Consumer complaint received 2021-02-16
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL
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: Problem with personal statement of dispute

Complaint:
I am writing to file a complaint about XXXX, Equifax, XXXX  and XXXX XXXX XXXX. In XXXX of last year, XXXX XXXX XXXX reported a past-due payment to the credit companies and lowered my credit score XXXX points. I mailed certified letters to all 3 credit companies ( XXXX, XXXX  and Equifax ), as well as XXXX XXXX XXXX to dispute the charges back in XXXX of XXXX. I have also attached copies of the letter I sent, as well as my credit report and documentation of my correct address from XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

In XXXX of XXXX, I co-signed on a vehicle loan with my mother through XXXX XXXX XXXX. At that time, I provided them with all of my contact information, including my home address. I own this home and have lived there since XXXX of XXXX, and still live there to this day. I had received mail correspondence from XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding the auto loan when the account was first opened, so they clearly had my correct address on file. 

While I co-signed for the loan with my mother, she was the person who made every payment each month for the XXXX year duration of the loan. It appears that there was a balance due of approximately {$160.00} after the XXXX year loan was payed off, and it appears that XXXX XXXX XXXX sent correspondence to an address previously listed for my mother about the overdue amount. I was never contacted by mail or otherwise about any outstanding balance on the loan. I only knew of the balance when they reported me to the credit companies. I have an exemplary credit history and would have immediately paid any overdue balance for my mother had I known about it. 

I never contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX by mail or otherwise during the duration of the loan to notify them of any change to my contact information- because there had been no changes. I still however, did not receive any notice from them of any balance due or past due. I only learned of the balance when it was reported to the credit companies and significantly dropped my credit score. I also saw that they added an address to my credit report that I have never lived at. My mother lived at this address for a time, but I have never lived there. 

I sent letters through certified mail to all 3 credit bureaus and XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX of XXXX disputing the charge and incorrect address on my credit report. I have just recently heard back from XXXX  saying that they closed my dispute and updated my report but it does not have the charge or address removed from my credit report and my credit score has not returned to what is was before this accusation was made on my report. I still have yet to hear anything back from XXXX XXXX XXXX or the other two credit reporting agencies regarding this matter. 

Without having any notice- written or otherwise- in regards to an overdue amount on the loan, I do not think it is right to be able to negatively affect my credit or show on my credit report. While I did co-sign the loan, I also provided XXXX XXXX XXXX with my contact information and I was never contacted by them about the past due payment. I would have absolutely paid any balance that was due had I been notified. They should not be allowed to make a false accusation that negatively affects my credit without showing they provided any notice at all to my address they clearly had on file. 

Please help me fix this matter. I am not sure what else to do or where else to go. I have written all the companies letters to no avail, and am just looking for someone to help me fix this problem. I have worked so terribly hard to have exemplary credit, and it is not right to have that taken away for something I was never notified of to begin with. 

Attachments : Copy of the letters sent to XXXX  and XXXX XXXX XXXX including my credit report and a copy of the letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX when we opened the loan in XXXX showing they had my correct contact information.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation