Consumer complaint received 2015-06-03
Product: Credit reporting — 
Issue: Incorrect information on credit report — Account terms
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (NJ)

This Complaint is regarding the falsified filings to CRA, by debt collection agencies, and specifically - XXXX XXXX. I had a credit card that was opened with XXXX XXXX XXXX, and subsequently went to default, and was purchased by XXXX ( XXXX XXXX ). 
XXXX XXXX and I, went to court to resolve the actual amount due - I won the dispute, with a final balance being due as XXXX. The initial debt they stated was XXXX, plus interest. XXXX reported this debt to all XXXX CRA 's starting in XXXX. 
Because this impacted my Credit Score in such a harmful manner, I did not attempt to apply for any credit until XXXX, when I felt the impact had subsided enough. When I would get a rejection notice, for credit cards, auto refinance etc - I assumed that the statement " Major Delinquency on your report '' meant the fact that I had a then XXXX year old, paid collection on my report. 
I ordered copies of my credit report over the past few months, and in all XXXX CRA 's, there was a Payment history - for a collection account. Because I know that this is impossible, I sent disputes repeatedly to all CRA 's, asking that they verify my accounts with XXXX and then XXXX. The last verification actually wiped out the history - and instead inserted a " C '' ( XXXX XXXX ) in XXXX of XXXX. 
That prompted me to really look at what this account was doing - The account is an account with a Debt Collector, not a credit grantor yet -- - XXXX inserted this record into my Credit Reports as if they were a credit grantor. This has been on my file for 4 years now, with falsified dates and account data. 
1. The Debt Collection Account is listed as an OTHER Account on Equifaxa. Is not visible under the collection accountsb. Shows in the negative section - because of the Collection Pay Statusc. Has NO date closed Dated. Is Reporting as a Credit Account - not a collection accounte. Reports itself as an OPEN TYPE Line of Credit ( purposed for XXXX - Utilities, etc ) of which this account is notf. Uses the Date Opened date of their debt purchase, to make this account appear more currentg. Uses the XXXX Delinquency Date, to store the debt purchase Date, to make this account appear more currenth. Uses Creditor Classification - of Retailer, even though they are a debt collector AND my account with XXXX was NOT retail. 
i. Because of the way this is reporting, it appears as though I have : i. An Open : Non Revolving, Retail Credit Line with XXXXii. That has been in Collections since XX/XX/XXXXiii. I did not Pay in Full, when court documents in fact say I didiv. All while they can not legally extend any form of credit, or - Report themselves as doing so. 
v. This XXXX Account, is causing me to be rejected for credit, and numerous other problems including being forced to pay higher fees, and rates when dealing with credit grantors. 
vi. I have NO Other Collection AccountsI honestly believe the CRA 's are aware of Debt Collection Agencies masquerading as Credit Grantors, as the files that are submitted to them, do little to verify or weed out such activity. Collection.Org, a software application used by many collectors - allows DCA 's to simply select a check box- and self identify as a Credit Grantor, thus allowing these DCA 's to insert data to massage collectoiion account into becoming retail accounts and in the attempt to have the most impact possible on a consumers score. 
This agency should not only look at my complaint - but the files of consumers who bring you complains about debt collectors, as I believe that this is not only common practice - but, accepted by the CRA 's as it has never been expected that anyone would actually know. 
I would like this issues escalated, resolved as it violates every fiber of the FCRA.