Consumer complaint received 2025-12-03 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Kikoff Inc.
State: SC

Complaint narrative:
XXXX has been notified of an inaccurate account on my report that has yet to be removed as per the Fair Credit Reporting guidelines and XXXX XXXX compliance.

I'm attaching below a copy of a letter sent to them that details the issues with this account. It is being misrepresented as a charge account when it is a credit building program. Also I am attaching a screenshot showing that a dispute was initiated through their online portal.

LETTER SENT TO XXXX  : XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  DisputXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX RE : Formal Demand for Correction of XXXX XXXX Non-Compliant & Inaccurate Information Credit File/Report Number : XXXX Disputed Account : Kikoff Lending LLC Account # XXXX To Whom It May Concern : I am disputing the above-referenced account as it contains multiple inaccuracies and violates the XXXX XXXX Credit Reporting Resource Guide standards, rendering the entire account misleading and unverifiable. Under the FCRA, you are required to conduct a reasonable investigation and correct or delete non-compliant data.

The following specific violations require immediate remediation : 1. Internal Data Inconsistency & Inaccurate Status Code : The account is reported as " Account Type : Charge Card '' ( Code 09 ) but with an " Account Status : Charge-Off '' ( Code 93/09 ). Per XXXX XXXX, a XXXX XXXX can not be reported as a Charged-Off revolving account. This fundamental inconsistency makes the tradeline 's status unverifiable and mandates its deletion.

2. Inaccurate Past Due Amount on Closed Account : The account is reported as " Closed '' and " Charged-Off, '' yet a " Past Due Amount '' of {$30.00} is reported. XXXX XXXX guidelines explicitly require that a charged-off account must report a {$0.00} in the " Past Due Amount '' field ( Field 29 ). This is a clear reporting violation.

3. Mischaracterization of Account Type : This was a " Credit Builder Account, '' not a " Charge Card. '' The misclassification misrepresents the fundamental nature of the account to any third party reviewing my credit, which is deceptive.

4. Inaccurate Payment History : The payment history ( Fields 30-41 ) shows a series of late payments culminating in a charge-off. These payments were assessed after I had canceled the service and no further payments were due. The reporting of these late payments is factually inaccurate. 

Due to the multiple XXXX XXXX compliance failures and the inherently misleading nature of reporting a credit builder savings program as a charged-off debt, this account can not be verified as accurate. The FCRA requires that you prevent the reporting of known inaccurate information. This dispute isnt just about a payment history. Its about the fundamental nature of the account.

Kikoff is misrepresenting a credit builder program as a charged-off consumer debt. This brings into the question whether the trade lines should exist on report at all and should trigger a higher duty outlined in XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( XXXX XXXX  XXXX ). The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX held that A credit reporting agency may be required, in certain circumstances, to verify the accuracy of its initial source of information. The court stated that if a consumer raises a dispute that goes to the fundamental question of whether the [ furnisher ] had a right to collect the debt at all, the CRA can not simply rely on the furnishers say-so. It must do more.

Please conduct a reinvestigation for these specific XXXX XXXX violations, and provide me with an updated credit report showing the removal of the disputed account. As a reminder per federal guidelines of credit reporting, any inaccuracies can not be verified within the statutory timeframe, the account must be deleted. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX SSN : XXXX ( last four digits for verification purposes )

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation