Consumer complaint received 2024-12-03 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to address severe violations of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( NFCU ), XXXX, and Equifax. These violations include inaccurate reporting, failure to validate debts, and mishandling of disputes, all of which have caused significant financial harm, emotional distress, and reputational damage. I request immediate corrective action, validation of the account, and appropriate compensation for the harm caused. 

Key Issues and Violations XXXX. Reporting Discrepancies Between XXXX and Equifax The account information reported by XXXX and Equifax is inconsistent, inaccurate, and misleading, directly violating FCRA 1681e ( b ), which mandates maximum possible accuracy in credit reporting. Specific discrepancies include : On-Time Payments : XXXX reports on-time payments from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. 
Equifax reports on-time payments from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. 
Late Payments for XX/XX/XXXX : XXXX reports the account as 150 days late. 
Equifax reports the account as 120 days late. 
Charge-Off Reporting for XX/XX/XXXX : XXXX reports the account as a charge-off. 
Equifax provides no data for XX/XX/XXXX. 
Harm Caused : These discrepancies create an unfairly negative and conflicting credit profile, directly affecting my ability to obtain credit on favorable terms, increasing borrowing costs, and resulting in credit denials. 

XXXX. Failure to Validate the XXXX XXXX has failed to validate the reported debt despite my formal disputes. Specifically : XXXX has not provided a copy of the original signed agreement establishing the account. 
XXXX has failed to substantiate the charge-off decision reported in XX/XX/XXXX with documentation or account records. 
XXXX has not provided a detailed breakdown of the {$3600.00} balance, including payments, interest, fees, and charges. 
These omissions violate FDCPA 1692g ( b ), which requires furnishers and collectors to validate debts upon dispute. NFCUs ongoing failure to validate while reporting adverse information compounds the harm caused.

Harm Caused : Without validation, the reported debt is unverifiable and legally questionable, yet it remains on my credit profile. This has caused financial harm, including higher borrowing costs and denial of credit opportunities, as well as emotional distress from the ongoing uncertainty and misrepresentation of my financial history. 

XXXX. Mishandling of Disputes by XXXX and Equifax XXXX and Equifax have failed to conduct a reasonable investigation into my disputes, as required by FCRA 611 ( a ) : XXXX continues to report unverifiable and conflicting information without proper reconciliation or substantiation. 
Equifax fails to address discrepancies and omits critical account data for XX/XX/XXXX, leaving the account status unresolved. 
Both CRAs failures to reconcile or correct discrepancies after my disputes violate their legal obligations to ensure accurate and complete reporting. 

Harm Caused : The mishandling of disputes has perpetuated the presence of false and misleading information on my credit profile, affecting my financial standing and ability to secure credit. Additionally, the lack of resolution has caused significant stress, frustration, and reputational damage. 

XXXX. Omission of Key Account Information Both CRAs fail to provide the full account number or complete contact information for XXXX. This omission violates FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ), which requires credit reports to include all identifying information for accounts and furnishers. 

Harm Caused : The lack of identifying information hinders my ability to directly resolve inaccuracies with XXXX, compounding the stress and difficulty of resolving this dispute. This omission also suggests systemic noncompliance by both CRAs. 

Applicable Legal Precedents Failure to Verify Reporting Accuracy : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : CRAs must independently investigate disputes and ensure accuracy, not merely rely on furnishers. 
XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) : CRAs are liable for inaccuracies caused by failure to verify data. 
Failure to Validate Debt : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : Debt XXXX must validate debts upon request and can not pursue collection until validation is provided. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) : CRAs must delete or correct unverifiable data. 
Mishandling of Disputes : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : Failure to mark accounts as disputed misleads creditors and violates the FCRA. 
XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) : CRAs must investigate disputes thoroughly. 
Damages Caused XXXX. Financial Harm Increased borrowing costs due to a lowered credit score caused by inaccurate and conflicting reporting. 
Denied credit opportunities, affecting my ability to secure loans, housing, and other financial necessities. 
XXXX. Emotional Distress Stress and XXXX  from dealing with unresolved disputes and the ongoing harm to my financial reputation. 
Reputational damage from the false perception of irresponsibility, which affects both personal and professional relationships. 
XXXX. Quality of Life Impact Inability to secure affordable credit or necessary financing has disrupted my life, causing additional expenses and missed opportunities for myself and my daughter. 
The burden of addressing these violations has consumed significant time and resources, further impacting my overall well-being.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation