Consumer complaint received 2020-09-26
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: AZ
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:
I have had a problem with identity theft for the past few years. Unfortunately, I became XXXX in 2012, had three XXXX within seven months, and have spent years trying to recover. I am ready to go back to my regular profession as a XXXX in XXXX XXXX. Last year, I received an email from a law firm stating the XXXX had accidentally " released '' all my information. To whom, I do not know, but since that time, I have had issues with the IRS, multiple police departments around the country, as well as The Arizona Department of Transportation. However, I would like to concentrate on my credit reports, specifically those of Experian. I ordered my credit report and found out there were multiple accounts I did not recognize. Oh, and my FICO score was XXXX, which is very poor. Since that time, I have been relentless in tracking down these creditors and finding out the source of the fraudulent information. I have done my research, bought a couple of books, and have read the FCRA several times. I've had issues with all of the big three credit agencies, but Experian is, by far, the worst. I have had to send " intent to sue letters '' to this company regarding at least 3 of these inaccurate/fraudulent accounts. I also just issued a 15-day " warning '' letter and suspect that XXXX will wait to see if I'm bluffing until they receive a lawsuit. As you can tell from the attached letters, I have been particular about the information I was seeking. After having Experian confirm accounts I knew were fraudulent, send letter after letter asking for specific information on how these debts were being verified/validated. I have stated every time that an " E-Oscar '' or form response was not enough to constitute a real investigation. I do not have any documentation on any account currently being recorded because none are mine. I have asked the Creditors directly for information in documentary form and have not received any acceptable response if a response is received at all. Thus, I have asked for Experian to send me all the information they have used to validate their verification methods. They then claim to perform a " reinvestigation, '' and the item remains on my account. Also, Experian has never supplied me with even one document validating or verifying the account information on record, nor have I received any information, documentary or otherwise, regarding their investigation practices. Experian will undoubtedly try to evade any responsibility by calling this a " duplicate '' complaint as they have before. This issue is NOT a duplicate complaint. It is NOT about one specific dispute ; it's about a pattern and practice of illegal behavior. Consumers have to undergo substantial research, spend their own time and money, and, sometimes, do their job for them, as has happened to me at least once. I am a XXXX  with 20+ years of experience. If I had to spend this much time and money to erase inaccurate/fraudulent information from a credit bureau, then how does the layperson possibly have any idea of what to do? Not only does Experian continue to report these items, but they refuse even give consumers the full information they are reporting. For example, my understanding of a " charge-off '' is that a Creditor only has the right to record an account as " charged-off '' once. I have at least two items on my report that have been reported as charge-offs NINE TIMES EACH! I have an attorney who is ready to file suit in the XXXX XXXX for monetary damages, punitive damages, pain and suffering, and attorney fees. I have not had my attorney start yet because I had hoped that Experian and I could resolve the matter amicably, but they do not intend to comply with the law unless forced. I have already called the FTC, as well, to have the Agency lookout for this pattern and practice of behavior amongst their consumer complaints in case a class action suit is in order. *NB*-The attached documents are only a fraction of the correspondence I have sent to Experian.

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