Consumer complaint received 2021-04-23
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 — Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc. (ME)

I have a VA Loan with XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX under the above referenced loan number and address. I am under a Loan Forbearance due to COVID through XX/XX/XXXX. Per documentation received, I was advised that I did not need to make payments during the forbearance period but would need to re-start making payments, beginning with the XX/XX/XXXX due date. I was further advised that I would need to make all Trial Period payments for three ( 3 ) months, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX to be eligible for a Loan Modification. Per the correspondence from XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX, I am eligible for a Permanent Loan Modification under the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Modification Program with XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX. This document, as provided, requires that I need to make my payments during this trial period before the end of each month in which the payment is scheduled to be made. 

The online payment history for my account at XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX verifies that the XXXX and XXXX payments were made by month end and I will make XXXX payment by the end of this month, per the agreement. I have an account with Experian XXXX XXXX and was shocked to see that my credit score dropped significantly because XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX reported my XXXX payment as over sixty ( 60 ) days late AND that no XXXX payment was made and under violation of the CARES Act. 

Current reporting on my Experian Credit Reporting page : Account Current XXXX XXXX  XXXX has reported Positive Activity : Account Current. 
Financial XXXX XXXX, XXXX What happened? 
Well done! Your account is now reported as current. It was previously reported as late. You're well on your way to improving your credit health. 
Source : Experian Company : XXXX XXXX  XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, CA XXXX Phone : ( XXXX ) XXXX Previous Status : LATE Current Status : ACCOUNT CURRENT Balance : {$140000.00} What now? 
If you haven't already, try instantly raising your FICO Score for free with Experian XXXX. 
Try Experian XXXX You are receiving this alert because your membership includes Experian XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

As reported on my Experian Account Page : Score Decrease Your XXXX  Score has decreased by 34 points. 
Financial ( This was due to a report of a payment 60 days past due with XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX ) XXXX XXXX, XXXX Experian took this action in violation of the CARES Act and they are aware of my forbearance status yet unwilling to rectify their illegal reporting, XXXX XXXX  XXXX {$140000.00} Balance updated XX/XX/XXXX 1 late payment Account Info Hover over labels for more details Account XXXX Account statusOpen Date openedXX/XX/XXXX Account typeVa Real Estate Loan Paid Off : 23 % Balance on XX/XX/XXXXLoan Amount {$140000.00} {$180000.00} Payment Info StatusCurrent, was past due 60 days Status dateXX/XX/XXXX Past due amount- Original loan amount {$180000.00} Monthly payment {$0.00} Late payments XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX-60 -- -- -- -- - XXXX -- -- -- - On Time 60Days Late -Data Unavailable I have submitted all the information above to XXXX 's Consumer Research Dept. via fax. They confirm that I am under forbearance yet are unwilling to rectify the situation which is clearly a violation of the Law under the CARES Act.

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ( CARES Act ) to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act places important requirements on companies that furnish information to consumer reporting agencies about consumers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bureau previously issued a statement informing lenders they must comply with the credit reporting requirements of the CARES Act. Today, the Bureau released FAQs that will help ensure that consumers receive the credit reporting protections required by the CARES Act.

The Bureau remains committed to vigorously enforcing
all consumer financial protection laws under its jurisdiction, including the FCRA. As noted in the Bureaus Statement, the Bureau will consider the circumstances that entities face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and entities good faith efforts to comply with statutory and regulatory obligations as soon as possible. The Bureau will, however, not hesitate to take public enforcement action when appropriate against companies or individuals that violate the FCRA or any other law under its jurisdiction. 

XXXX XXXX  XXXX violated the Law under the Cares Act by reporting my payments as delinquent and later changed their report to my account being current. Experian violated the Law under the Cares Act and downgraded my rating based upon the reporting of delinquencies that are disallowed under the Cares Act.

I have contacted both groups and while they recognize the facts and the Law under the CARES Act, both refuse to correct this error. 

I am asking for enforcement of the CARES Act and that appropriate action be taken against XXXX XXXX XXXX , XXXX and Experian.