Consumer complaint received 2016-08-22
Company: Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FNIS)
State: CA
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Credit reporting company's investigation
Sub-issue: Investigation took too long

Complaint:
Certegy check services is a third party check cashing company whose client is a local casino. I cashed a check for {$52.00} ( including a sizable fee ) on XXXX/XXXX/2016 at XXXX XXXX. My bank notified me by text immediately that a charge was attempting to clear my account that appeared fraudulent. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX immediately and assured them that the charge was valid and to pay it. Within hours, the bank had paid the check by forced ACH and I was advised that the recipient may experience a delay of up to 72 hours before the funds were visible as " cleared '' in their account. Having had previous run ins with Certegy, I called them immediately and explained the situation which was already affecting my ability to cash checks at over XXXX retailers ( all still XXXX ). They would not allow me to file a report until 7 days had passed, but I insisted and ultimately was told my account would be noted. On the 7th day, I filed a complaint. I proceeded to call and file a complaint weekly to no avail. At the end of the first thirty day period, ( XXXX ) I called and filed a complaint that their response was not timely. At this point I had a bank officer call Certegy with me on XXXX way to verify any needed information. I also, faxed, emailed, and mailed copies of my bank statement showing the check was paid. Further, I confirmed its paid status with the actual merchant, XXXX who also called Certegy on my behalf. Certegy insists on placing the burden of evidence on the consumer, and has not once provided me evidence that the check did not clear, any evidence that the electronic check was even initiated by me ( no signatures or anything ), and refuses to connect me with their disputes department directly. Each time I contact them I have to call a call center and sit in a phone bank and restate the entire history. To date I have called and complained 17 times and it has now been nearly 90 days since the transaction, which Certegy 's own client agrees the item was paid. Meanwhile, I have been denied services by various retailers a total of 22 times as a direct result of this one incorrectly reported transaction. Certegy is ambivalent to my frustration and has provided zero avenue of relief. They incorrectly place the burden of proof on me the consumer, when clearly I have exhausted every reasonable method of proving the transaction was paid, including providing the serial number of the forced ACH, a federally generated number that proves the item paid. Certegy has not only violated the FCRA repeatedly by not conducting a timely investigation, failing to remove harmful information that has been proven without a doubt false, committed slander, and generally failed to provide any scintilla of evidence that the debt was not paid other than a report that has not been updated since XXXX/XXXX/2016. I pray for relief by correction of the record at hand, as well as any punitive damages that I may be entitled to for Certegy 's willful and wanton failure to acknowledge my complaints, failure to prove the negative information reported, and failure to act reasonably by any standard under the circumstances. Certegy 's actions have not only cost me significant hardships financially, but also embarrassment and undeserved frustration over and over again. Please assist me.

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 explanation