Consumer complaint received 2020-04-22
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:
XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting an unpaid collection account for {$1500.00} on my personal credit report. I contacted them to inquire about the debt and was informed that the charges are somehow related to an apartment rented by my ex-boyfriend, XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

During my conversation with the agent, which would certainly be considered a " communication '' as defined under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 15 USC 1692a, I was not given the mini-Miranda as required by the Act. I explained to the agent that I temporarily resided at this apartment with my then boyfriend, but that I had no contractual obligation under the lease. However, the agent refused to accept my dispute for investigation. I then requested validation of the debt ; asking that they provide me with an itemization of the balance being charged and some sort of documentation showing my own contractual liability, such as my signature on the lease. The agent refused to honor my request, told me to call back when I was " ready to pay '' and hung up on me. I've sent a written request for this same validation yet they have continuously refused to provide it, in violation of 15 USC 1692g 809. 

Further, their refusal to adequately investigate my dispute, while continuing to adversely report it to the credit reporting agencies, is a blatant violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 USC 1681 and its subsequent amendment, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 ( FACTA ). Under these Acts, I have the right to dispute inaccurate information and the data furnisher has an obligation to investigate that dispute. Inaccurate or unverifiable information must be corrected or deleted by the furnisher. XXXX XXXX XXXX continues to refuse me these rights as required by law. 

This is not my debt. This apartment was rented strictly in the name of my ex-boyfriend, XXXX XXXX XXXX. I never signed any lease for this apartment and have no contractual obligation for this debt if it is even legitimately owed ; which still has yet to be determined. 

My attempts to correct XXXX XXXX 's records and restore my credit with regard to this item have been in vain. Research on this collection agency shows that they are not an active member of XXXX XXXX, nor an accredited business with the XXXX, and that their standard XXXX  complaint responses are both dismissive and uncooperative ... so I guess my failed attempts are not surprising. I have also attempted to remedy the situation by filing indirect disputes directly with the credit reporting agencies, themselves. However, XXXX XXXX continues to verify the information as accurately reported without conducting a proper investigation. 

My hope is that the CFPB can assist in getting this resolved before I'm forced to engage legal counsel and pursue this matter through litigation.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation