Consumer complaint received 2024-10-14 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute the inaccurate reporting of an alleged debt by XXXX XXXX XXXX  on my credit report, which is held by your bureau. This dispute is being submitted to XXXX under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) guidelines. 

Details of the Disputed Account : Creditor Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : [ Insert Account Number ] Reported Date : XX/XX/year> Alleged Amount : {$7300.00} Basis for Dispute : Failure to Validate Debt ( FDCPA 809 - 15 USC 1692g ) : I sent a certified debt verification letter to XXXX XXXX XXXX, requesting proof of the alleged debt within the legally required timeframe. They have failed to respond within 30 days, as mandated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). Consequently, they are prohibited from taking further action or reporting this debt to the credit bureaus. 

Inaccurate Reporting to Credit Bureaus ( FCRA 1681s-2 ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX reported this debt to your bureau without proper verification, which violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Data furnishers are obligated to ensure the accuracy of the information they report. In this instance, they have not complied with that requirement. 

Lack of Proper Documentation : XXXX XXXX XXXX attempted to validate the debt by sending me a text message containing a copy of a lease. This documentation is insufficient and does not meet the legal requirements for debt validation. They have failed to provide proof that they own the debt or the necessary purchase agreement, which is a violation of FDCPA requirements for validating a debt upon request. 

I am filing this complaint against XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax for multiple violations of my rights as a consumer under federal laws, specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), concerning the inaccurate reporting of a debt by XXXX XXXX XXXX 

Details of Communication with XXXX XXXX XXXX : Failure to Validate Debt ( FDCPA 809 - 15 USC 1692g ) : I sent a certified debt verification letter to Snap Debt Recovery, requesting validation of the alleged debt. They are required by law to respond to my request within 30 days and can not take further action or report to the credit bureaus until they do so. They have failed to respond to my request, rendering the debt invalid.

Inaccurate Reporting to Credit Bureaus ( FCRA 1681s-2 ) : Despite my dispute and request for validation, XXXX XXXX XXXX  reported the account to the credit bureaus on XX/XX/year>. This violates FCRA 1681s-2, which mandates that data furnishers ensure the accuracy of the information they report. 
Insufficient Documentation Provided : XXXX XXXX XXXX attempted to validate the debt by sending me a text message with a copy of a lease. However, this does not meet the legal requirements for debt validation. They have not provided documentation proving ownership of the debt or the purchase agreement. The failure to provide these documents violates FDCPA requirements for validating the debt upon request. 
Neglect of Notification Requirements ( FDCPA 809 ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX  has not provided any written notice of my right to dispute the debt or the procedure to do so, as required under FDCPA 809 ( a ). Their neglect of these requirements undermines the validity of their collection efforts. 
Illegal Collection Practices : According to the Georgia XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX  is not legally authorized to collect debts in Georgia. This raises serious concerns about their authority to pursue collection on this account. 
Identity Theft Considerations : I am a victim of the Equifax data breach, and my personal information was compromised. I have filed reports with both the police and the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), which serve as documentation of the identity theft. This significantly invalidates any claims against me regarding the debt XXXX XXXX  XXXX is attempting to collect.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation