vivekkopthsd/cfpb-consumer-complaints huggingface dataset:
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was already discharged in bankruptcy and is no longer owed
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: TN

Complaint narrative:
claims such as '' we can not deny you based upon : ... ... .... ... XXXX or excersing you rights as a credit consumer '' ... ( forced to say these days, however ... ) yet doesnt abide by this. 

I excersise my right and they refuse to honor to correct my accounts or my files, cotinuously reselling my debt and refusing to service the account. in the past we were not obligated to reply to XXXX parties. refuses to service sold accounts. THEN refuses credit because of " past actions and money owed to us '' ... when applying. 

not only is this extortion- I want the ability to open a credit line because others have XXXX me. MY atty said NOT TO PAY. you cant penalize me for that when upright was on retainer. quite frankly ( XXXX doing this too ) you cant stop me. XXXX was attempted, therefore the debt is invalid in full for both accounts. must be purged and we can try again. failure to comply will result in immeadiate lawsuit. I have another atty Im willing to hire- claims wiling to assist me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Due to the recent publicized Equifax Inc. hack of 145 million Americans extremely private data and me being impacted by this  leak, according to their own website, I am making this complaint. I literally have lost ALL of my private identity information to who knows where. My date of birth, social security number, banking info, address and all information stored by Equifax is now lost forever from any sort of privacy. I have put fraud alerts on my reports but this information will be forever able to be used by identity thieves.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
My information was exposed in the recent hack of Equifax 's data. I have received no specific information from Equifax on what data was exposed, and have only been offered credit monitoring at the potential cost of releasing them from any liability for their compromising of my information.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive enough information to verify debt
Company: Associated Collectors, Inc.
State: WI

Complaint narrative:
This debt collector put negitive information on my credit report without my knowledge. I asked them to send information that gives them the right to collect and the contract and the original amount between them and the original bill company. They refuse to show me that. For all i know they could habe bought the debt for XXXX dollars and tring to charge me full price of XXXX. Nothing I have shows a contact that they have the right to this debt. After all this they keep messing with the balance and rising it. There only verification was a copy of the medical information that was from the hospital. Its my understanding they are breaking Hippa laws. I did not give them the permission to view these medical records and what happened in the hospital.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IN

Complaint narrative:
I recently learned about the Equifax breach. I am very upset that I did NOT learn about this through Equifax, but rather a few days later through the news. Equifax has not, at the time of this writing, contacted me or my wife. 

Furthermore, Equifax did not make it easy to see if the sensitive personal information of myself or my wife were exposed. While Equifax does have a website ( https : //www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/ ) for this breach, following the instructions there failed to confirm or deny our inclusion in the breach. Instead of appeared to be enrolling me in a program without my consent. It took considerably more time and effort to confirm that our information was exposed. 

When I attempted to use the confirm/deny tool release by Equifax website ( https : //trustedidpremier.com/eligibility/eligibility.html ), I was concerned that the website was actually a scam because it redirected to 'trustedidpremier ' and I had no idea what that company was. Nothing on the preceding page indicated a 3rd party company would be involved. This is not good. 

Once it was confirmed my ( and my wife 's ) information was exposed, credit monitoring was not immediately available. This is a time-sensitive matter. 

The Equifax website failed to note that a free fraud alert could be placed immediately, which would have been useful for those affected to know. 

Equifax is offering free credit monitoring, but they are doing so via a company owned by Equifax. This is not acceptable. 

The terms and conditions of the credit monitoring are overly restrictive. It is my understanding that the New York Attorney General is investigating if these T & C are even valid.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
Equifax was hacked and I believe someone stole my information. Have n't looked on their website because if I do I waive my right to sue them.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: Stellar Recovery, Inc.
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
STELLAR RECOVERY INC ; has not posted a debt for XXXX $ as a new collection item to my credit report three times on : XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I called to inquire why they are submitting as new collection items each time having to figure out what the XXXX $ was on my own as I did not receive any form of communication from Stellar Recovery in any shape of written, phone or electronic. They were exceedingly verbally abusive and was transferred to an auto voice giving me an email to write to them about my " concern. '' I called a second time and finally talked to someone who only said they will look into this but it is their policy to report at least once a week, in essence resetting the collection date to re-age the account and force the person to pay to avoid more credit damages.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I was another victim in the large scale Equifax hack. Like many others, it was suggested that I check the status of my personal information on their website, and after doing so, I was told that I should return at a later date, and was directed to a page with ads for their credit protection services, which given the situation, is entirely improper. 

Moreover, with the number of times that I 've moved in the last few years ( I just finished XXXX XXXX, and even moved in the middle of that for an XXXX ), I 'm having trouble checking my credit report through XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Checking or savings account — Other banking product or service
Issue: Managing an account — Problem making or receiving payments
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
For over 7 days I 've been trying to access my accounts via the Internet and XXXX XXXX. All I 'm getting is the server is unavailable. Last Friday, XXXX XXXX, 2017 I went to the branch near me and spoke to a Customer Service Rep. She informed that the outside server is down but I can check on my accounts at any branch. 

Not having access to my funds are unacceptable. 

Please help

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
The company allowed my most personal and valuable information to be compromised, putting my financial security at risk. The company 's response has been grossly underwhelming and inadequate. I have already received notice from my bank that my credit card information was compromised and have had to order new cards. This is only the first incident that I 'm aware and more could come. They need to be held accountable and do so much more than just offering CREDIT MONITORING. This response is despicable.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Other personal consumer report
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
The Equifax security breach made public XXXX XXXX, 2017 is my concern. Contacting them on-line to find out if my information was 'hacked ' requires my social security number. Why would I share that!??? Put my number out for the world when I am unable to find out if my info has already been shared. Sounds like another open window for hackers.
I have been unable to contact Equifax thru phone. My battery died after 'hold ' for 23 minutes.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my personal information including Name, Social Security #, Address, Birthdate, etc. resulting in a data breach in XXXX XXXX. 
They have put myself and millions of others at risk of identity theft/fraud due to negligent security protocols in handling consumer information. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation and the injured parties THEY are responsible for by signing them up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services. 
They are simultaneously defrauding these injured parties with hidden terms of service that waive their right to sue the company in what is clearly a situation of criminal negligence/fraudulent behavior as indicated by the three Equifax executives that dumped stock immediately prior to the data breach announcement. 
I demand that they rectify this by making credit freezing free and refunding everyone who paid for it following this data breach. The negligent loss of personal information of nearly 200 million consumers is an unconscionable breach of ethical behavior by this company and it is further unreasonable that they are not directly notifying every single person affected by this regardless of their questionable " judgment '' of who to contact.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was result of identity theft
Company: Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
I 've been disputing this debt for a while now, these two debts do not belong to me. After failing to prove validity, these two accounts still remain on my report. These collection accounts were opened in XXXX but the original creditor states the accounts were established in XXXX. Now at the i was only about XXXX years old. So i find it highly ridiculous to keep these two accounts on my report. I was a victim of identity theft before i was of legal age. My information was forged, hence why i have verified my info with XXXX On my report from them there was inaccurate info such as my date of birth and legal name. My report contained several pieces of false identifying information. XXXX has removed those items, including these two accounts. So i dont know why portfolio recovery is still listed on my XXXX and XXXX. The creditor claims these accounts are not fraudulent, which is why the bureau 's are making it hard to remove this frivolous mess. I want proof of validity sent to me immediately. The debt collector and the original creditors response will be shared with my attorney.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: RFNA, LP
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
I currently have an installment loan with Republic Finance. On XXXX XXXX a payment was submitted to them in the amount of {$150.00} and on XXXX XXXX the payment was applied to my account. On XXXX XXXX, XXXX I received a credit notification from XXXX and XXXX which stated that my payment was 30 days past due. I reviewed the payment receipt that was mailed to me from Republic Finance which stated that my payment was received. When I contacted them they informed that the payment system updates on the last day of the month which was XXXX XXXX, XXXX. They informed me that the payment did come in on XXXX XXXX but was not applied to the account until the next day. I then asked them why I was reported as 30 days past due when at the time the payment was submitted I was only 22 days past due. Again they told me that the system updates accounts electronically and that they have no control over it when it updates accounts and submits reports to the credit bureau. I informed them that this has happened in the past and I had to file similar complaints in regards to this type of credit reporting. They reviewed my account and then stated that they were not allowed to talk to me about it. They informed me to file a credit dispute, but made sure to tell me that the credit report wont be changed. I currently have a balance of {$400.00} which I want to pay but I feel that if I submit this payment I am worried that t will not be credited to my account correctly which may cause my account to remain delinquent. Republic Finance has a history of not report account information correctly.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
I found out that my information was hacked after reading about it in the XXXX XXXX XXXX. Equifax made no effort to notify me and I still have n't been contacted directly. I 've tried to find out via Equifax 's website the extent of the hack, but could not find out any useful information. 

