Consumer complaint received 2025-01-22 00:00:00
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.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Dear XXXX, I am writing to formally dispute inaccurate and incomplete information reported on my credit file concerning an account listed under " XXXX XXXX. '' I reviewed my credit report dated [ Insert Date ] and identified the following issues with the account in question : Account Details in Dispute Account Name : XXXX XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Balance Reported : {$700.00} Status : Charged off as bad debt Status Updated : XX/XX/year> Discrepancies and Violations 1. Incorrect Balance Reporting The account reflects a current balance of {$700.00} and a past-due amount of {$700.00}, despite being " Charged off as bad debt. '' When an account is charged off, creditors generally write off the balance, resulting in {$0.00} owed under their reporting. 

Violation : This reporting may constitute a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ), which mandates that creditors report accurate information. If this account has been sold to a third party, the balance should no longer be reported by the original creditor. 
Action Requested : Verify the ownership of this debt and update the balance to {$0.00} if the creditor no longer owns it. 

2. Lack of Ownership Disclosure The " Company Sold '' field is left blank, providing no clarity on whether the account has been sold or transferred to another entity. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), consumers have the right to know the identity of the current owner of their debt under 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( a ) ( 2 ). 

Violation : Failure to disclose the ownership status of the account makes this report incomplete and unclear. 
Action Requested : Provide documentation confirming whether this debt has been sold. If it has, update the report to include the name and contact information of the new owner. 

3. Unexplained Balance Increase The account reflects an " Original Balance '' of {$300.00}, which has ballooned to {$700.00} without any explanation or breakdown of how this increase occurred. Such unexplained charges may result in inaccurate reporting under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ).

Violation : Reporting an increased balance without detailing accrued fees, penalties, or interest is misleading and potentially inaccurate. 
Action Requested : Provide a detailed breakdown of how the balance increased from {$300.00} to {$700.00}. If the increase is not substantiated, correct the balance to reflect accurate figures. 

4. Missing Payment History The " Payment History '' section states, " No payment history available to display. '' However, the account has been charged off, indicating non-payment over time. Reporting no payment history is incomplete and may mislead future creditors.

Violation : The omission of payment history violates 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to ensure maximum possible accuracy.

Action Requested : Include a full and accurate payment history for this account or clarify why no payment history is available despite the account being charged off. 

5. Inconsistent Timeline The " Status Updated '' field shows XX/XX/year>XXXX  as the last update, which seems inconsistent with the timeline of events for the charge-off. Discrepancies in reported dates undermine the accuracy of the report. 

Violation : Reporting inconsistent or incorrect dates violates 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ).

Action Requested : Verify all dates related to this account and ensure they accurately reflect the timeline of the account 's activity. 

6. Possible Duplication of Debt If this account has been sold or assigned to another entity, the original creditor should no longer report the account. Reporting the same debt under multiple entries is prohibited under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ). 

Violation : Duplicate reporting of debt may occur if this account is listed by both the original creditor and a debt buyer. 
Action Requested : Confirm whether this account is being reported elsewhere. If it has been sold, ensure the original creditors reporting is removed or updated. 

Request for Resolution In light of the discrepancies listed above, I request the following actions be taken within 30 days as required under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) : Investigate the inaccuracies and update my credit report to ensure all information regarding this account is accurate, complete, and consistent. 
Provide documentation validating the reported information. 
Remove this account from my credit report if you or the creditor can not provide sufficient evidence of its accuracy and completeness. 
Please send me the results of your investigation in writing to the address listed above. Should you need additional information from me to complete your investigation, do not hesitate to contact me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief