Consumer complaint received 2017-03-30
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on credit report
Sub-issue: Information is not mine

Complaint:
I recently opened up a dispute with Equifax regarding the lone collection on my credit report with XXXX. My reason for the dispute is many, ( 1 ) XXXX has not validated this debt. I sent a letter to them that was delivered via certified mail ( see attachment ) on XX/XX/XXXX. ( 2 ) In the letter I requested that XXXX ( a ) provide proof of fees including any collection costs and medical charges ( b ) provide a copy of my signature with the provider of service to release my medical information to them ( c ) Cease any credit bureau reporting until the debt has been validated ( 3 ) XXXX has not responded to my letter ( 4 ) I sent XXXX a notice of failure to validate debt and per FDCRA the item must be removed from my account. The letter was sent XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX is still unresponsive. ( 5 ) I contacted the Office of Financial Regulation in the State of FL which requires ALL collection agencies be licensed and bonded in this State before attempting any collection activity including reporting derogatory information to the credit bureaus. They opened a case against XXXX and advised me to contact Equifax and advise that XXXX is in violation of Fl Statue 559.553 which is supported by 559.55 ( 11 ). The case number is XXXX. 
I sent the information to Equifax disputing this debt and asking that it be removed from my credit profile. I advised them that I do not owe this debt as my rehab bill was paid by my car insurance and if there was a balance, I had XXXX since XXXX and that the date of the car accident was XX/XX/XXXX. I also advised them that XXXX is not the legal owner of this debt, if it was owed, which it is not because they can not legally pursue any collection activity in the State of FL in which I reside and have resided my entire life. In addition, I advised them that I do not have a contract with XXXX and have NEVER had a contract with XXXX. An reinvestigation was opened in XXXX and completed in XXXX. Upon receipt of their findings asking me to contact XXXX, I attempted to do so. Once I explained to the " XXXX '' the customer service rep that they were in violation of FL law she hung up on me. I contacted Equifax and requested that they send me the documentation that they used to validate the debt. I was advised that it was electronically validated by XXXX responding back to them for the item to " remain. '' I am outraged at the lack knowledge that Equifax obviously have of the FDCPA. Per FDCPA, If a collection agency can not validate the debt, the credit bureau can not list it as a negative on your credit report. XXXX has NOT and CAN NOT validate this debt. They put this negative collection account on my credit report in XX/XX/XXXX, when their license in Florida expired XX/XX/XXXX. This was not an oversight, it was illegal as now that it has come to my attention, they will not validate, nor remove. They have violated FDCPA by not validating yet Equifax is still reporting it on my credit report. At this point Equifax is willfully and with malice negatively impacting my credit worthiness and sending this negative item on reports to all that I have sought credit from. In light of how this account has blemished my creditworthiness, I now hold Equifax just as responsible for reporting this incorrect and illegal collection. Per FDCPA, the credit reporting agency bears the responsibility of reporting only ACCURATE information. They have been advised that it is inaccurate and illegal yet they continue to report it.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation