Consumer complaint received 2017-06-04
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc. (TX)

Our complaint with the credit bureaus is that they are reporting fraudulent and inaccurate information. We have repeatedly requested they remove the fraudulent collection. The response we get is the collection agency validates this as a legal collection. We have repeatedly asked them to provide the underlying proof that the collection and the amounts are correct and legal.   Per the FCRA, credit bureaus are only allowed to report correct and legal information. The information being reported is fraudulent and needs to be removed.   We have contacted the credit agency multiple times ( see below ). Their response has been that their client contends the collection is valid, and they provide a copy of the lease ( we dont dispute we lived in the apartment ), and a statement of security deposit accounts that is full of fraudulent. In fact, they keep providing the same disputed documents as proof that the same disputed documents are valid.   Our main request throughout this entire process has been for them to correct the amount they claim we owe. Most of the charges are fraudulent.   We have also requested that they remove this collection from our credit reports.   This is causing us serious financial and emotional distress. We are in the process of closing on a house and the closing is held up because of the disputed collection on our credit report. Additionally, this is causing us to incur higher interest rates and fees and will cost us thousands of dollars. The collections agency filed a collection on our credit reports.   History : We moved out of our apartment in  XXXX . We left the apartment immaculate, even cleaning behind the oven and vacuuming our way out of the apartment. Several weeks later the apartment management presented us with a bill for " repairs '' that was full of mistakes and most of the items included were false and/or in violation of the Texas  Property Code . In other words, almost all the charges were for things we either did n't owe or were for things that they could not charge for by law.   We attempted to resolve with the apartment management, but they refused to remove the wrong / illegal items. Instead they sent it to collections.   We have attempted to resolve via the proper channels :  XX/XX/XXXX  : we sent letters to the three credit bureaus per the FCRA to dispute the information and request them to validate the data. All three responded that they investigated and that the creditor says it was valid. When called to discuss, the credit bureaus said " you need to have the collection agency remove. We just ask them if it is valid. ''  XX/XX/XXXX  : we sent a letter to the collection agency per the FCRA and FDCPA asking them to validate the data. They replied that the creditor said it was valid and sent us copies of the lease and their statement of security deposit accounts showing the illegal/wrong charges. They provided no proof.    XX/XX/XXXX  : we sent a letter to the collection agency per the FCRA and FDCPA stating that what they provided was not proof. It also clearly stated what was incorrect or illegally reported, and requested they remove the improper charges and remove the collection from my credit reports. They replied on  XX/XX/XXXX  that the creditor contends the charges were valid and resent the same information from their previous letter. No proof was supplied.    XX/XX/XXXX  : we sent a letter to the three credit bureaus per the FCRA to inform them that we asked the collection agency to validate the debt and remove if incorrect, and that the collection agency could not do this. We requested they remove the collection or we would file a complaint with the FTC and/or pursue legal action.    XX/XX/XXXX  and  XX/XX/XXXX  : additional letters sent to the credit agency pointing out that the charges were incorrect and/or illegal per the T X Property Code.  We requested they validate the charges or remove this from our credit reports. Their response was to send a letter stating that their client contends that the charges were valid, a copy of the lease, and the fraudulent statement of security deposit accounts.