I 've put fraud alerts on my credit with each agency, and will continue to renew.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with fraud alerts or security freezes — 
Company: TRANSUNION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
I recently placed a security freeze on my credit. 

I signed up with TransUnion and was charged {$5.00}. 

The very next morning, I received a wholly misleading email from TransUnion that clearly made it look like I had signed up for monthly credit monitoring. ( An image is attached ) In big type, it said : TransUnion Credit Monitoring. Thank you for signing up! Yes, show me my credit ( This last part was on a large orange button ) Only below, in very small type does it make clear this is an offer to sign up for monthly, billed credit monitoring. 

I am a savvy consumer, and the presentation/wording of the email was so misleading, I actually wondered if I had accidentally signed up. I 'm certain others are fooled. 

TransUnion needs to stop this shady and misleading advertising. ( The fact that they are marketing this at people who froze their credit -- likely because they are the victims of some kind of credit fraud already -- is unconscionable. Please make them stop. 
I also do not believe that I opted in to receive marketing emails.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Payday loan debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: Monterey Financial Services LLC
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I never had an agreement or contract with this company Monterey Collections XXXX but started receiving calls from them stating I owe them money for a closed and old debt from a company that was taken out in XXXX that never contacted me since I can remember. I started receiving the calls in XXXX and my credit report was hit in XXXX. They 've since then been adding {$1.00} a month to knock my credit score down tremendously. It 's frustrating because I 've since worked in my credit and cleaned it up since I 've retired due to the financial struggles I experienced while on XXXX XXXX not by choice. How can a company I have no agreement, contract or any dealings with do this? Being threatened over the phone to sue me and attack my score until I pay them in full has really affected me mentally and physically. They 've kept there word with the " affecting my score threat! '' It 's also odd they have my old address but I was never contacted by the original company. I 've even gone through a debt consolidation company that included this past debt called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I 've had enough medical and life issues I 'm dealing with daily and these people are n't helping me or my situation by harassing me or others. Please help.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
Equifax was subjected to a cyber hack, and while this was not their fault, they waited over 90 days to report the breach to the consumers and all that were affected. During this time period, it 's unknown how many people were affected and credits destroyed by possible identity theft.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with fraud alerts or security freezes — 
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
Experian does not allow consumers to quickly freeze their credit online or by phone. It has insufficient and unsatisfactory means to contact them for problems with placing credit freezes. 

Their website includes misleading and incorrect information and there is no way for a consumer to actually contact them about security freezes. 

On XX/XX/XXXX 2017 -- after I found a fraudulent charge on one of my credit cards AND found out I was part of the Experian data breach -- I attempted to freeze my credit at all three main credit bureaus. 

The Experian website did NOT allow me to place a freeze, instead directing me to MAIL all the needed information -- including sensitive information like my complete Social Security Number and other identifying information -- to an address. 

( Specifically, I entered all my information correctly online -- as I had at the other two credit bureau sites -- and Experian would not allow a credit freeze to be placed. It simply said they were " unable '' to do it ... no explanation about why ) Because I had just been the victim of fraudulent charges, I did not want to proceed by mailing all of my sensitive credit information by the postal service. 

The website said however, that security freezes could be placed by phone. This web page clearly states they can be placed by phone : https : //www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-add-a-security-freeze-to-your-credit-file/ However, when you call the stated number, you can not. ( It 's not that there was a problem specifically with ME doing it ... if you go through the lengthy phone tree, as soon as you select that you want to place a security freeze by phone, the message says you ca n't )

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am a victim of the recent Wells Fargo Fake account scandal. I have tried working with Wells Fargo to fix the issue and have had no success. They have no proof that the account belongs to me. 

I am now requesting that XXXX remove entries from Wells Fargo because Wells Fargo is unable to Prove any accounts ever owned by me related to my XXXX report. 

I am now requesting that XXXX remove Wells Fargo from my XXXX report. I have never been a customer of Wells Fargo. 

PLEASE COMMUNICATE BY MAIL ONLY IF YOU ARE READING THIS COMPLAINT XXXX And Wells Fargo Bank. Do not call please.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief