Consumer complaint received 2024-05-16 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NV

Complaint narrative:
I sent a certified letter for them to cease any reporting until they get an itemize I recently obtained a copy of my credit report, and you are currently reporting debt to my credit report and as allowed under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting that you allow me to validate the alleged debt. Please provide me with a breakdown of all charges, dates of service and procedures given including fees associated. 
Additionally, I am allowed under the HIPAA law Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ), to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I do not recall giving permission for XXXX XXXX XXXX to release my medical information to a third party I am aware that the HIPAA does allow for limited information about me but anything more is to only be revealed with the patient 's authorization, therefore my request is twofold and as follows. 
THE CREDIT Validation of Debt and HIPPA Authorization - Please provide a breakdown of fees including any collection costs and medical charges - Provide a copy of my signature with the provider of service to release my medical information to you - Cease any credit bureau reporting until debt has been validated by me Please send this information to my mailing address listed above and accept this letter as my formal debt validation request, which I am allowed under the FDCPA. 
Please note that withholding the information you received from any medical provider in an XXXX attempt to be HIPAA compliant can be a violation of the FDCPA because you will be deceiving me after my written request I request full documentation of what you received from the provider of service in connection with this alleged debt. 
Additionally, and reporting of this debt to the credit bureaus prior to allowing me to validate it may be a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which can allow me to seek damages from your collection agency. I will await your reply with the above requested proof. Per the standard, you have 30 days in which to respond to this request, or this debt will be considered invalid, and removal from the credit bureau 's expected or damages will be sought after.

This letter is a formal dispute and request for investigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 USC 1681 et seq.

The FCRA mandates credit reporting agencies to maintain accurate information in consumer reports. The following provisions support my dispute : 1. 15 USC 1681e ( b ) - Accuracy of Information : This requires credit reporting agencies to ensure maximum accuracy in consumer reports. The inaccurate names and addresses negatively impact the accuracy of my credit report.

2. 15 USC 1681i - Duty to Investigate : This provision obligates credit reporting agencies to conduct a reasonable investigation when a consumer disputes the accuracy of their credit report.I request a thorough investigation into these inaccuracies.

3. 15 USC 1681c - Disclosure of Consumer Reports : This stipulates that consumer reports should only include relevant and creditworthiness-related information. The inaccurate names and addresses do not contribute to an accurate representation of my creditworthiness and should be removed. 
I kindly request that you investigate the accuracy of the names and addresses associated with my credit report, remove the inaccurate accounts, and provide me with a free copy of my updated credit report. 
Failure to address this dispute may result in legal action as permitted by the FCRA.

You are in Violation under FCRA Dear Sir/Madam, You are reporting these collections account on my credit report with an " Open '' status. This is inaccurate reporting and therefore these collection accounts must be removed from my credit file.

Please delete this at once from my report and mail me a notification of the deletion notice. You are reporting this collection as an " open account '' which is not under FCRA compliance. This is inaccurate reporting and it needs to be removed immediately. Please send me a copy of my credit report when the collections below are deleted and has been removed. 
For hospital debt : Im writing because under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), I am requesting that you allow me to validate the alleged debt. 
I am aware that there is a debt from XXXX XXXX XXXX, but I am unaware of the amount due and your bill does not include a breakdown of any fees. Additionally, I am allowed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ) to protect my privacy and medical records from third parties. I do not recall giving permission to XXXX XXXX XXXX, for them to release my medical information to a third party. I am aware that the HIPAA does allow for limited information about me but anything more is to only be revealed with the patient 's authorization. Therefore my request is twofold-validation of debt and HIPAA authorization . Please provide breakdown of fees including any collection costs and medical charges. **Provide a copy of my signature with the provider of service to release my medical information to you. Cease any credit bureau reporting until the debt has been validated by me.Please send this information to my address listed above and accept this letter, sent certified mail, as my formal debt validation request, which I am allowed under the FDCPA. Please note that withholding the information you received from any medical provider in an attempt to be HIPAA compliant can be a violation of the FDCPA because you will be deceiving me after my written request. I request full documentation of what you received from the provider of service in connection with this alleged debt. They are still reporting information that is incorrect.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief