Consumer complaint received 2024-11-26 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: NJ

Complaint narrative:
XXXX Payment System : Misrepresentation and Lack of Oversight, Constructive Fraud or Coercion, Contribution to Malpractice : GreenSkys deceptive practices are central to the harm I have endured, particularly its flawed shopping pass system. This system enables service providers to have unrestricted access to funds without borrower oversight, resulting in significant consumer harm. 
XXXX. Misrepresentation of Payment Activation : XXXX pressured me to confirm that services were complete on XX/XX/XXXX, the date of my initial consultation where no substantial services were rendered. This misrepresentation allowed them to bypass ethical and financial safeguards meant to ensure that payments align with service completion.

2. Lack of Borrower Control : The Shopping Pass financing method does not provide borrowers with direct access to funds, effectively removing consumer oversight. Providers can access full payment prematurely without accountability, as occurred in my case.

3. Contribution to Provider Malpractice : By allowing the provider to receive full payment before rendering services, XXXX enabled unethical behavior. The provider exploited XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX clause to falsely bill for high-priced veneers before completing essential preparatory steps, such as teeth molding and Necessary oral X-rays combined with mandatory compressions of existing teeth structure. This malpractice caused irreversible harm, a situation XXXX system should have prevented through basic oversight. 
XXXX. Violations of XXXX Own Terms GreenSkys agreement states : We XXXX close your purchase window earlier if we determine that your treatment/service is substantially complete. 
However, XXXX closed my purchase window on XX/XX/XXXX, the day of my consultation. Chargeable Services were not completed until XXXX months later, this is all according to the XXXX XXXX provided to XXXX from the Provider  XXXX XXXX failed to ensure compliance with its terms, facilitating the providers malpractice. 
XXXX terms stated : That I could allocate funds incrementally based on service completion. By allowing the provider to withdraw the full amount on the first visit, XXXX violated its own terms and denied me the ability to manage the funds responsibly. 

XXXX Historical Consumer Violations In addition to XXXX XXXX 's XXXX {$2.00} XXXX settlement with the CFPB and the XXXX {$9.00} XXXX FTC settlement for unauthorized loans, XXXX faced another settlement in XXXX. Specifically, XXXX paid {$11.00} XXXX to resolve issues related to its loan practices. Over several years, these payments were part of broader enforcement actions against the company for failing to obtain proper loan authorizations, misleading consumers, and lack of oversight blatantly violating consumer protection laws. 

These cases highlight a systemic issue with XXXX practices, leaving consumers vulnerable to harm.

Negligence by Credit Reporting Agencies Credit bureaus further compounded this issue through negligence : Despite my disputes, with the credit reporting agencies, they accepted GreenSkys claims without meaningful verification, they stated via notifications to me after my initial CFPB complaint : The account was verified by XXXX because XXXX said it was accurate. 

This business as usual approach disregards the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), which requires bureaus to maintain reasonable procedures for ensuring reporting accuracy. 
Failure of XXXX to Update Ownership Information with Credit bureaus, XXXX was sold in XX/XX/XXXX to XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX. Under FCRA Section 1681i, new owners must update account information with credit bureaus. However, my credit report still lists GreenSky as the account owner, in violation of FCRA Sections 1681s-2 ( a ) and 1681e ( b ).

Relevant Legal Violations 1. FCRA Section 1681s-2 ( a ) : Obligation to report accurate information.

2. FCRA Section 1681i : Duty to promptly investigate disputes.

3. FCRA Section 1681e ( b ) : Duty to ensure accurate reporting.

4. Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) : Failure to enforce ethical payment procedures. 
XXXX does not possess a signed agreementneither a wet signature nor an authenticated electronic signaturefrom me accepting any financing according to my records and documents in the XXXX portal that will not show my signature. 
Additionally, I did not consent or authorize the premature disbursement of funds to Dentist provider for services that were neither started nor completed. The link I received to confirm services appears to have been used improperly to process payment, further violating my rights as the borrower. 
Without a valid, signed agreement, XXXX has no legal basis to hold me liable for this debt. 


The email stated that I had the option to Accept or Reject the withdrawal or click a link to confirm completion of services. However, the only actionable option was to click the link for completion of services, which effectively forced me to prematurely authorize the full withdrawal without proper consent. And thrust me into immediate debt for services not rendered. Once XXXX was in receipt of the patient ledger, given to them by the provider, they intentionally ignored the unethical behavior that led to Malpractice with their client that paid me under a Mutual Agreement. However, if proper oversight was in place to identify red flags of the providers financial abuse, which left me in harm 's way. The irreversible circumstances wouldnt be the same nor the amount owed would be a factor if responsible incremental payments were released. For this, my consumer protection rights were disregarded.

Authorization by the Borrower : The provider must obtain my explicit approval to withdraw funds. This typically involves : My signature on an agreement or payment authorization form.

Documentation or verification that services have been rendered as agreed.

2. Itemized Invoice or Service Confirmation : The provider should present a detailed breakdown of services completed and their costs before withdrawing funds.

If the agreement allows incremental disbursements, the provider should only request payment for services already provided.

3. Compliance with Loan Terms : Providers must follow the terms of the loan agreement, which may require : Payment only for completed services.

Verification through a third-party platform or financial institution.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation