Consumer complaint received 2021-03-17
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. (NJ)

I started credit counseling in XXXX ofXX/XX/XXXX. At the time, I was in graduate school while working full time. My wife was in XXXX, not working and we had both a toddler to take care of. In addition, to my helping my wife 's parents after my father-n-law was hit by a car while crossing the street. An accident that tragically resulted in brain damage. 

At that time I started credit counseling I had {$39000.00} in credit card debt. XXXX or XXXX Savings and XXXX of XXXX, NY ; held 2 accounts. Once was a credit line associated with overdraft protection with an original balance of {$5000.00} and another was a credit card with a credit limit of {$15000.00}, but an original balance of {$15000.00}. The agreement allowed for payments of {$390.00} a month for the credit card and {$120.00} a month for the overdraft account. As of XXXX of that year the balance of those accounts were {$15000.00} and {$5200.00}. As you can see even though I was in credit counseling the balance was increasing. Unlike the other accounts that worked with the credit counselors, XXXX refused to lower the interest rate. I do not recall the interest for the overdraft, but the credit card was maintained at XXXX XXXX APR. 

By XXXX of XX/XX/XXXX I had paid {$4200.00} towards the XXXX credit card and {$1300.00} towards the overdraft. With balances of {$14000.00} and {$4700.00}, respectfully. As this indicates only {$1400.00} and {$710.00} went towards the principal, also respectfully. At this rate I was paying XXXX XXXX on the credit card and XXXX XXXX on the overdraft. Meaning it would take 5 years and {$8400.00} to pay off the credit card and 4.5 years and {$1600.00} more in interest to pay off just the XXXX. Not considering the other creditors, who were splitting the remaining {$460.00} that was going monthly towards the other {$24000.00} of my original debt. 

I soon realized, that I needed to make a change if I wanted the debt to be paid off in a reasonable amount of time. I also had 6 months of unemployment in a 12 month period from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX, yet continued with payments. I had never had more than 1 month of employement since I was XXXX, so this was a tough time. I reached out to XXXX and came to an agreement for the credit card debt in XXXX of XX/XX/XXXX, where I would pay {$200.00} per month and they would lower my interest to XXXX XXXX, for the remainder of the {$12000.00} principle and they would removed the entry from my credit report. This is after I had already paid {$7400.00} towards this account. This agreement started in with the first payment due in XXXX of XX/XX/XXXX I paid this until XXXX ofXX/XX/XXXX when I did miss a payment. I sent a payment in XXXX and that check was returned to the bank. Agreement apparently broken. When I called I didn't get a straight answer. I did not hear from them until XXXX of last year. Then in XXXX they added it back to my credit report with a principal of {$10000.00}. 

At this point I am willing to pay a {$4000.00} lump sum and {$250.00} per month for the remaining {$4100.00}, of the {$8100.00} total we have agreed to. I am only agreeing to do this if they will do what they did before in removing it from my credit report or marking at as paid in full upon completion. They are refusing to do this and only willing to marking it as " paid in full for less than full balance ''. I am not willing to accept that. I would like it marked " paid in full '' or removed from the credit report entirely. Since this started in XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, we are already at the 5 year mark. I am asking for it to be removed 2 years early, but to do something they had already done previously. I do not think that is unreasonable. Especially as I have already paid over {$10000.00} for a {$15000.00} debut. At this point we seem to be at an impasse. 

I feel that the way this has been handled falls under predatory lending. Please advise. 

Thank you,