Consumer complaint received 2025-02-14 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: TN

Complaint narrative:
My name is XXXX XXXX XXXX, I seek your assistance with an interstate child support case that continues to appear on my credit report. 
I contacted the Department of Human Services and all three credit reporting agencies. 
The credit agencies have stated they have verified the information. 
My question is : how did they verify the information? What documents and laws were reviewed during this verification process? Specifically, did they examine birth certificates, the original judgment order, or other relevant legal documents? 
Given the complexities of interstate child support cases, understanding the verification process is crucial to ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal and state laws. 
Department of Human Services only referenced Tennessee Code 36-5-106 ( a ) The Department of Human Services or any of its Title IV-D child support contractors shall report periodically to consumer reporting agencies, as defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( f ) ), the name of any noncustodial parent, of which the department or its Title IV-D contractors has a record, who is either current in payments of support or who is delinquent in the payment of support and the amount of the current obligation or arrears owed by such parent. Such information shall only be furnished to an entity that provides evidence to the Department of Human Services that it meets the requirements to be defined as a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

However, if we look further at this same law outlined in Tennessee Code 36-5-106 ( b ), delinquency is defined as unpaid support ordered for a minor child or a spouse/former spouse with whom the child resides. Since this case does not and has never involved any minor children, I believe that false and inaccurate reporting has been provided and continues still to date.

When the state of Tennessee took on this specific case, everyone involved was above the age of majority under the XXXX XXXX Family Support Act ( XXXX  ) and the XXXX XXXX Provisions. According to the XXXX XXXX, before a country can ratify the treaty, it must provide evidence that its laws and procedures meet the treaty requirements, including parentage establishment and the recognition and enforcement of support orders for children up to age XXXX. 
No minor children were involved. 
Additionally, under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, child support enforcement is intended to assist custodial parents in collecting support for minor children. Since no minor children were involved, continued reporting appears to conflict with federal and state guidelines.

Furthermore, 42 U.S. Code 654 ( 4 ) ( B ) ( i ) - ( ii ) - State Plan for Child and Spousal Support, which requires state agencies to have procedures for the timely provision of services to individuals in interstate cases. Another law was disregarded in my specific case.

Under 15 U.S. Code 1681b ( 4 ) - Permissible Purposes of Consumer Reports, In response to a request by the head of a State or local child support enforcement agency ( or a State or local government official authorized by the head of such an agency ), if the person making the request certifies to the consumer reporting agency that how was information certified?

Since this case has been fully paid and no minor children were involved, the continued reporting on my credit report is no longer permissible under federal and state law. 
I requested the order/judgment from XXXX  XXXX for my records and have yet to receive this information, which has hindered my ability to provide complete documentation of the closure and payment of this case. 
I kindly request a full investigation and that appropriate actions be taken by deleting this information from my consumer profile from all three agencies. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns. 
I look forward to your guidance on the next steps. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief