Consumer complaint received 2022-06-02
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX
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:
In relation to ID XXXX regarding XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX CFPB proposed a question as to what would be a fair resolution to this issue? My response, A fair resolution to this issue would be to request that XXXX and Equifax please " remove '' the negative collection agency ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), from my credit reporting profile so that my FICO score can return to its original state due to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, being paid in full. 

Now that we have received a response from the Company XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), on XX/XX/2022, informing us that any credit reporting XXXX provided on behalf of the creditor has been deleted accordingly. The deletion has been confirmed, I would like to move forward with submitting an additional complaint to the CFPB regarding the credit reporting bureau, XXXX. During my most recent telephone correspondence with a XXXX Supervisor, by the name of XXXX, he ( XXXX ) informed me that collections remain on ones credit report for seven years, unless I as the consumer receive notification from the collections company XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), requesting that the negative report be removed ( deleted ) from the consumer 's credit profile. Therefore, considering that the third-party collection agency XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX erroneously placed negative information on my personal credit profile, without notifying me and allowing proper time for me to respond to the negative information being reported by the Creditor, I am requesting that XXXX please XXXX remove '' the negative collection agency ( XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX from my credit reporting profile BEFORE a seven-year removal of the erroneous credit reporting can take place so that my FICO score can return to its original state. 

The collections supervisor ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) informed me that they would report the balance as paid ; however, to have the collections removed from my credit report, I would need to speak to someone within the Credit Bureaus ( XX/XX/TransUnion/Equifax ) XXXX I spoke to an XXXX representative to confirm my dispute and payment, with the ability to remove the negative reporting collections the same day. Considering XXXX was the one that notified me of the negative collection being on my credit profile, I had no idea that the negative collection information had also been reported to XXXX and Equifax. However, XXXX and Equifax are stating that they are merely reporting agencies, and the negative collection reporting has to stay on your credit report for seven years although the payment has been updated to paid in full with a XXXX balance. I find this to be false information. If XXXX was able to remove it from the credit report the same day after showing that the payment in full was made to the third-party collection agency, XXXX and Equifax possess these same capabilities. No ones FICO credit score should be reduced by over 100 points due to an erroneous collections charge in the amount of only {$100.00}, due to the creditor (XX/XX/XXXX ), not following up per the documented conversation to receive the remainder of payment by phone. Allowing creditors, third-party collection companies, and credit reporting bureaus to place negative erroneous information on a person 's credit file that is utilized to weigh an individuals credibility to make life-saving decisions, must stop immediately. The point of filing a dispute with the credit bureaus ( XXXX and Equifax ), is to have the negative erroneous reporting from the collections REMOVED from my credit report file immediately, not to wait for seven years. If I had received the follow-up within a timely manner as promised by theXX/XX/XXXX representative, or proper notification from the third-party collection agency (XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that is when I could have provided the additional payment information and resolved this matter prior to reporting erroneous information to the third-party collections, and placing this error onto my credit profile. It must stop with allowing creditors, third-party collection companies, and credit reporting bureaus to submit a charge to your credit profile, then tell you it must stay on your credit report for seven years before it can be removed. UNACCEPTABLE. I am reaching out to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) requesting your kind assistance to further investigate this matter and to provide additional knowledge and instructions for having XXXX and Equifax remove the negative paid in full third party collections account ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), from my credit report due to it is hurting my FICO credit score and causing emotional distress if I am unable to provide for my family because every business venture and creditor review what is reported to the three major credit bureaus to determine one 's creditability. On Thursday, XX/XX/XXXX, 2022. the Company XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, responded to CFPB Case ID No. : ID XXXX, stating that on XX/XX/ 2022, XXXX ( XXXX ) placed an account with us for collection or we would not have attempted to contact XXXX XXXX. XXXX wrote to and called the consumer to advise him of the account. Prior to our receipt of the complaint, XXXX had already ceased collection efforts. On XXXX XXXX, 2022, XXXX XXXX called XXXX and paid the balance in full. The companys response is proof that not only are they not able to supply documentation that they reached out to me, but the company also did not comply with The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) allows for legal action against certain collectors, such as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, that dont comply with the rules in the law. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, did NOT comply with the FDCPA rules in the law. Therefore, one must be selective about what is reported to confirm the accuracy and comply with the due diligence process prior to reporting negative information to a consumers credit profile. I do hope I have provided enough detailed information to the CFPB to support this matter to assist your staff members in developing a full understanding of the dispute and reasoning for your assistance request. It is important that we take the time from our busy lifestyles and speak out when a wrong has been rendered so that no other consumer will experience such amiss. Thank you in advance for your kind assistance, and please do not hesitate to contact me if additional information is needed. 

Best regards, XXXX XXXX, XXXX Email : XXXX C : ( XXXX ) XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation