Consumer complaint received 2023-12-29
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (NC)

In XXXX XXXX XXXX, I mailed a letter to XXXX ( Credit Bureau Management ) requesting their assistance in removing 5 closed student loan accounts from my credit reports. In the letter to XXXX ( dated XX/XX/XXXX ), I indicated that I was a former customer of XXXX, that I previously had 5 XXXX loans serviced by XXXX, and that the loans had been paid in full and closed. I further informed XXXX of my attempts at asking the credit bureaus to remove the closed accounts from my account history, given that the late payment history in the closed accounts were inhibiting my ability to qualify for other forms of credit. To date, XXXX is the only bureau to honor my request and to remove the closed accounts from my credit report. Unfortunately, Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX will not remove the accounts UNLESS XXXX INSTRUCTS THEM DIRECTLY TO REMOVE THE CLOSED ACCOUNTS. The basis of my request was that the closed accounts were old ( opened between XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and that none of the bureaus had record of the first delinquency dates to validate and justify removal. Only XXXX had that information on hand. Given that I have satisfied the accounts and that they are now closed, I have asked XXXX to tell Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX to delete the closed accounts from my account history. This will help increase my chances of qualifying for a home mortgage, auto loan, and lower auto insurance rates. XXXX Credit Bureau Management responded with a letter on XX/XX/XXXX completely missing the point to my letter and stating that I was disputing the accuracy of the information reported to the credit bureaus. I responded with a second letter ( dated XXXX XXXX XXXX  ) basically calling them out on misunderstanding my initial letter. I stated that the intent behind my letter was not to dispute the accuracy of the information reported to the credit bureaus. Rather, the intent behind my initial letter was to tell XXXX to instruct removal of the 5 CLOSED student loan tradelines from my Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX credit reports. The tradelines are OLD and CLOSED. THE BUREAUS ARE WILLING TO DELETE THE CLOSED ACCOUNTS, BUT CAN NOT DELETE UNTIL XXXX INSTRUCTS THEM TO. Based on my research, I know creditors often instruct credit bureaus to remove old tradelines, especially when requested. I asked XXXX again to contact Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX, and to tell them to remove the closed tradelines from my reports. The credit bureaus will remove the tradelines, but they can not remove the tradelines until XXXX tells them to do so. I have confirmed this with the credit bureaus. On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX replied with another letter again missing the point to my two previous letters. I did not ask them to investigate the accuracy of their reporting. All I wanted was for them to tell the bureaus to delete the XXXX closed accounts from my reports. The bureaus will not delete the accounts until XXXX tells them to do so, and XXXX ( for some odd reason ) will not budge. As a consumer, I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have done my part and have paid off the loans. The least they could do ( as a goodwill adjustment ) is help delete the delinquent accounts and payment history from my reports so that I can get on the road to financial freedom and security. I hate to take it to this level, but have no other options ( outside of securing a consumer protection attorney ).