Consumer complaint received 2025-04-10 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.

Complaint narrative:
I have made several attempts to have Equifax remove a false {$500.00} debt posted to my credit report. XXXX XXXX posted a false {$500.00} debt while under dispute. XXXX XXXX knew, or ought to have known as per their own policies and the Air Passenger Protection Regulations ( APPR ) that I was owed compensation, not a debt collection notice. Despite, providing fulsome documentation supporting my case, XXXX XXXX sent my file to collections ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) who, in turn, posted the debt to Equifax. 

I filed a complaint with the XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) who ordered XXXX XXXX to pay me compensation for services not received and for inconvenience. Both Equifax and XXXX XXXX have been advised of the XXXX decision in my favour. Yet, the false debt remains on my credit score. 

XXXX XXXX, now claims I have been over compensated and therefore, insists that the unlawful debt posted is now retroactively validated and is continuing to post the debt to coerce payment - holding my credit health ransom - unlawfully- without legal basis. 

This is a serious broader issue of a company using false debt reporting as a means to obtain money not lawfully owing for financial gain. Consumers are at risk. 

Scenario : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX actions, along with the involvement of XXXX XXXX XXXX and Equifax, constitute a clear case of unlawful conduct, financial harassment, and egregious behaviour. The false {$500.00} debt they continue to post, despite clear evidence and legal admission, is a direct result of XXXX XXXX failure to deliver on services paid for and their subsequent attempt to collect funds that were not lawfully owed. This situation is made even more troubling by the series of factual misrepresentations made by XXXX XXXX representatives during our communications, which were designed to obscure the truth and confuse the matter at hand. 

At the core of this issue is the fact that XXXX XXXX knew, or ought to have known, that the debt in question was not owed to them. The original transaction involved my purchase of XXXX lie-flat seats, a premium Signature service from XXXX to XXXX. However, XXXX XXXX failed to provide these services, leaving me with a product that was not as advertised and not as promised.As a result, I was entitled to compensation, not a debt collection notice as upheld in a XXXX Decision XXXX, which was provided to Equifax for their private review. The fact that XXXX XXXX posted a {$500.00} debt in this context is not just an error ; it is an unlawful attempt to coerce payment for services that were never rendered. The action taken by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and Equifax constitutes financial harassment, as it sought to force me into paying for something I did not receive and that was never owed in the first place. 

In addition to this wrongful posting of the debt, the communications I had with XXXX XXXX revealed a pattern of deliberate misrepresentation. On multiple occasions, XXXX XXXX representatives made false statements regarding the availability of lie-flat seating on domestic routes. They also falsely claimed that business class and Signature lie-flat seating were the same thing, when in fact they are distinct and provide vastly different seating. Furthermore, they misleadingly told me that my eligibility for a refund was forfeited due to my original booking being in XXXX class, which was completely inaccurate and misleading. 

These misrepresentations were not mere mistakesthey were intentional efforts to confuse the issue and avoid the companys responsibility to provide the compensation I was owed. It was clear that XXXX XXXX was attempting to deflect blame and mislead me about my rights in order to avoid paying compensation rightfully owed. They also withheld information that prevented me from initially filing for compensation for denial of boarding ( {$900.00} per person ). This pattern of behaviour was not only unprofessional but unlawful, as it involved misleading a customer into believing they had no recourse for the failure to deliver services paid for. 

Adding to the gravity of the situation, XXXX XXXX legal counsel admitted, during a recorded phone call, that I should have been compensated from the outset. This admission is a critical piece of evidence that underscores the wrongful nature of the debt. If XXXX XXXX own legal team acknowledges that I was entitled to compensation, then it is clear that the posted debt was false. This admission further emphasizes the egregious conduct by all parties involved. 

Despite this clear legal acknowledgment, the false debt remains on my credit report, a harmful consequence that continues to negatively impact my financial reputation. Both XXXX XXXX XXXX and Equifax are complicit in continuing to report this erroneous debt. Equifax, as a credit reporting agency, is responsible for ensuring that the information they report is accurate and up to date. Their failure to remove this false debt, despite the legal ruling and clear evidence, constitutes a violation of my rights and is a blatant disregard for their obligations under consumer protection laws. Furthermore, XXXX XXXX XXXX, as a collection agency, continues to pursue payment on a debt that has no legal basis, using coercive tactics to pressure me into paying for something I did not owe from the beginning. 

This conductspanning from XXXX XXXX wrongful posting of the debt, to their misrepresentations, to the continuing harassment by XXXX XXXX XXXX and Equifax amounts to nothing less than financial harassment. It is an attempt to force payment through manipulation and deceit, without any legal justification. The persistence of this false debt is not just a minor error ; it is a concerted effort by all involved parties to maintain an unjustified claim. This is not just a case of corporate negligence ; it is a deliberate act of financial harm that has caused significant distress and damage to my credit rating. 

The situation at hand is clear : the false debt must be removed immediately. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and Equifax have all been made aware of the inaccuracy of the debt, yet they continue to allow this erroneous information to remain. Their actions are unlawful, egregious, and contrary to both legal and ethical standards. It is imperative that these companies cease their unlawful conduct, remove the false debt from my record, and take responsibility for the harm they have caused. The debt should be erased forthwith, and I should be compensated for the distress, confusion, and financial damage caused by this situation. 

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of corporate accountability. When companies like XXXX XXXX fail to deliver services paid for, when they make false statements to mislead customers, and when they continue to post inaccurate debts despite clear evidence to the contrary, they must be held accountable. Financial harassment, especially in this context, is unacceptable and must be stopped. The false debt must be removed, and these companies " must take corrective action to ensure that this never happens again ''. 

I have filed a complaint with the XXXX and have been frustrated by the XXXX XXXX actions. The XXXX  wrote that, because XXXX XXXX does not respond to complaints, they closed the file without investigating my complaint. In addition, the XXXX  accepted vague non answers from Equifax as " in good faith answers '' which brings into question the integrity of the XXXX. Adding to my frustration, the XXXX  removed my review of Equifax - again, bringing into question the objectivity and ability of the XXXX  to function as a " true watchdog ' for consumer protection. 

The companies in question are all aware of the XXXX decision.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation