Consumer complaint received 2025-06-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX Re : XXXX XXXX XXXX collection ( Acct XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Dispute of unverified utility debt on credit report To Whom It May Concern : I am filing a complaint about a collection account reported by XXXX XXXX XXXX, appearing on my XXXX  and Experian credit reports. The account number is listed as XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX ( masked ) and the original creditor is XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX which is an electricity provider. XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting that I owe a balance of {$440.00} on a debt that was opened/placed for collection around XX/XX/XXXX. I dispute owing this debt, and I assert that XXXX reporting and collection actions are violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). I request the CFPBs assistance in investigating this matter and facilitating the removal of this collection from my credit reports. First, XXXX XXXX XXXX has not provided any validation or proof that I owe this debt, despite my efforts to obtain such proof. In XX/XX/XXXX, after seeing XXXX appear on my XXXX  report, I sent a debt validation request to XXXX Funding ( and their managing agent, XXXX XXXX XXXX ). In my letter, I stated that I did not recognize the debt and asked for validation per FDCPA 15 U.S.C. 1692g specifically, I requested documentation such as the final bill from XXXX XXXX, evidence that the account is mine, and a breakdown of the {$440.00}. XXXX XXXX did not mail me any verification documents in response. To date, I have never seen a single piece of evidence that I incurred a {$440.00} debt with XXXX XXXX. I am extremely concerned that this could be a case of mistaken identity or a billing error ( for example, a utility bill from an address I moved out of, where the final bill wasnt forwarded ). Regardless, XXXX  duty under the FDCPA was clear : upon my written dispute, they must cease collection and verify the debt before continuing XXXX Instead, XXXX persisted in reporting the debt to credit bureaus each month, as if it were valid and undisputed. This is an illegal collection practice. Reporting a debt to credit bureaus without validating it when asked is effectively continuing collection activity, which the FDCPA forbids under these circumstances. Second, XXXX XXXX credit reporting on this account is misleading and may involve impermissible re-aging of the debts delinquency date. The original creditor ( XXXX XXXX ) likely stopped providing service and billed the account around XXXX ( if this debt is what I suspect an old utilities account from a previous residence ). A utility debt from XXXX normally would fall off my credit report by late XXXX at the latest ( XXXX  years from the first missed payment ). However, XXXX XXXX is reporting the account with a Date Opened of XX/XX/XXXX and an Estimated removal date of XXXX/XXXX on TransUnion. This implies that XXXX is treating XXXX as the relevant start date, which in effect re-ages the debt on my credit report to make it appear newer than it truly is. Re-aging a delinquent account is illegal under the FCRA solosuit.com solosuit.com. A debt collector can not change or misreport the Date of First Delinquency ( DOFD ). They are required to report the original delinquency month/year so that the XXXX clock for reporting runs from that time. I have strong reason to believe the DOFD for the XXXX XXXX account was in XXXX ( when I closed my service and did not pay the final bill ). If XXXX is instead reporting as if the delinquency began in XXXX ( when they bought the debt ), that is a serious FCRA violation. It keeps an outdated account on my report well past the legal limit files.consumerfinance.gov. This debt, being a utility bill, has no court judgment or other exemption that would allow more than 7 years of reporting. Thus, the entry should be removed by XXXX if XXXX was XXXX. XXXX  data makes it look like it will stay until XXXX, which is absolutely unacceptable and unlawful. This kind of practice resetting the clock on an old debt is a blatant violation of FCRA and an unfair attempt to pressure me to pay a time-barred debt. It also violates FDCPA provisions against false representations : misrepresenting the legal status and age of the debt ( FDCPA 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 2 ) ( A ) ) is prohibited ftc.gov. Third, XXXX XXXX XXXX did not properly notify me about this debt before placing it on my credit report, which is against the CFPBs rules for debt collection. I discovered this collection by checking my credit XXXX never contacted me in writing or by phone prior to reporting. Under the CFPBs Regulation F, a debt collector must attempt to communicate about the debt ( for example, send a letter and wait 14 days to see if its undeliverable ) before furnishing information to a credit reporting agency consumerfinance.gov. I received no such communication at my current address until after I saw the credit report entry. It was only after I disputed with them that they sent a generic we have acquired a debt notice, which was already after they had tarnished my credit. This sequence of events suggests XXXX rushed to credit reporting without ensuring I was aware of the debt or given a chance to pay or dispute it, contravening the intended consumer protections. Such practice is often termed passive collection and is something the CFPB explicitly sought to prevent in its rules. In summary, XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting a collection that I do not recognize, have not been properly notified about, and which they have not verified or reported accurately. They appear to be keeping an old, potentially time-barred utility debt alive on my credit report through improper means. This is causing significant damage to my credit score and reputation, and it is especially frustrating because I can not get XXXX to show any proof that this debt is even mine. Requested Resolution : I ask that the CFPB compel XXXX XXXX XXXX to immediately delete the Account XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) from all of my credit reports ( Experian, XXXX XXXX ). Given XXXX  clear failure to validate the debt when asked, and the evidence of re-aging, deletion is the only appropriate remedy. This item is not verified and not being reported within the bounds of the law. I also request that the CFPB take note of XXXX  practices here if they are doing this to me, they may be doing it to others, and enforcement action may be warranted to stop the re-aging of accounts and credit reporting without proper validation. Lastly, if there is indeed a legitimate utility bill behind this, I am more than willing to address it with the original provider directly. But dealing with XXXX has proven impossible ; they have not followed the rules, so I respectfully ask the Bureau to assist in removing this unjust collection entry from my credit history. Thank you for your attention to this complaint. I trust that the CFPBs involvement will help resolve this matter in accordance with the law and fairness. Sincerely, XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Dispute of inaccurate auto loan charge-off on credit report To Whom It May Concern : I am submitting a complaint regarding an auto loan account with XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX ) that is being reported negatively on my credit reports. The account number is XXXX ( masked for privacy ). I obtained this auto loan through XXXX in XXXX to finance a used vehicle. The loan was for approximately {$15000.00} over a XXXX term. Unfortunately, I encountered financial difficulties and the vehicle was repossessed by XXXX in XXXX after I fell behind on payments. XXXX XXXX subsequently charged off the remaining balance ( the deficiency balance after auctioning the vehicle ) in or around XXXX. As of my credit report dated XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX is still reporting this account as a charge-off with a balance of about {$9200.00}. I firmly believe that XXXX reporting of this account violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) due to it being outdated, re-aged, and inaccurate, and I am asking for the CFPBs assistance to correct these issues. First, this XXXX auto loan account appears to be past the allowable credit reporting period, yet it remains on my credit file a direct violation of FCRAs obsolescence provisions. The vehicle was repossessed and the loan defaulted in XXXX ( the date of first delinquency was around XX/XX/XXXX ). Under the FCRA, negative credit information ( such as charge-offs ) may not be reported more than 7 years from the date of first delinquency files.consumerfinance.gov. Given a XXXX of XX/XX/XXXX, the XXXX mark will be XX/XX/XXXX ( at most, XXXX years if we consider the charge-off occurred a few months later, that would be late XXXX ). We are now in XXXX, and this account should have been removed from my credit reports already. The fact that its still showing up indicates that XXXX failed to instruct the credit bureaus to remove it on time, or they misreported the delinquency dates to make it linger. This is wholly unacceptable and illegal under FCRA. I suspect XXXX might have been updating the account in a way that re-aged it for example, by continuing to report monthly or by listing a later last activity date when they sold the deficiency to a collection agency. If they updated the status beyond the actual charge-off date, they effectively changed the clock, which is not allowed solosuit.com. Re-aging a debts date of first delinquency is a serious FCRA violation solosuit.com, and I am concerned XXXX has done this to keep this derogatory on my report past its proper purge date. Second, the balance and information XXXX is reporting are inaccurate and incomplete, especially considering the repossession. After XXXX repossessed the car, it was sold at auction. By law and standard practice, the sale proceeds should have been applied to the balance I owed, leaving a deficiency balance. However, my credit report shows XXXX reporting a balance of {$9200.00} as charged off. I have never received a clear explanation from XXXX of how that figure was calculated. Its quite possible that XXXX failed to credit the auction sale amount properly or added unwarranted fees to the deficiency. If so, the reported balance is inflated and incorrect. I have disputed this with XXXX ( most recently in XX/XX/XXXX via a written dispute letter ), asking for a breakdown of the deficiency balance. XXXX did not provide any itemization or documentation in return ; they merely replied that the debt was charged off and remains due. This lack of transparency is problematic. Reporting a balance without substantiating how it was derived especially when a collateral was taken and sold is an example of incomplete and potentially inaccurate reporting. Under the FCRA, information that is inaccurate or incomplete must be corrected or deleted files.consumerfinance.gov. In this case, XXXX figure is unverified and possibly wrong. Additionally, XXXX XXXX XXXX clearly note that the vehicle was repossessed ( it might be coded in the comments, but not in plain language ). It also doesnt show a {$0.00} balance with a transfer if they sold the remaining debt to a collection agency. As of now, I dont see a separate collection agency on my report for this, but I want to ensure XXXX XXXX double-listed it ( once as XXXX, once XXXX some debt buyer fortunately, I only see XXXX entry ). However, XXXX own entry is problematic enough. Third, XXXX XXXX has essentially stopped any direct communication with me since the charge-off, yet this old account continues to wreck my credit. I was not even aware it was still on my credit report until I reviewed it recently, because XXXX hasnt contacted me about it in years. This feels like a set it and forget it approach : they wrote it off, perhaps sold the paper to someone else, and left the negative mark to sit indefinitely. This account is so old that it no longer reflects my current creditworthiness or financial behavior. Keeping it on my report past the legal timeframe is punitive and serves no purpose for current credit evaluation. I have rehabilitated many aspects of my finances since XXXX, and it is disheartening that an obsolete entry like this remains solely due to XXXX improper reporting. In summary, XXXX XXXX is reporting an auto loan charge-off that is beyond the XXXX reporting period, likely due to re-aging, and the details of the tradeline ( balance, status ) are inaccurate or unverified. This is a clear breach of the Fair Credit Reporting Acts standards, and its causing me undue harm. Requested Resolution : I am requesting that the CFPB require XXXX XXXX to immediately delete the auto loan account ( Acct XXXX XXXX  ) from all of my credit bureau reports. By law, this negative account should no longer even be on the reports at this date. The fact that it is indicates non-compliance that deletion will remedy. Additionally, I ask that CFPB ensure XXXX corrects any issues in how it reports dates of delinquency to prevent re-aging. If XXXX sold the remaining debt to a collection agency, they should have updated the balance to {$0.00} and marked it as transferred ; since they didnt, they either still own it ( and thus are failing to collect or update properly ) or they simply reported incorrectly. Either scenario again points to removal as the appropriate outcome. Finally, I request that any inaccurate balance or amount XXXX reported be addressed if they can not document the legitimacy of the {$9200.00} figure, thats further justification that the entry is unreliable and must be purged. In short, I want this XXXX XXXX charge-off removed permanently from my credit history. Its an old, resolved matter ( the car was taken debt effectively settled via collateral and whatever remained should have been handled years ago ). 

Experian is also reporting the last four of my social incorrectly, how do I know this report is to be on my report, if my personal information is wrong.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation