Consumer complaint received 2018-06-20 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 — Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company: TRANSUNION INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
To the staff at CFPB ; Please help me! On XX/XX/2018 I went on TransUnion 's website to get my credit report. I had a bit of trouble verifying who I was and, as I would discover, this was because I couldn't access my report until I used my previous married name. 

When I did get my report open, I saw that the name on my credit report was incorrect. TransUnion was still listing me by my married name. As I have been divorced more than two years, ( and had immediately reverted to my maiden name ) this was more than a little concerning to me. I attempted to fix this error via their website, and got nowhere. The site simply does not allow it.

I eventually found their customer service number and called. I explained my issue to the first agent and was informed that they WOULD NOT remove my old name and replace my, as they call it, " Primary Name '' with my actual LEGAL NAME, unless my " CREDITORS called in and reported the change ''. What? I told him no, that was not acceptable as I have ZERO control over what my creditors do or do not report to TransUnion. I have no power to make them report anything. He said he was sorry, but that the only other thing he could do for me was list my legal name as an " also know by '' name, but that my primary report name would remain under my married name. 

This can't be legal, can it? I told him I was pretty sure that couldn't be legal and asked to speak to his supervisor. He told me that he would transfer me if I wanted but that his supervisor would tell me the same. I told him to do it anyway. 

When the supervisor took the call I repeated what my issue was and was told again, there was nothing TransUnion could do about it. He further added that I could send documents ( he never specified what type ) to prove what I was saying, but that regardless of whether I did so or not, the name would NOT be changed unless my creditors told them to change it. They were more than willing to update my address, they didn't need my creditors say so for that apparently ... but not my name. 

I told this man that I am divorced, and that legally I have a right not to be held up to further abuse ( even financial ) should my ex at some point decide to use me as a co-applicant or who knows what ... I mean, what if I end up an accessory to fraud because my ex lies about our status/income/etc? I said that can't be right, TransUnion should make my primary name my LEGAL name. The same name, I might add, that is listed on my social security card and drivers license, which brings me to another question ... How does a credit reporting agency like TransUnion ... how are they allowed to attach whatever name they like and MY social security number to a credit report if they are allowed to keep inaccurate records/information on said report? Can that be legal? Am I truly at the mercy of medical debt collectors ( debt which I dispute by the way ) in terms of establishing MY identity?

I think it borders on the criminal for TransUnion to apparently have and implement policies that leave me ( or anyone ) open to further abuse from anyone, in my case my ex husband, or leave someone open to potential allegations of fraud, and open to further damage to their credit report by denying a person any recourse in simply being able to use their legal name in legal matters concerning them -- like a credit report.

Can your agency help me resolve this at all? It's sounds like such a small thing I know, but since my now ex husband walked out on me and our special needs children ( one of which is medically fragile ) leaving us with zero support of any kind, I simply can not afford to seek an attorney to handle this at this time. 


I would appreciate any help you might be able to give me in this matter, Thank you

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