Consumer complaint received 2024-01-28 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: CO

Complaint narrative:
I had accounts with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I received notice that they were bought up by XXXX. I was told I had the option to opt-out of the transfer to XXXX. I had already closed my personal account and switched to a local Credit Union. I had a recent credit card that I was paying off, so I asked if it was possible to close my account and keep making my monthly payments as usual without being transferred to XXXX  ( if not, I was planning on paying off my card and ending things there ). I was told that I could close my account, not be transferred to XXXX, and continue making my monthly payments as usual with my current XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX app and log-in information. All of this occurred in early XXXX ( weeks before the transition ). When it came time for me to make my first monthly payment after the transition, my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX app didn't work. I was told that I needed to create a new account with XXXX. I explained to XXXX  that I was NOT supposed to be transferred to them and I would NOT be setting up an account with them. They implied that I was trying to dodge my debt even though I've been extremely consistent with my payments for many years. They did not seem to understand why I wouldn't be ok with being forced to open an account with a bank that I intentionally chose to opt-out of. They refused to work with me at all and stated multiple times that I was just misinformed. If that's the case, we need some serious customer service reform because I've been put through XXXX over this issue. I've had a case open with the OCC for about 4 months now and according to the website, it is still currently under review. However, XXXX has been reporting the last few months of " missed payments '' ( which I can't make without opening an account with them ) to the major credit bureaus and my credit score has plummeted by about 100pts at the same time that I'm currently staying in a hotel while looking for an apartment. They have cost me so much more than {$1500.00}. I spoke with XXXX and XXXX and was able to explain the situation. They launched investigations. I have yet to hear back from XXXX, but XXXX performed the same " investigation '' as Experian, meaning they allowed XXXX to investigate themselves and just reported the results of that " investigation. '' I now have a case against them with the CFPB. I'm refiling this complaint against Experian because I don't believe they actually investigated anything. Their response to my previous complaint expressed that I should call the number provided in my personal credit report for assistance ... my complaint included that when I tried to call that number to better understand the results of my dispute, it led me to a promotional offer for a {$100.00} dining card and did not connect me to anyone that could help. Experian SHOULD NOT be allowed to operate without any way of contacting them. Their phone number put me through an automated loop that refused to connect me to a person. I had to create an account with them online just to dispute XXXX 's delinquency notice. They provided me with less than 250 characters in order to explain the situation. Obviously, that's not enough space to explain everything, but I did my best to cram it in and submitted my dispute. My case with the OCC is still under review, but Experian has consistently ruled against me. Their decisions have never been expressed with clear or concise statements. It seems like they're saying the information I provided with my dispute was accurate but that it doesn't affect anything, and I'll have XXXX 's delinquency on my credit report until XXXX!!!! ... from a bank that I have zero affiliation with. Once again, I'm not actually sure if that's accurate or not as there was no clear language describing the result. Once again, there was a hyperlinked phone number to call attached to result, but when I called, it linked me to some sort of promotional offer, and they kept trying to get me into some {$100.00} dining card offer... I can't describe how revolting it is to go through all of this and then be provided with a scammy customer service number ... from one of the top 3 credit bureaus!!! No way to call them, no way to actually explain anything to them, forced to create an account with them, and then provided a scammy phone number to call ( directly through the account that I was forced to create with them ). How is Experian allowed to operate without any customer service??? How are they allowed to decide my financial future without providing any way to actually reach them and discuss the issue? Once again, I'm begging my government to not let the powerful wealthy corporation do literally whatever they want while the citizens of this country suffer under their " authority ''. I've worked disgustingly hard to survive this pandemic... if I'm going to have my life ruined over a {$1500.00} credit card by a bank that I intentionally opted-out of banking with and have no affiliation with, then there's no reason for me to participate in this system anymore. 

Additionally, you may as well see this complaint also since the issue is with Experian 's " investigation '' of XXXX reporting me for delinquencies. 

I've already filed a complaint with the CFPB against Experian for multiple reasons. Now, I have to file a complaint against XXXX as well. Filing against XXXX XXXX  specifically is next. I was under the impression that Credit Bureaus were impartial XXXX parties whose responsibilities included ensuring that accurate information is being provided on my credit report. After this experience, I realize that is not the case. I contacted XXXX multiple times ( just as I have with Experian ) and explained the issue to them. Currently, XXXX, a bank that I have no affiliation with is reporting me for delinquencies on a credit card that I had with my old bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. It is an account that I closed back in XXXX of XXXX  with the explicit intention of not having my account and information transferred to XXXX, the big bank that bought them. The very fact that I was transferred to them at all is blatantly against anything that I have personally agreed to and is extremely transgressive. I explained this to XXXX  initially, before I ever " missed a payment '' and they told me that I had been misinformed about being able to close my account, continue my monthly payments, and not be transferred to XXXX... but that is the information that was provided to me by my bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, back in XXXX of 2023, before they ever became XXXX. Before, my account was in good standing and I'd never missed a payment, after the transfer, I was required to create an account with XXXX  in order to make my monthly payments, I refused as I was not supposed to be transferred to them and they were unhelpful and insulting when I tried to speak with them about the issue. My credit score plummeted by over XXXX points shortly after I " missed '' my first payment with XXXX. They have reported me as being delinquent for the last 3 months even though they know that I've had an open case against them with the O.C.C since XXXX ... before I ever " missed a payment ''. Their behavior is vindictive. I've been waiting as patiently as possible to receive the results of my case with the O.C.C. but my financial livelihood has been completely destroyed in the process. Something definitely needs to change about the way we process people 's credit. My current credit score is in NO WAY an indicator of my hard work and credit worthiness... it is an example of the blind power we provide to the Financial Institutions in this Country. The more I learn about the way we operate, the more ashamed I become. When I contacted XXXX after being completely let down by Experian, I thought I would have their support. I had to go to XXXX XXXX and pay to print off about 20 pages of documentation to mail to them at a time when my financial livelihood is being decimated. I've had to stay in a hotel for the cost of almost twice as much as an apartment because I was apartment hunting ( during a housing crisis ) when all of this happened. A sudden, unexpected, over 30 point drop in my credit score at the worst time possible has prevented me from being able to find a place to live and after months of waiting for support, it's dropped to almost 100pts. less. I can not afford to keep staying in a hotel while this bank that I have NO affiliation with destroys my credit, and the Credit Bureaus just sit back and not only allow them to do it, but also allow them to investigate themselves in my dispute... are we surprised that they found no wrongdoing with their actions??? XXXX, after telling me that my open case with the O.C.C. would be a part of the investigation, informed me that they don't actually conduct the investigation ( same with Experian ) and that all of the documentation I mailed to them was sent to XXXX  and they no longer have that info to send back to me after I requested everything they had pertaining to my dispute and their investigation of it. Ultimately, I was told that the only info they could send me is a generic explanation of how they are required to conduct their investigations, but that nothing they sent me would actually pertain to my dispute personally. I then received a letter from them letting me know that they received a request for information but that it was not properly authorized ... I was on the phone with them for at least an hour and went through all of the identity verification... but they can't send me the information that I clearly requested and are claiming that it's for my own protection... but the credit bureaus are CLEARLY the ones I need protection from as they are the ones actively and illegally destroying my livelihood at the request of XXXX. I need an impartial third party to actually examine the documentation that I've provided so that this can hopefully end soon ... despite being something that never should have even started in the first place. However, I'm starting to realize that the only person that could do that is most likely a lawyer because none of the organizations I was required to contact for help have actually done anything to help me and have merely wasted months of my life and livelihood. 

Additionally, I'm including my feedback to my previous case with the CFPB against Experian. You reported the account in question as being open, even though I have documentation that I've shared that clearly reveals that my account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX was CLOSED in XXXX XXXX, weeks before the transition to XXXX. They ILLEGALLY REOPENED my CLOSED account and then started making demands that I create an account with them and make my monthly payments or they would close my account ... .the account that I have documentation of having been closed since before XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ever became XXXX. 

Experian literally said to call the number they provided on my personal credit report for assistance... apparently, they just didn't read my complaint because it clearly states that when I called that number, it led to a promotional offer trying to get me to buy a {$100.00} dining card, not to anyone that could assist me. 
I can't imagine what is so difficult to understand about this issue. Firstly, you ( just like me ) will never be able to contact the " furnisher or vendor '' because XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( my bank ) doesn't exist anymore! You keep contacting XXXX  ... a bank ( debt collector ) that has illegally accessed my personal information and previous account that I had with my bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. They have illegally reopened my old credit card account and then started claiming that my account would be closed due to delinquencies in payments if I didn't set up an account with them and start making payments. Immediately after realizing that I was ILLEGALLY transferred to XXXX, I contacted them to work out the issue, they accused me of trying to dodge my debt even though anyone who looked at my credit report before this incident would see that I always pay my debts ... .WHY WOULD I SUDDENLY RISK DESTROYING MY CREDIT JUST TO DODGE A {$1500.00} CREDIT CARD THAT I HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MAKING PAYMENTS ON??? I then immediately opened a case with the O.C.C. ( before I ever " missed a payment '' ) and that case is STILL OPEN. You have been DESTROYING my life and livelihood with this vindictive attack on my credit. I have a CFPB case open against XXXX and XXXX now as well, after speaking with a CFPB rep. Why is it that when I speak with someone over the phone, you seem to understand the issue, but then when I receive the results of the case, it's like we never spoke at all and suddenly the issue is right back to being that I'm just not paying my debt, instead of that I've been ILLEGALLY transferred to XXXX  and that they are vindictively destroying my credit because I refuse to set up an account with them. I'm literally just trying to wait for the results of my case with the O.C.C. in order to move forward, but in the meantime, my credit has been DESTROYED... I've lost about 100 points on my credit score while trying to find an apartment in a HOUSING CRISIS! At this point, even if the O.C.C. decided against me, I would hire a lawyer because nothing about this experience has been in any way fair for the consumer. There absolutely needs to be an impartial third party with some basic morals that can look at the information provided and make a fair judgement. This entire experience has been " let 's all gang up on the consumer who asked for our help while the corrupt debt collector of a bank DESTROYS her credit. '' Literally anyone could take a look at my credit history and realize that this issue is no indicator of my creditworthiness. REMOVE THIS CORRUPT ACCOUNT FROM MY CREDIT REPORT NOW!!! If I have to get a lawyer, the issue would be with multiple companies ... XXXX  for creating the issue, and the rest of you for facilitating it instead of providing any accurate credit reporting or consumer protection. ONCE AGAIN, I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCOUNT WITH XXXX. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO MY PERSONAL INFORMATION AND CLEARLY NO RIGHT TO DESTROY MY CREDIT! REMOVE THIS ACCOUNT FROM MY CREDIT REPORT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Once again, Experian 's response to my CFPB complaint was convoluted and did not actually address the issue. The issue is that I was ILLEAGALLY transferred to XXXX  when they bought my old bank, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have no affiliation with XXXX and they have no right to my personal information. They have no right to destroy my credit in the first place! The issue isn't with me " not paying my debts. '' I don't need your advice on why I *shouldn't* hire a Credit Repair Company . The only thing I need from the Credit Bureaus are to have this account removed from my credit report since they are vindictively attacking my credit score over an illegal debt while I have an open case against them with the O.C.C... .once again, a case that has been open since before I ever " missed a payment/became delinquent. '' XXXX could have been understanding of the issue, we could have tried to work something out, but they have been combative with me for NO REASON! ... even if it were a misunderstanding or miscommunication, I've been trying to navigate the proper channels to resolve the issue, but while I'm doing that, my credit is being destroyed! REMOVE THIS ACCOUNT FROM MY CREDIT REPORT NOW! 

Once again, as far as I know, Credit Bureaus are supposed to ensure the accuracy of my credit report. That would require an investigation that actually investigates the issue. Your " investigation '' was contacting XXXX  ( NOT MY BANK ) and asking them if they had my personal information/account... which they do ... ILLEAGALLY!!!! That's the problem, that's why I have a case against them with the OCC that is still currently open. Obviously, there should not have been any damage done to my credit by this random bank while I have an open case against them with the OCC... a case that has been open ( and that they have been aware of ) since before I ever " missed a payment/became delinquent. '' Nothing about this has been fair or accurate. As far as I know, it is your responsibility to ensure the accuracy of my credit report and you have 100 % NOT done that and continue NOT to do that. It is very clear that this bank has been illegally reopening and closing my old account so that they can claim that I've been delinquent and owe them. This is insane!!! It is very clear based on my experience these past few months that you are all working together against the consumer, or my credit score wouldn't have dropped by about XXXX  points while I still have an open case against XXXX ( a bank I've never banked with ) with the O.C.C. If I need to hire a lawyer to ensure that it is illegal for you to penalize me for mere accusations while I'm waiting for the results of a case with the O.C.C then that is what I'll have to do... and since something like that would completely encompass my life, I would not rest until I was able to guarantee that this never happens to anyone else ever again. It is truly tragic that you are supposed to be the people helping me... unbelievable.

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