Consumer complaint received 2025-06-19 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: Self Financial Inc.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
CFPB Complaint Self Financial Inc . 
Subject : Inaccurate Credit Reporting, Identity Theft Dispute, and Improper Furnishing of Information in Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) To the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau : I am filing a formal complaint against Self Financial Inc. for violating my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and the Federal Trade Commission Act ( FTC Act ) by reporting inaccurate, incomplete, and unauthorized information to the major credit bureaus ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Summary of Complaint : Self Financial claims that I opened a Self Secured Credit Card on XX/XX/XXXX, tied to a Credit Builder Account. According to their recent response, they reported the account as 30 days and then 60 days past due in early XXXX due to a missed {$25.00} annual fee charged on XX/XX/XXXX. They claim the account was closed at 80 days past due and that the {$30.00} security deposit was applied to bring the account to {$0.00}. 
Despite this, Self has confirmed in their response that : - The negative reporting was entirely due to a {$25.00} annual fee.

- They have removed the delinquency reporting related to the annual fee.

- They acknowledged that the final balance is {$0.00} and the account is closed and current.

Despite these acknowledgments, the derogatory account still appears on my credit reports, negatively impacting my creditworthiness and ability to secure housing, employment, and credit.

Key Violations : 1. Failure to Correct or Delete Inaccurate Reporting Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ), Self is obligated to conduct a reasonable investigation and promptly delete any information found to be inaccurate or unverifiable. Despite Self 's own admission that the delinquency was based on a disputed {$25.00} annual fee, they failed to ensure all reporting was corrected across all credit reporting agencies.

2. Failure to Prevent Harm After Identity Theft Allegation I dispute that I authorized or agreed to this account. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, I have the right to block information resulting from identity theft. Self Financial did not provide an unmarred application or wet signature to prove this account was lawfully opened by me. Their response merely references an electronic signature under ESIGN, which is not sufficient proof in an identity theft investigation.

3. Continuing to Report Disputed Information Without Clear Resolution As required by 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ), furnishers of information must stop reporting disputed information unless it is verified. Self Financial has not provided independent verification, and thus the tradeline should be suppressed until fully resolved.

4. Violation of FTC Act Unfair and Deceptive Practices By continuing to report disputed and unsupported negative data to the credit bureaus, Self Financial is engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce, prohibited under 15 U.S.C. 45 ( a ).

Requested Relief : 1. Immediate and permanent deletion of all Self Financial tradelines from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ; 2. Full investigation by the CFPB into Selfs furnishing practices regarding low-value charge-based delinquencies used to harm consumer credit reports ; 3. Order Self to provide full documentation, including : - Unmarred, original application ; - Evidence of wet-ink signature or other verifiable consent ; - Transaction-level double-entry ledger showing account activity ; 4. Monetary damages for harm suffered as a result of their continued reporting ; 5. Updated credit reports mailed directly to me reflecting these removals within 30 days.

This is my second attempt to resolve this matter. If this issue is not corrected promptly, I reserve the right to pursue civil action under 15 U.S.C. 1681n and 1681o for willful and negligent noncompliance, including actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, costs, and attorney fees. 
Sincerely, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation