Consumer complaint received 2025-04-09 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
In XX/XX/XXXX, I discovered that a company named " XXXX '' XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, a third-party debt collector, reported a charge-off/collection account on my XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax credit reports XXXX The original creditor is listed as XXXX The XXXX by XXXX. 

XXXX : Reported XX/XX/XXXX, listed as Collection/Charge-Off XXXX XXXX Reported XX/XX/XXXX, listed as Collection/Charge-Off Equifax : Reported XX/XX/XXXX, listed as Collection/Charge-Off with a " Balance '' of {$12000.00} I have never entered into any contract, or financial agreement with XXXX XXXX or XXXX The XXXX by XXXX. I have never received a bill, demand letter, or validation notice from either party. This debt is unfamiliar, unverified, and inaccurate. I have no credit or balance due with this company. 

Further, XXXX XXXX is not a credit issuer, lender, or financial institution and therefore lacks the legal authority to report any debt as a charge-off. The term " charge-off '' is used exclusively in the context of credit accounts regulated by financial authorities, such as banks or credit card issuers. The use of this classification by a non-creditor is inaccurate, misleading, and unlawful. 

Applicable Legal Violations : Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S. Code 1681 et seq.

1681e ( b ) Failure to ensure maximum possible accuracy in credit reporting.

1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) Furnishing information known to be inaccurate.

1681i ( a ) Failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information.

1681s-2 ( b ) Failure by furnisher to investigate and correct after notice of dispute.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 15 U.S. Code 1692 et seq.

1692g ( b ) Right to request validation ; no validation was provided.

1692e ( 8 ) Reporting false or misleading information to a credit reporting agency.

Right to Financial Privacy Act 12 U.S. Code 3401 et seq.

3402 Unauthorized access or use of private financial records without customer authorization or appropriate legal process.

They have no legal authority to classify debts as " charge-offs '' in the same way a lender or bank does.

A charge-off is a term that applies to credit accounts that a lender has deemed uncollectible and written off typically after 180 days of nonpayment, as regulated under banking laws.Labeling a non-credit obligation ( such as an apartment lease or rental balance ) as a " charge-off '' is factually inaccurate and legally deceptive. This misrepresentation : Violates 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) by furnishing false information ; Fails the maximum possible accuracy standard under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ; Creates misleading derogatory marks that damage my credit profile under false pretenses. 

Since XXXX XXXX is not a bank or credit issuer, labeling the debt a " charge-off '' can be considered misleading, inaccurate, and a potential FCRA violation XXXX 

This account is not only inaccurate it is an unauthorized intrusion into my private financial history. I did not give consent for my personal information to be used or shared in this way. This inaccurate and misleading entry is affecting my ability to secure housing and credit.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation