Consumer complaint received 2021-11-18
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.

Complaint:
COMPLAINT BASIS : I am having SEVERE issues with Collection Companies that have been attempting to collect on debt I am NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE to pay for myself. The debt may have even already been PAID by the ACTUAL Responsible Parties involved. 
MY NAME/ RECORDS should NOT be involved in this debt, regardless. 
The Collection Companies involved have been repeatedly notified via multiple Credit Reporting Disputes & other CFPB Complaints of this situation & REFUSE to correct it.

Even worse, now, on at least one of my Credit Reports they have actually RETALIATED against me for filing a Fraud Dispute with Credit Reporters & the CFPB against them, by literally DUPLICATING the SAME Collection Account, originally posted under a DIFFERENT Collection Company name ( which they themselves may even own ), IMMEDIATELY AFTER it was CLOSED under the original Collection Company Name pursuant to a CFPB Complaint, by using literally the SAME Account Number, Amounts, Original Creditor, etc. but strategically & intentionally ALTERING just the filing date numerals to DEFEAT the Credit Reporting Companys computers from identifying the clearly intentional duplication. The Credit Reporting Company involved even identified this.

This Account is one of these RETALIATORY DUPLICATIONS.

These Companies clearly believe they can VIOLATE US Federal and/or State Regulations at will, & also attempt to RETALIATE AGAINST/ INTIMIDATE CONSUMERS who try to get these Collection Companies to comply with US Federal Statutes .

Therefore, I am filing a Federal Complaint against the Companies involved, to make the US Federal CFPB & Other Federal Agencies, such as the US Department of Justice, aware of these Collection Companies improper, unlawful, threatening tactics, in order for ALL appropriate Federal Corrective Actions to be ENFORCED against them, so ALL Consumers are protected from these Collection Companies.

I reserve ALL my Rights to also file Legal Action/s with the State Attorney Generals Office & personal Civil Law Actions ( ie. Lawsuits ) as well.

BACKGROUND : I suffered a severe XXXX with permanently disabling injuries ( including an XXXX  ) THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN at a Restaurant due to a defective stairstep, No Warning Signs, & Lights being turned off.

The Restaurant involved & their Liability Insurance Company are LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE for paying ALL my Medical Bills from the Incident as part of the Settlement to Avoid Lawsuit against them.

All the Bills were Submitted to these proper Responsible Parties by my Attorney, including the Bill/s in question. Bills were clearly paid by the Insurer as a result. Why this Bill was not credited paid is due to ERRORS at the Original Creditor involved, who sold the Account. NOT me. 
DOCUMENTATION : I have attached copy of a Letter from my Attorneys Office ( XXXX XXXX XXXX, Attorney XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, NC XXXX ) attesting to & fully detailing the foregoing. The Attorney can verify the accuracy & truth.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation