Consumer complaint received 2025-11-15 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Westlake Services, LLC
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
In reviewing my credit reports from the three major consumer reporting agencies, I discovered that Westlake Financial Services is reporting a derogatory account that appears to be inaccurate, unverifiable, and incomplete. The account is reflected as a collection/charge-off, closed on or around XX/XX/XXXX, with a listed past-due balance of approximately {$17000.00}.

This entry appears on multiple consumer credit reports and is currently being furnished as a negative tradeline affecting my overall credit standing. I am filing this complaint because the information being reported
by Westlake Financial

and maintained by the credit reporting agencies has not been verified, validated, or supported by original documentation, despite several written requests for investigation and documentation submitted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 1. Background and Discovery of the Issue When I obtained a full copy of my credit report from the three major bureaus in early XXXX, I noticed that the Westlake Financial account was being reported as a derogatory tradeline showing a charge-off status. I had not received prior notice from Westlake Financial verifying that this alleged account

existed, nor had I received any correspondence containing original documentation, statements, or contracts bearing my signature. Under federal law, furnishers of information are required to ensure that any data they provide to a credit reporting agency is accurate, complete, and can be substantiated by original documentation. Specifically, FCRA 607 ( b ) requires consumer reporting agencies and furnishers to follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of the
information they report. In this case, Westlake Financial has continued to furnish data that does not meet that standard.

Upon discovering the derogatory entry, I submitted formal written disputes to all three credit reporting agencies, requesting that they verify the accuracy of the information, provide the method of verification used, and furnish copies of the original documentation that validated the debt. I also requested details about the chain of custody, assignment, or transfer if Westlake Financial no longer owned the account.

Despite these written disputes, I received only automated or generic responses from the bureaus stating that the account had been verified as accurate. None of these responses included any documentation from Westlake Financial, nor did they describe the method of verification used to confirm the validity of the information.

2. Westlake Financials Reporting Practices The information reported by Westlake Financial shows several inconsistencies and raises multiple concerns about compliance. The account was listed as closed in XXXX, but the data furnished contains no clear indication of when the alleged delinquency began or what specific contractual obligations were breached. Additionally, the reported past-due amount of {$17000.00} seems inconsistent with any reasonable credit extension typically associated with consumer accounts of this type.

At no time prior to this reporting did Westlake Financial send me a notice of default, a charge-off statement, or any correspondence regarding debt validation as required under FDCPA 809 ( a ). I did not receive the legally required initial communication containing the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor, and my right to dispute it within thirty ( 30 ) days. This lack of communication suggests procedural noncompliance.

Under FDCPA 809 ( b ), when a consumer disputes a debt in writing, the debt collector must cease all collection activity until verification is provided. Credit reporting is considered a form of collection activity because it is a mechanism used to compel payment by damaging the consumers credit standing. Therefore, Westlake Financials continued reporting of the alleged debt without first validating it constitutes a violation of the FDCPA.

3. Requests for Verification and Documentation I made several written requests for verification and documentation to both Westlake Financial and the credit reporting agencies. These requests were made under FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ), which gives consumers the right to obtain all information in their file at the time of the request, and under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ), which requires the reporting agencies to provide a detailed description of the method used to verify disputed information.

To date, none of the parties involved have provided : A copy of any original signed credit agreement, loan application, or contract allegedly executed with Westlake Financial.

An itemized statement showing how the balance of {$17000.00} was calculated, including principal, interest, fees, and any collection charges.

Proof of lawful ownership of the debt, such as assignment or transfer records if the account was sold or reassigned.

A copy of the original charge-off statement or notice sent to the consumer at the time of default.

Documentation identifying the date and method of verification used by the credit reporting agencies in confirming the information.

Without this documentation, neither Westlake Financial nor the credit reporting agencies have substantiated the accuracy or completeness of the information they are publishing.

4. Inconsistent Data Across Credit Reports In addition to the lack of validation, there are discrepancies in the way the Westlake Financial account appears across different credit bureaus. For example, the reported balance, date of last payment, and account closure date differ slightly among the agencies. This lack of consistency demonstrates that either ( 1 ) the furnishers are not using standardized reporting formats, or ( 2 ) the credit reporting agencies are not maintaining uniform and accurate data.

This inconsistency violates FCRA 607 ( b ), which requires that information furnished be reported with maximum possible accuracy. When identical accounts are reported differently across bureaus, it indicates procedural negligence.

Furthermore, the absence of an Account in Dispute notation under FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ) suggests that neither Westlake Financial nor the bureaus properly updated the reporting status after I filed formal disputes. A data furnisher is required to indicate that an account is disputed by the consumer when a dispute is pending. Failure to do so misrepresents the status of the account to lenders and third parties who review the consumers file.

5. Harm Caused by the Inaccurate Reporting The continued presence of this unverifiable and derogatory tradeline has caused tangible harm to my financial reputation. My credit score has been adversely affected, resulting in the denial of new credit opportunities, increased interest rates on existing credit, and loss of access to favorable lending programs.

In addition, this inaccurate information has caused emotional distress and reputational damage, as potential lenders and business partners perceive me as a high-risk borrower due to the presence of a large charged-off balance that can not be validated.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act was designed to prevent precisely this kind of harm by imposing obligations on both furnishers and credit reporting agencies to ensure that all published data is accurate, complete, and verifiable.

6. Lack of Reasonable Reinvestigation by Credit Reporting Agencies Under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ), the credit reporting agencies are required to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when a consumer disputes information on their credit report. However, the reinvestigation process in this case appears to have been automated and superficial.

The credit bureaus relied solely on electronic confirmations from Westlake Financial transmitted through the e-OSCAR system. No documentation was provided, and no human review of the actual evidence appears to have occurred. This practice violates the legal standard of reasonableness because the bureaus merely recycled unverified data from the furnisher rather than independently verifying the validity of the information.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued guidance clarifying that consumer reporting agencies must go beyond simple automated checks and conduct genuine reinvestigations. They must obtain sufficient evidence from the furnisher and ensure that disputed items are supported by original documentation.

7. Failure to Provide Method of Verification When I requested the method of verification under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ), none of the credit reporting agencies provided a meaningful response. The law requires that, upon request, the consumer reporting agency must provide a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the disputed information, including the business name and contact information of any furnisher contacted.

The responses I received were vague and did not identify who verified the information, when it was verified, or what specific documents were reviewed. The lack of transparency in the reinvestigation process violates the statutory right to a method of verification and undermines confidence in the accuracy of the reporting system.

8. Possible Violation of FDCPA and FCRA Provisions Based on the facts outlined, Westlake Financial and the involved credit reporting agencies may be in violation of multiple provisions of the FCRA and FDCPA, including but not limited to : FCRA 602 ( a ) : Failure to ensure fair and accurate credit reporting.

FCRA 607 ( b ) : Failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy.

FCRA 611 ( a ) : Failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation.

FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ) : Failure to report the account as disputed.

FDCPA 807 ( 8 ) : Communicating false credit information.

FDCPA 809 ( b ) : Failure to validate the debt before continued reporting.

Each of these violations contributes to ongoing harm, as the inaccurate and unverifiable account remains published on my credit reports without proper validation or documentation.

9. Requests Made and Responses Received Throughout this process, I have made good-faith efforts to obtain clarification and documentation. I submitted formal dispute letters to all three credit bureaus and sent validation requests to Westlake Financial. In those communications, I requested copies of all relevant documentation, including original contracts, account statements, and legal proof of ownership.

The responses I received were non-substantive. The credit bureaus simply stated that Westlake Financial had verified the account as accurate. However, when I asked Westlake Financial directly for validation, they either failed to respond or sent generic notices that did not include the requested documents.

At no point have I been provided any physical or digital proof of a contract, itemized statement, or legal assignment verifying that this account belongs to me or that the reported balance is correct.

10. Procedural Negligence and Lack of Oversight It appears that both Westlake Financial and the credit reporting agencies have engaged in procedural negligence by failing to ensure the integrity of consumer data. The credit bureaus are legally required to maintain oversight of their furnishers and ensure that they are reporting information accurately.

Allowing furnishers to report unverifiable debts and then relying solely on those same furnishers for verification during disputes creates a conflict of interest and undermines the consumer protection intent of the FCRA.

This closed-loop systemwhere a bureau asks the furnisher to confirm its own datadoes not constitute a reasonable reinvestigation. It allows erroneous and unverifiable information to remain on credit reports indefinitely, causing ongoing harm to consumers.

11. The Impact of Noncompliance The cumulative effect of these procedural violations is significant. Because of Westlake Financials unverifiable reporting, my creditworthiness has been unfairly diminished. The derogatory entry continues to misrepresent my financial responsibility to third parties, resulting in potential denials of employment, credit, and housing opportunities.

This is not merely a clerical issue ; it is a matter of compliance with federal consumer protection laws. The law requires accuracy, fairness, and verificationnot blind repetition of unproven data.

12. Request for Regulatory Oversight I am submitting this complaint so that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can review whether Westlake Financial and the credit reporting agencies have complied with their statutory obligations under the FCRA and FDCPA.

I am asking that the CFPB compel Westlake Financial to provide : All original documentation supporting the account, including the signed contract and payment history.

Proof of lawful ownership or assignment of the account.

Itemized billing statements showing how the alleged balance was calculated.

Copies of all communications and data transmissions sent to the credit reporting agencies.

If the furnisher can not produce these documents, the CFPB should require the credit bureaus to delete the account immediately under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ), which mandates deletion of unverifiable data.

13. Summary of Consumer Actions Taken Obtained full credit reports and identified the derogatory Westlake Financial account.

Submitted written disputes to all three credit bureaus citing specific FCRA provisions.

Requested the method of verification and copies of supporting documents.

Contacted Westlake Financial directly requesting validation of the debt under FDCPA 809 ( b ).

Received only generic verified responses from the credit bureaus and no documentation from the furnisher.

Confirmed that the account remains unverified and continues to appear as a charge-off.

Filed this CFPB complaint to ensure regulatory oversight and enforcement of compliance.

14. Conclusion The continued reporting of this alleged Westlake Financial account without validation or verification is a violation of my rights under both the FCRA and FDCPA. Despite repeated disputes and requests for documentation, the furnishers and credit bureaus have failed to provide any tangible evidence that this debt exists or that it was lawfully reported.

I am seeking the assistance of the CFPB to ensure that Westlake Financial and the credit reporting agencies comply with their statutory duties. Specifically, I am requesting that this account be deleted unless and until legally sufficient documentation is produced, and that the bureaus provide a full written explanation of their verification process.

The purpose of this complaint is not to avoid any legitimate financial responsibility but to ensure that only accurate, verified, and lawful information is being reported about me as required by law. Until that standard is met, this account should not appear on any consumer credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation