Consumer complaint received 2023-05-08
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA
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: Investigation took more than 30 days

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, California XXXX Date of Birth : XX/XX/XXXX SS # : XXXX I am writing to dispute the accuracy of my credit report with regards to the reporting of inaccurate address information by the credit bureau. Specifically, the credit bureau has listed multiple addresses on my credit report that I have never resided at, including XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX, among others. 

I believe that the credit bureau has violated several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), including Section 607 ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy of the information they report. Additionally, Section 607 ( c ) requires credit reporting agencies to disclose the sources of the information they report, and if they are reporting addresses without disclosing the source of the information, this section may have been violated. Furthermore, Section 611 requires credit reporting agencies to investigate and correct any inaccuracies within 30 days of receiving a dispute. I have notified the credit bureau of the inaccurate address information, but they have failed to correct it within the given time frame, thus violating this section.

Additionally, I believe that the credit bureau has violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) Section 806, which prohibits debt collectors from engaging in any conduct that is misleading or deceptive in connection with the collection of any debt. If a debt collector is using inaccurate address information to contact me or is failing to correct the information when notified, this section may have been violated.

I also believe that the credit bureau has violated the Fair Credit Billing Act ( FCBA ) Section 1666c, which requires creditors to send billing statements to the consumer 's last known address. If a creditor is using inaccurate address information to send billing statements or is failing to correct the information when notified, this section may have been violated.

I would like to share a personal story about how these inaccuracies have affected my life. As a result of these inaccurate addresses appearing on my credit report, I have been denied credit, including a mortgage for my family home. This has caused significant financial and emotional distress for myself and my family. Furthermore, the inaccurate address information has caused me to miss important bills and other financial statements, which has resulted in late payments and increased fees.

Therefore, I am requesting that the credit bureau investigate and correct the inaccurate address information on my credit report, in accordance with the FCRA Section 611. I also request that any creditor that has reported inaccurate address information be notified of the error and be required to remove it from my credit report, in accordance with FCBA Section 1666c. 

One of the major issues is that XXXX is reporting a 30-day late payment on XX/XX/XXXX, for my XXXX account, when in fact I did not miss any payments. This is a serious error that is negatively affecting my credit score and ability to obtain credit. 

Additionally, there are discrepancies in the reported dates of last activity, date reported, and date opened among XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax, which may be in violation of Section 607 ( a ) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Furthermore, XXXX may have violated Section 807 ( 8 ) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) by reporting false credit information to XXXX. 

These inaccuracies and violations have greatly affected my life and financial standing. As a hard-working individual, I have always made timely payments on my accounts and have never missed a payment on my XXXX  account. The errors on my credit report are not only frustrating but are also preventing me from obtaining credit that I need for important purchases, such as a new car or a home. 

Therefore, I request that you investigate these issues and enforce the legal provisions that protect consumers ' rights, including Section 607 ( b ) of the FCRA, which requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy of the information they report. 

XXXX and XXXX. According to XXXX, I was reported as being 30 days late on my XXXX  account, despite the fact that I have not missed any payments. This is a clear violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically Section 607 ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to ensure the accuracy of the information they report.

The impact of this error on my credit report has been devastating. It has caused me to be denied credit opportunities and to be offered higher interest rates and unfavorable terms when I do get approved. I have been struggling to make ends meet, and the inaccuracies on my credit report have only made things more difficult for me. 

I have tried to dispute this error with XXXX and XXXX, but to no avail. It is frustrating and unfair that I am being punished for something that I did not do. I am asking for your help in enforcing the legal rights that I am entitled to under the FCRA. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX Account XXXX and XXXX are reporting a high balance of {$12000.00} on my XXXX XXXX account, while Equifax is reporting {$0.00}. This violates FCRA Section 607 ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy of the information they report. 

There are also discrepancies in the reported dates of last activity, date reported, and date opened among XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax. XXXX is reporting the date of last activity as XX/XX/XXXX, while XXXX is reporting XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax is reporting XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX is reporting the date reported as XX/XX/XXXX, while XXXX is reporting XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax is reporting XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX is reporting the date opened as XX/XX/XXXX, while XXXX and Equifax are reporting XX/XX/XXXX. This violates FCRA Section 607 ( a ), which requires credit reporting agencies to maintain reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of the information they report. 

Furthermore, XXXX and Equifax are reporting a balance owed of {$11000.00} on my XXXX XXXX account, while XXXX is reporting {$85000.00}. This also violates FCRA Section 607 ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy of the information they report.

Violation : Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Section 607 ( b ) Explanation : XXXX is reporting a 30-day late payment on my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account, when in fact I did not miss any payments.

Violation : Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), Section 806 ( 5 ) Explanation : The debt collector threatened to take legal action against me for a debt that is beyond the statute of limitations. 

These violations have significantly affected my life. The inaccurate reporting on my credit report has caused me great distress and has made it difficult for me to secure loans or obtain credit. This has had a domino effect on my ability to provide for myself and my family. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX account. Specifically, I believe that the creditor has violated several sections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 

Firstly, under FCRA Section XXXX ( a ), credit reporting agencies are required to disclose the sources of the information they report. However, XXXX is reporting a last verified date on my XXXX XXXX account, which XXXX did not report. This may be a violation of FCRA Section 611 ( a ).

Additionally, under FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 5 ), credit reporting agencies are required to provide accurate information in credit reports. Yet, there are discrepancies in the reported dates of last activity and status of my XXXX XXXX account between XXXX and XXXX. This XXXX be a violation of FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 5 ).

Furthermore, under FDCPA Section 809 ( a ), debt collectors are required to send a written notice to consumers within five days of their initial communication, informing them that they have the right to dispute the debt. However, the creditor did not notify me in writing when they sold my account to a collection agency, which may be a violation of FDCPA Section 809 ( a ).

Lastly, under FDCPA Section 807 ( 2 ) ( A ), debt collectors are prohibited from falsely representing the legal status of a debt. Yet, the creditor is reporting the status of my account as open when it has actually been sold to a collection agency, which may be a violation of FDCPA Section 807 ( 2 ) ( A ). 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account. According to XXXX, the last verified date on my account is XX/XX/XXXX, but XXXX and Equifax did not report any such information. Furthermore, XXXX reported the date of last activity as XX/XX/XXXX, while XXXX reported it as XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax as XX/XX/XXXX. Additionally, XXXX reported the date reported as XX/XX/XXXX, while XXXX reported it as XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax as XX/XX/XXXX. The account status is also reported as open, even though it is a collection account, and the creditor never sent me any paperwork notifying me that my account had been sold to a collection agency. 

These discrepancies and violations have caused me significant harm, and I would like to share a personal story of how they have affected my life. Due to these inaccurate and unverified reports, I have been denied credit multiple times, which has made it difficult for me to purchase a new car and secure a decent place to live. These false reports have caused me immense stress and anxiety, affecting my health and quality of life.

I am asking you to enforce the legal requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Section 611 ( a ), which requires credit reporting agencies to disclose the sources of the information they report. Additionally, I believe that Section 623 ( a ) ( 5 ) of the FCRA has been violated, as it requires credit reporting agencies to provide accurate information in credit reports. I also believe that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), Section 809 ( a ) has been violated, as the creditor did not notify me in writing when they sold my account to a collection agency. Finally, I believe that FDCPA, Section 807 ( 2 ) ( A ) has been violated, as the creditor is reporting the status of my account as open when it has actually been sold to a collection agency.

I am requesting that you remove this unverified account from my credit report, and take action against the creditor for these violations. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

I am writing to dispute the inclusion of three inquiries on my credit report from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX. These inquiries are inaccurate and incomplete and may be in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically Section 604 ( b ) ( 1 ) and Section 611 ( a ).

Section 604 ( b ) ( 1 ) requires that a consumer reporting agency follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. In t
his case, it appears that the three inquiries from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX may not be accurate or complete, as they appear to be duplicates of the same inquiry. This may be a violation of Section 604 ( b ) ( 1 ) of the FCRA.

Furthermore, Section 611 ( a ) of the FCRA requires credit reporting agencies to disclose the sources of the information they report. If there are discrepancies in how the three XXXX XXXX inquiries are reported by different credit bureaus, this section may have been violated. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation