Consumer complaint received 2024-12-22 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: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Escalation of Dispute Regarding Account Number : XXXX Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing in response to your reply via the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) portal regarding the alleged debt associated with my former lease at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Your response fails to address or resolve my concerns and further misrepresents the facts of the situation. 

To reiterate : XXXX. I vacated the property on XX/XX/year>, under an agreement with XXXX XXXX XXXX to move out early due to an armed break-in at my unit in late XX/XX/year>. This release was granted based on police advisement for my safety. XXXX XXXX XXXX explicitly agreed there would be no penalties or fees associated with my early move-out and agreed it was in everyones best interest. Police records can be provided. 
XXXX. I have had no financial or contractual obligations to XXXX XXXX XXXX since my move-out date. I have been residing in a new apartment complex since XX/XX/year>, and fulfilled all terms of my tenancy prior to this release. My final month as a tenant at this address was XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX due to my safety. 
XXXX. The alleged debt is therefore entirely invalid, as I was released from any further obligations under my lease, and no charges were ever communicated to me at the time of my departure. 

Failure to Provide Validation of Debt Your claim that a Lease Agreement and Resident Ledger were provided as validation is misleading and insufficient. These documents fail to explain : How the alleged debt was calculated. 
What charges or fees are included in the balance and why they are owed. 
Why I was never informed of these charges before they were sent to collections. 

This lack of transparency is a violation of my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), specifically 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( validation of debts ) and 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( false or misleading representations ). 

XXXX XXXX to Resolve I request the following information within 14 days of receipt of this letter : XXXX. A complete, itemized breakdown of the alleged charges, including dates, descriptions, and amounts. 
XXXX. Proof that these charges are consistent with the terms of the lease agreement and the early move-out agreement. 
XXXX. Evidence of any communication from XXXX XXXX XXXX informing me of these charges prior to sending the account to collections. 

If this information can not be provided or if the alleged debt is not withdrawn, I will escalate the matter further. My next steps will include : Filing a formal complaint with the state Attorney XXXX office and any applicable housing authorities. 
XXXX with a consumer protection attorney to pursue legal action for damages under the FDCPA and state-specific tenant protections. 
Ensuring that this matter is contested with all major credit reporting agencies to prevent or remove any negative impact on my credit report. 

This is your final opportunity to resolve this matter amicably by providing the requested information and withdrawing the alleged debt. 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation