Consumer complaint received 2016-02-17
Product: Credit reporting — 
Issue: Incorrect information on credit report — Account status
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (CO)

Last year we ( me and my wife ) recieved a bill from the apartment leasing company when we moved out of their apartment. As we did not agree with the charges mentioned in the bill, we asked them to provide evidence for the same. they did not provide any evidence but sent the account to a collection agency. collection agency called us multiple times and threatened us that they will ruin our credit if we dont pay up the money. they never provided any evidence for the charges they were claiming. 'they can ruin our credit ' was their only reason why we must pay up. we asked them to go to court if they think their charges were legitimate and if it was decided in court that we owe them the money we 'll pay them the full amount including any interest and legal fees. but they continued to make harassing phone calls despite our request not to call us. 

Late last year, we were looking to purchase our first home as we were planning to grow our family. we got pre-approvals from couple of lenders, we are financially responsible people, our credit scores were in excellent, we were getting the best rates, everything looked good. After many days of house hunting, we finally found our dream house and decided to move ahead with the purchase. last week our mortgage broker called worried and said " your credit score got Dinged, theres a collection showing on your account ''. my score had dropped more than XXXX points. Now I might not get a loan or interest rates would be higher. 

I looked at the report, collection agency had mentioned in remarks that the charges are disputed by the consumer. but still my score was dropped by a big margin. i do not have any issue collection agency reporting it to credit agency, but the credit agency decision to drop my score is not fair. they have reported it as a adverse ( delinquint ) account which is not the case. there 's a difference between delinquint account and an account where charges are disputed. i never refused to pay, if the creditor provide me evidence for the charges, I 'll pay the full amonut. Creditor wants to settle for half the charges, but I can not pay for something that I believe is totally fraudulent. 

So my question is : on what ground did the credit agencies pronounce guilty verdict on me and decided unilaterally to drop my scores. why do they have such authorities to mess up with peoples lives irrationally and negatively. shouldnt they have at least tried to know my side. why do they allow themselves to be a weopon in the hands of creditors so they can bully people. how is it that someone can call me or my wife and tell us to pay up or else they will ruin our credit. And they are able to do it too. what am I getting punished for? that i stood up against their bullying? how does all this make me financially irresponsible or how does it make me risk for lenders? Credit agencies only have dispute option under ownership and accuracy, I can not dispute their action. Now even my lender is suggesting to settle up with them, '' its a small amount, pay it off, get it off your records. '' Seems like an institutional blackmail and i am up against a big rock here.