Consumer complaint received 2016-03-19
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Credit reporting company's investigation
Sub-issue: Problem with statement of dispute

Complaint:
This report is not the first filed, but it is the one that included communication with both Equifax and the bankruptcy court itself. 
In XX/XX/XXXX, I filed a request w/bank. Court to request Ch XXXX court fees be waived IF my husband and I decided to file bankruptcy due to the fact I had been laid off and was worried we would be late on mortgage on my homestead home. I had to file pro se due to financial problems. Clerk required me to fill out info regarding my husband and I in general, but no creditor info. I had no idea the form implied I was filing Ch XXXX for my husband and I. 
The request was granted to waive court costs, but I found I would get Unemployment for the layoff, so we decided not to seek protection from the Court. In addition, XXXX had removed my name from my homestead home mortgage and refused to put it back on, so I did n't think I would be able to get protection anyway, even though the home was my HOMESTEAD HOME for 8 yrs total and I never had one late payment on it ( filing separate complaint ). 
Bankruptcy was ruled as " dismissed '' due to " other reasons '' as we did not respond to supplying ANY creditors or file any first notices. Neither my husband nor I even knew that we had bankruptcies listed on our reports until years later, at which point I began disputing them. 
The court listed XXXX bankruptcies on each of our reports only 15 days apart with XXXX separate case numbers both " dismissed ''. The credit reports listed XXXX and XXXX as the bankruptcy file numbers, a phone number that was no longer in service as the contact, and repeatedly said they verified the information with the Court through that number and that both were valid and refused to remove. 
I sent a letter to the bankruptcy court to dispute after calling several times and being told by the Trustee that it " was n't their problem ''. I received no response. I hired XXXX XXXX and currently XXXX to have these removed to no avail. 
These XXXX bankruptcies have been listed on both mine and my husband 's reports for over 7 years and have severely affected our credit and ability to get credit and they STILL refuse to remove either bankruptcy. We have n't been able to afford a lawyer and have n't been able to find any guidance on how to have them removed. In researching I found it is too late to appeal and I do n't know how to file a motion to vacate and I ca n't afford a lawyer. I feel the Court should have removed these the first time I disputed them XX/XX/XXXX when I first learned about them and disputed them, and that they should have ensured they were both removed from all three bureaus from both our reports. I NEED them removed now. We have paid for my mistake for long enough and the law states that if there is no evidence of unethical intent or attempt to defraud a creditor or delay a payment, the dismissal should be vacated or reversed. 
I have all supporting documentation regarding the facts above and will be happy to share it. Please email XXXXXXXXXXXX or call XXXX. 
Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX and XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation