Consumer complaint received 2024-10-09
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (NV)

On XXXX XXXX 2023, XXXX XXXX ran my credit card ten times without authorization, an unambiguous FCBA violation requiring XXXX to pay a penalty for each violation. At first, XXXX tried to debit a charge in the amount of {$2200.00}. XXXX XXXX texted and called me to verify if the XXXX charge was valid. I told XXXX that the charge wasn't valid or authorized. XXXX then ran another charge within a few minutes for {$110000.00} ( half the original amount ), which XXXX approved. When I saw the second charge, I instantly called XXXX and disputed it. XXXXXXXX XXXX suggested that I cancel the credit card, which I did. XXXX then continued efforts to run various amounts to the card they [ illegally ] stored by submitting multiple debits of {$5.00}, {$1000.00}, {$25.00}, {$50.00}, {$100.00}, {$570.00}, {$1700.00}, and {$1100.00} twice. 


Each charge is an increment of what XXXX believed I owed them for the non-return of merchandise. I returned their phones and received receipts from XXXX and XXXX. When I questioned XXXX staff over the next weeks and months, XXXX employees told me that someone [ physically ] used my credit card at a single undisclosed XXXX store. XXXX 's story was a bald-faced lie since I possessed the old and new cards. However, I went to the original store at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, to make sure they had not run my credit card, and the manager told me they didn't run my card and could not access a credit card I previously used. After relentless research, I found that XXXX had run my credit card from their XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX without informing me and covering up their fictitious story. 


The XXXXXXXX XXXX in question was authorized as a single payment for taxes of {$41.00} in merchandise ( that I returned ) the year before in a XXXXXXXX XXXX store in XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX. I physically retained the credit card and was not told XXXX would keep it for future use. Despite my instructions not to maintain my credit card in the XXXX database ( s ), XXXX kept my information on file. This blatant violation of my instructions was a clear, unauthorized, and flagrant abuse of a financial instrument against FCBA regulations and a breach of trust in XXXX 's handling of my personal information. 


Approximately ten months into my contract with XXXX, I canceled my XXXX service for cause. I gave XXXX roughly six months to resolve my service issues. In XX/XX/2023, XXXX told me ( in a legally recorded conversation ) that I could cancel my contractual obligation because of what they called " MARGINAL '' service. And that I must return their three telephones, which I did. Shortly after I canceled my service, XXXX began to email, call, and text for a balance owed of {$2200.00}, which XXXX released me from. In an early recorded call, I instructed the XXXX representative to cancel my automatic debit card payment and " any other '' financial instrument they might have on file. The offshore agent clearly stated that I had no other payment types with XXXX. I repeated myself numerous times and advised that the removal would be honored. Despite my repeated attempts to resolve the issue, XXXX continued its harassment even though they released me from contractual obligation because of " MARGINAL SERVICES. '' Within days of canceling my account, XXXX started harassing me with emails, texts, and telephone calls, even after instructions to stop. These communications violated FCRA regulations requiring XXXX to cease all communications. Unable to speak with anyone in the U.S. or resolve the matter with XXXX offshore contracted personnel whose comprehension of English is suspect, I found myself in a frustrating and helpless situation. I decided to re-sign with XXXX XXXX XXXX WinBack Department '' as I was within the two-week window and didn't want to deal with the continued harassment. I went to the same store where I started the contract ( 10 days after my cancelation ), and they agreed to restart it per speaking with offshore XXXX staff. While in the store, the XXXX assistant manager ( XXXX ) tried to make the overseas representative understand. He ( the manager ) became so frustrated with his own XXXX people that he eventually handed the phone to me. I recorded the 3.5 hours of conversations with store personnel and offshore employees. In the end, I could not re-sign with XXXX, and the harassment continued until I obtained a lawyer because of severe infractions of FCRA and FCBA regulations. 


XXXX has consistently avoided my attorney 's attempts at settlement. XXXX has broken FCRA and FCBA regulations. XXXX keeps handing this matter off to one collection agency after another. All the collection agencies state they do not place my account on any of the major credit bureaus. And claim that XXXX does so. XXXX and XXXX have negotiated to delete the XXXX derogatory remark. Equifax and XXXX appear to have entered an " arrangement '' wherein any institution that reviews my credit can garner that I have an unpaid item. Equifax has placed the XXXX account under a " personal loan '' never paid. Again, this is an infraction of FCRA regulations. It doesn't [ seem ] to affect my FICO score to my knowledge, but the other day, a bank declined my credit because they said I was " past due '' on an account found on Equifax. However, there is no " past due '' account on Equifax, nor are there any derogatory remarks. XXXX 's actions have caused severe financial distress and directly impacted my credit standing, leading to a recent credit decline from a bank. The financial distress caused by XXXX 's actions is significant and can not be overstated. 

XXXX does not address this issue directly and has dragged it out for over one year. It is now affecting my ability to make investments, establish additional credit, and increase current credit lines.