Consumer complaint received 2025-04-18 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: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX. XXXX XXXX Washington , DC XXXX Subject : Follow-Up Complaint Regarding American Express Account XXXX in XXXX CFPB Reference Number : XXXX Date of Initial Complaint : XX/XX/XXXX Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , I am writing to formally follow up on the original complaint I filed with the CFPB on XX/XX/XXXX, regarding American Express and their refusal to issue a Form 1099-C and/or accurately report the status of my account ending in XXXX in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and IRS guidelines. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, American Express responded to the complaint and acknowledged that : 1. The account in question was charged off on XX/XX/XXXX. 
2. The account was assigned to an outside collection agency. 
3. As of XX/XX/XXXX, the balance remains {$1100.00}. 
4. They stated the account is not eligible for a 1099-C, claiming it is not settled or discharged.

5. They refused to make changes to consumer reporting, citing the requirement to report accurately under the FCRA. 

Violations and Concerns 1. Failure to Issue Form 1099-C - American Express has stated that the account remains unpaid and is not settled. However, the account has been charged off for over 15 months, with no collection activity reported. 
- According to IRS regulations under 26 U.S. Code 6050P, a creditor is required to issue a 1099-C when there is a discharge of indebtedness or when they discontinue collection activity, including charge-offs where collection is not actively pursued. 

2. Inaccurate or Misleading Credit Reporting ( FCRA Violations )- I subsequently disputed this account with XXXX, and their reinvestigation completed in XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  resulted in no meaningful change. XXXX  continues to report : - Account charged off since XX/XX/XXXX. 
- A balance of {$1100.00} still outstanding as of XX/XX/XXXX. 
- Monthly payment history from XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  to XX/XX/XXXX shows continuous charge-off status ( CO ) despite no resolution. 
- This results in a misleading and incomplete reporting, in violation of : - FCRA 1681s-2 ( b ) Furnishers must conduct a reasonable investigation and correct inaccurate information. 
- FCRA 607 ( b ) CRAs must follow procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. 

3. Re-aging of the Debt - The report from XXXX  reflects updates and comments well beyond the charge-off date, potentially re-aging the debt, which could unlawfully extend its presence on my credit report. 

4. Lack of Transparency in Dispute Results- The dispute comment merely states : Account information disputed by consumer ( Meets requirement of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ). 
- It provides no detail of what was investigated, corrected, or verified, denying me the ability to validate the process or findings. 

Requested Relief 1. Require American Express to clarify whether the debt has been sold, settled, forgiven, or remains collectible.

2. If the debt is no longer being actively pursued, require them to issue a Form 1099-C to me and to the IRS per federal tax regulations.

3. Require American Express and XXXX to either : - Update the account to reflect {$0.00} balance and closed status if the debt has been sold or discharged. 
- Or provide complete verification and documentation showing who currently owns the debt, and that collection efforts are ongoing. 
4. Require XXXX  to provide an itemized summary of their dispute reinvestigation, including what documents were reviewed, and why the item was verified despite serious reporting inconsistencies. 

Supporting Documentation Available Upon Request : - Copy of AMEX response dated XX/XX/XXXX - XXXX credit report showing account history and dispute results- Copy of the original CFPB complaint filed on XX/XX/XXXX I appreciate your time and attention to this matter and respectfully request a full investigation into the compliance of American Express and XXXX  with federal reporting and consumer protection laws. I look forward to your assistance in ensuring that my rights are upheld under the FCRA and IRS codes.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief