Consumer complaint received 2025-08-05 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Problem with personal statement of dispute
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OH

Complaint narrative:
I previously submitted a CFPB complaint which was closed without resolution. I am now resubmitting with additional information and facts showing the dealership and finance company committed unfair practices. On XX/XX/XXXX, I purchased a XXXX XXXX XXXX. I paid a {$6000.00} down payment, expecting it to reduce the total loan amount. Instead, the dealership and XXXX USA used that {$6000.00} toward GAP insurance and a service contract without my consent, then also financed those same items, causing me to be double charged and forced to pay interest on services I never agreed to. Full vehicle price : {$27000.00} XXXX payment : {$6000.00} XXXX financed : {$21000.00} same as if no down payment had been made. This resulted in : Monthly payments of {$570.00} ( far above what should have been required ) XXXX payments made XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX Ongoing damage to my credit I never received a proper accounting of how my down payment was applied. XXXX only provided the full contract after my first CFPB complaint. I also had my own insurance, so GAP was unnecessary and improperly added. XXXX is a violation of the Truth in Lending Act, Unfair and Deceptive Practices laws, and possibly fraud. I am responding to XXXX USAs claim that my {$6000.00} down payment was properly applied and that I consented to the structure of the financing. Their response is misleading and avoids the core issue : the down payment was misused, and I was charged twice for add-ons like GAP insurance and a service contract. 

Key issues in my complaint that remain unresolved : XXXX. Double Charging for Add-Ons : The dealership charged me upfront for GAP and service contracts using my {$6000.00} down payment and also included those same items in the amount financed meaning I paid interest on them. This is deceptive and violates the Truth in Lending Act. 
XXXX. Unauthorized Use of Down Payment : Nowhere in the contract was I clearly told that my down payment would be used to pay for GAP and other optional add-ons. I believed the down payment would reduce the loan principal and lower my monthly payments. Instead, the loan balance remained {$21000.00} nearly the full price of the vehicle showing that the down payment was not applied correctly. 
XXXX. Lack of Transparency and Contract Delay : I repeatedly asked for a full copy of the original contract and was denied until after I filed my complaint with the CFPB. I had no way to confirm what I was being charged for, and no way to dispute these charges sooner. This violates my rights under federal consumer laws. 
XXXX. Repossession Caused by Inflated Payments : My monthly payments were {$570.00}, unaffordable due to the inflated financed amount. Had my down payment been properly applied, my note would have been much lower, and the repossession could have been avoided. 
XXXX. No Meaningful Response to These Facts : XXXX response simply repeats contract terms without addressing the misrepresentation, double charging, and the dealerships improper handling of my down payment. 



I Am Requesting : Refund of my {$6000.00} down payment, or proper credit toward the principal. 
Full removal of this tradeline from my credit reports due to misrepresentation and unfair lending practices. 
Reimbursement for interest paid and payments made on a contract I did not agree to. 
A formal investigation into XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX USA for deceptive loan practices. 

I respectfully request the CFPB keep this complaint open and continue investigation. XXXX prepared to escalate to the Ohio Attorney General and file formal fraud complaints if necessary. 

Thank you

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation