Consumer complaint received 2025-08-04 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Problem with personal statement of dispute
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
Three mortgage late payments were reported on my credit history in XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX of XXXX for my current home loan with XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
These entries do not accurately reflect my payment behavior and should not have been reported to my credit report during an investigation. 

1. Cause of Reported Late Payments Earlier this year, my monthly mortgage payments unexpectedly increased by over {$1200.00}, caused by unauthorized and erroneous sanitation fees added to my property tax bill by the Town of XXXX. These fees were mistakenly included in XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX escrow analysis, resulting in an artificial inflation of my monthly obligation from {$3700.00} to over XXXX significant and unjustified increase. 
I continued making full and timely payments of {$3800.00}, the original and correct amount due, while awaiting clarification and resolution of the tax discrepancy. This good-faith effort to remain current on my mortgage was unfortunately mischaracterized as delinquency due to a technical shortfall in the inflated escrow portion. 
2. Verification of Tax Error On XX/XX/XXXX, I appeared before the Town XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and after review, they confirmed that the sanitation charges for XXXX and XXXX were incorrect. A formal Correction of Errors was issued, crediting my account {$5500.00} ( XXXX ), {$1500.00} ( XXXX ) and issuing a direct credit of {$1300.00}. The documentation from the municipality verifying this error and adjustment is enclosed. 
3. Request for Escrow Reanalysis Ignored Until XXXX I proactively requested an off-schedule escrow analysis in XX/XX/XXXX upon noticing the unexpected tax increase. However, XXXX XXXX  did not process the analysis until XX/XX/XXXX, after the municipality had issued the correction and credit. The delay in updating the escrow account resulted in continued overbilling and the reported shortfall on my account, despite me consistently making my standard full monthly payments. 

4. Payment Timeline & Misclassification Its important to note that : - My XXXX payment, while reported late, was paid on XX/XX/XXXX, and thus not over 30 days late, which should not trigger derogatory credit reporting. 
- I made 80 out of 82 payments on time during the life of the loan, demonstrating my consistent commitment to on-time mortgage responsibility.

5. Escrow Correction and Refund Issued XXXXXXXX XXXX finally completed a revised escrow analysis in late XX/XX/XXXX, after receiving the updated tax information. My monthly payment has since been reduced back to the correct amount, and a refund check was issued to me on XX/XX/XXXX, confirming that the original increase was in error. 
Summary The three reported late payments were not the result of neglect or inability to pay but stemmed from : - An official municipal tax error was later corrected. 
- XXXXXXXX XXXX delayed escrow reanalysis despite my early request ; - My decision to pay the accurate monthly amount in good faith while awaiting resolution. 
Considering this information and accompanying documentation, I remain a responsible homeowner with a proven track record of timely payments and proactive financial stewardship.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation