Consumer complaint received 2017-10-02
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Reporting company used your report improperly

Complaint:
We purchased a property in XXXX XXXX and the owner carried a note for $ XXXX. I received a phone call from the note holder/owner on XXXX XXXX saying she needed the full amount now not 2 years or 4 years from now as she could n't recall what the note maturity date was. I told her 4 years and she said call this XXXX lady for details. I called her and she explained she was from XXXX XXXX and they were buying the note. I verified it is a 4 year note with her and then called the attorney that wrote the note. The note was created to assist the prior owner as she is an elderly XXXX woman who is not in her XXXX XXXX. This elderly woman explained XXXX was no longer interested as they wanted a 2 year note nit 4. At some point it was made aware to XXXX XXXX that she is not selling the note and I received a very aggressive phone call from XXXX XXXX explaining that I should not give this woman any money and he is buying the note or else he will cloud our title. I called the attorney again as this was now XXXX XXXX and went to my attorney 's office at XXXX XXXX that afternoon. XXXX XXXX placed an affadavit and recorded it with the county on our real estate title saying that prior owner was in breach of contract. Our attorney explained that that is slander of title and advised him to remove this within the next 10 days and his contract is with our note holder who breached contract with him and I as the property owner did nothing wrong and no right to tarnish our title. We are in the process of trying to build a house on our land and a new septic tank and I am afraid this erroneous cloud on our title will hold up our development permits. XXXX XXXX was obviously upset and out of anger and spite put this on our deed illegally. He tried to take advantage of a woman who is XXXX XXXX and has an attorney for just these purposes.I am also greatly concerned for my wife 's and my personal credit protection. It came to my attention on XXXX XXXX that XXXX XXXX, without our consent, checked our full credit history. Our personal privacy has been greatly violated and we fear this information will be used by XXXX XXXX or sold by XXXX XXXX as a form of retaliation or income for him. We both have experienced a lack of sleep and psychological and physical ailments due to this stress. This will make it hard for us to trust anything in regards to our social security numbers. We both have credit scores well over XXXX and have worked hard to maintain and build great credit. This inquiry had negatively impacted both of our credit scores and raised a red flag with another mortgage company I was working with for an investment loan. 

For XXXX XXXX to remove the cloud on my title and pay my attorney fees I have accrued due to his slander of title. I would also like a three year fraud protection plan paid by XXXX XXXX to monitor and freeze our credit. All paperwork and electronic records that XXXX XXXX holds pertaining to my wife and I are to turned over to authorities for disposal. A monetary amount should also be paid for the stress and inconvenience this has caused both of us ; {$1500.00} for each of us. I have had my identity stolen before and can not begin to tell you how horrendous it is. I ca n't file taxes electronically nor release my taxes to anyone for financing options without going through the irs which is very time consuming and difficult.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation