Consumer complaint received 2022-10-22
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA
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: Was not notified of investigation status or results

Complaint:
Credit reporting in this country is unfair and cruel because the credit " agencies '', in fact not " agencies '' at all which implies public service, are profit driven to the point of being predatory themselves. There should be public and real " agencies '' that have no profit incentive. Dealing with profit-driven private credit " agencies '' is a losing battle for consumers. These agencies can be unfair and cruel. I am so sick of it. You can work and work to improve your credit then you get " your credit score dropped XXXX points ''. Your first question is why and the response is " XXXX it '' from them= their actions are veiled, hidden, arbitrary and capricious. We have no power. We have no recourse. They are bullies and pretty much constitute a kind of XXXX over all of us. What really infuriates me is for example, XXXX, that constantly badgers consumers to subscribe to their " services '' or else... It is in fact a form of extortion. If I give THEM MONEY, my credit score will AUTOMATICALLY GO UP. What the heck is this? It's insane and its predatory esp for low income wage earners. Give us money and we'll raise your credit score " immediately ''. So the person who answers to this call of extortion by " subscribing '' to their " services '', likely a higher wage earner, suddenly has better credit than the person who can not afford to " subscribe '' to their services? Does this not penalize lower wage earners? I would like to know why this is legal? Why is it fair? Is it fair under FCRA? My complaint too concerns my forbearance program I entered during the pandemic with XXXX XXXX. I was told I could access this program any time during the forbearance period, and even after if needed, and it would NOT AFFECT MY CREDIT SCORE. Well, someone is lying because this mortgage has been flagged as potentially adverse or even adverse. Let me tell you about this mortgage. It's been with FOUR different companies. Country-Wide before it went belly-up but not before my identity was stolen. Then it went to XXXX. Then it went to XXXX XXXX for like XXXX minutes. Then it went to XXXX during which I was harassed and bullied. Now it is with XXXX under the name of XXXX XXXX. It has been an improvement for sure but the point is, did I have any say or control in any of this? No I did not.NOTHING. Then I go to my credit history/accounts and get hit up to buy a bunch of products, including those not even related to credit services. This is such total b sz. It's a system designed to destroy our lives. I filed a dispute against the flagging of my mortgage account I believe 6 months ago or more and have heard absolutely NOTHING. When I called XXXX XXXX, they said it wasn't them, it was XXXX ( " the credit agencies '' ). When I ask XXXX, the response is it wasn't them it was XXXX XXXX. Let 's play ping pong with my life! I would like to know the status of this dispute. Also an account I paid OFF is still showing a balance. This is the XXXX account. The balance is XXXX. These people and these " agencies '' ruin lives. I am asking XXXX XXXX and this bureau to consider creating real PUBLIC non-profit driven credit agencies for consumers to get us out of this constant badgering and bullying XXXX. The private ones can still exist if they want to, but please, help us. Offer us some alternatives that are in OUR best interests, not these predatory hateful credit companies that quite literally, ruin lives. Thank you.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation