Consumer complaint received 2023-04-21
Company: FIFTH THIRD FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: GA
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:
Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am writing to dispute a charge on my credit report that has greatly impacted my credit score in a negative way. The charge in question is for a XXXX XXXX XXXX filtration system that I purchased with XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX, who has the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX reporting to the credit bureau. The system has caused me to suffer from extreme dryness, cuts, sores and rashes on my skin due to the salt that the system uses. I reached out to XXXX XXXX and XXXX, XXXX and XXXX XXXX to resolve the issue and requested that the system be removed, but they have not provided any resolution and have not followed up on calls. The water with the system is not suitable for myself and my family, we can not even drink the water. To make matters worse, XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX has Dividend XXXX reporting late payments and requested a hard inquiry to the credit bureaus, which is negatively impacting my credit score even further. 

I am requesting that this inquiry and charge be removed from my credit report indefinitely and immediately with the time frame of 30days. As per the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), I have the right to dispute any inaccurate or unauthorized information in my credit report. Furthermore, the Consumer Product Safety Act ( CPSA ) requires that manufacturers of consumer products take steps to identify and address potential hazards associated with their products. XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX failed to fulfill this obligation by selling a water filtration system that causes severe skin irritation and is not suitable for consumption. XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX actions have violated my consumer rights by failing to provide a safe and suitable product, failing to inform me of my right to cancel, and failing to address my concerns and provide a resolution. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX reporting of XXXX late payments and inquiry through Dividend Financial, to the credit bureaus is a further violation of my rights. 

The Federal Trade Commission 's ( FTC ) Cooling-Off Rule also provides consumers with the right to cancel certain types of contracts within three days of the transaction. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX did not inform me of my right to cancel and did not provide me with any opportunity to do so. My consumer rights were violated by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX failure to provide a safe and suitable product, failure to inform me of my right to cancel, and failure to address my concerns and provide a resolution. I purchased a product from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX which did not function as advertised, and I was subsequently charged for the defective product. 

I have reached out to the parties of which the equipment and contract are associated with. I have been informed that XXXX XXXX and XXXX and XXXX XXXX and XXXX, who were both a second or third party to this contract, have been out of business or removed from the contract months after installation. I am concerned that my communication attempts were not responded to because of this reason. Throughout the duration of this contract, I have also made several attempts on my own to find a solution to the problem of why my skin was so extremely irritated after the installation of the XXXX XXXX water filtration system. I had a water test done, I have had several doctors ' appointments and medications prescribed, I have had to hire a plumber, and contact XXXX XXXX water. 

The conclusive result is that the salt that must be used for the system as a softener is causing my skin to break out in severe lacerations, bleeding, soreness, dryness, itching, and red blisters. The system has not had any salt in it in about 3 months and my skin subsided to most side effects from the water. I have not had any cuts or bleeding or rashes. Additionally, the filtration system in the kitchen has not enabled me to drink or use it for cooking. I can not drink the filtrated water from the system. All these issues started after installation. I communicated with a representative who came to my home directly after installation that the system had not made a difference in my home and that my skin was drying out. She said to Give it more time because there are only XXXX people who live in the home. She refused to issue a refund at that time or address my concern in a productive way. I also received some products such as laundry detergent, shampoo, hand soap, etc..., that came with the filtration system but none of these products worked or proved to be effective as well. I never received any calls or follow-ups from the company to make sure the system was functioning properly. 

Despite my attempts to resolve the issue with XXXX XXXX, they have refused to refund me, and they have refused to remove the equipment. As a result, I am now disputing this charge and requesting that it be removed from my credit report. Dividend XXXX ( {$10000.00} ) has reported late fees and is continuously harming my credit. Please verify and validate all data for this account, all dates and balances whether reported or not. Through the provisions of the FCRA investigate and remove. 

My final attempt to resolve this issue with XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX, through my use of complaining to the BBB, was around XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I first spoke with XXXX ( XXXX Assistant to the XXXX of the company ( XXXX ) XXXX. She directed me to XXXX who sent out a technician to test the water after I then also explained to her the damage from the system. The tech came and put salt in the filter which he admitted could be causing my skin irritation and he suggested that I cut the system all the way off and use the city water if my skin continued irritation after he refilled it. I spoke with the XXXX of XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX, on the XXXX of XXXX as well. We spoke about the XXXX coming the following day and he said that the technician was supposed to test for grains, hardness, etc... I am not sure what the technician tested for but I was promised a follow-up call. I never received the call. I have evidence that shows and proves that the system is causing me harm. If the technician suggests me to cut off the system, that is just another indicator that I do not need the system because it is harming me. I respectfully request that you take immediate action to investigate and resolve this dispute. I also request that you provide me with written confirmation of the removal of this inquiry and any related late payments from my credit report. Thank you for your time and prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely, Consumer

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation