount owed on the collections account from over {$350.00} ( the price keeps going up as XXXX XXXX adds more and more interest fees ) to {$0.00}. I thought this a good first step, but I shouldnt have a collections account in the report at all. And surely, if I Transunion agrees that I never owed any money, then there was no reason for the account to have been sent to collections in the first place. When I called Transunion to discuss their logical fallacy, I was told that I submitted the dispute, requesting that the amount be changed to {$0.00}, which was untrue. When I pointed out the that the first line in the letter I included with the documentation stated that the account was fraudulent, I was told that I need to submit another dispute saying so and specifically asking for the account to be removed. I did, and after about 30 days, the amount on the account was raised to {$370.00}, which is literally the opposite of what should have happened. I asked Transunion what happened and they informed me that the company that originally submitted the account as a collections account says that its valid and thats all Transunion needs to keep the account on my credit report. 

When I spoke to Managers and supervisors at Transunion, I was informed that they have no power over what goes into my credit report and that they dont add or remove anything, even after given evidence that whats in there is fraudulent. I was told that the company reporting it to them has the final word because they would know best. But I have to believe that if I were someone more powerful and not just some guy, that it wouldve already been removed. 

And on a more global note, most of the US economy is based on the idea that whats in these credit reports is about as accurate as it can be, within reason. So for Transunion to turn around and say that it doesnt fix things or take them out and just does whatever the party who listed it says is ridiculous. Transunion is not XXXX. It needs to be held to a much higher standard!

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 non-monetary relief