Consumer complaint received 2017-11-21
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:
After recently being turned down for a mortgage, I reviewed my credit reports and noticed that there is an entry made by XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding XXXX XXXX   payments. I am requesting a review and removal of the account / item ( s ) from my credit file ( s ) as it contains inaccurate and or unfair collection information and serves no positive purpose what so ever. At the time the XXXX XXXX order in question was established I had not been properly served and was unaware of the actions pending against me. The responsible party, served a woman over the age of 18 at my previous address and assumed I would get the summons. This is not only invalid and unfair, it is also not legal.
All issues aside, when I learned I was supposed to be paying my XXXX XXXX to the state, I did just that. I was n't left with any sort of a choice as it was taken from me through my employer.

I struggled a little from the start but once caught up have not been behind since. For anyone that were to glance at the account history might want to call me a liar, however I ask that you read this letter and learn why things appear the way they do before passing judgment.

XXXX issued and administrative order for XXXX XXXX to my employer ( s ) which set off a couple of events. One, I was terminated from or not hired for many jobs, and two XXXX  effectively took away my ability to pay this payment on time.

I have since managed to stabilize the job situation, but still my hands remained tied in paying the XXXX XXXX on time.

Analyzing my credit report closer than before I quickly realized that either XXXX is mis-reporting payment information or my employer is n't paying the XXXX XXXX on time every time.

I do n't actually know when a XXXX XXXX order was issued, as I was n't served. I ca n't really recall when I actually learned of the XXXX XXXX order. Accept to say that I believe it to be some time around late XX/XX/XXXX or late XX/XX/XXXX. When I learned of this I phoned XXXX and was promised at that this item would be completely removed from my credit once it was paid.

Regardless of when this whole thing started, it 's impossible for me to have been in collections once I began employment with my current employer. Unless my employer was sending the payments in late.

It 's unrealistic to take away the payees ability to make sure something is paid, and then punish the payee when it 's late. If my employer is making payments late ; how does this in any way reflect my credit worthiness, willingness and or ability to pay XXXX XXXX on time? It is impossible for me to control when and how my employer sends in the payments, yet my credit continues to suffer the consequences of their actions. I even took the step of having my employer take out a little extra for each payment. This was a failed effort to build a cushion between myself and disaster. Needless to say for many reasons it did n't work.

I have been turned down for 3 very respectable jobs with significant pay increases, the reason given was Negative items on ones credit. XXXX XXXX is the only negative item on any of the big three credit reporting agencies.

This begs the question ( s ) In what way does this promote my ability to provide for my children? In what way is this in the best interests of any child ( ren ) I am a father who cares, I am a father who pays, and I am a father with children that do not deserve to have their lives disrupted or stressed anymore than absolutely necessary.. 


Honorably, XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation