Consumer complaint received 2025-02-13 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: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Complaint to the CFPB AgainsXXXX XXXX Subject : Violations of the FCRA and Privacy Violations Related to Reporting of American Express Account ( Partial Account Number : XXXX ) Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am filing this formal complaint against XXXX for their failure to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) in the handling and reporting of an American Express account ( Partial Account Number : XXXX ). The violations include inaccurate reporting, retention of outdated information, discrepancies in data, and unauthorized disclosure of sensitive personal information. These actions have caused harm to my credit profile, privacy, and financial well-being. 

Violations of the FCRA by XXXX XXXX. Inaccurate and Conflicting Account Status Reporting XXXX is reporting this account as charged off in XX/XX/XXXX, while comments in the report state that the account was closed at my request. 
Violation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), XXXX is required to follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy. Reporting conflicting account statuses undermines the integrity of the credit report and violates this statutory requirement. 
2. Retention of Negative Information Beyond the FCRA Limit This account is scheduled to remain on my credit report until XX/XX/XXXX, exceeding the FCRAs seven-year limit for reporting negative information.

Violation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ), negative information must not remain on a consumer report for more than seven years. If XXXX has re-aged the debt to extend its reporting period, this constitutes an intentional violation of the FCRA. 
3. Incomplete and Missing Payment History The payment history for this account shows No Data for multiple months, rendering the report incomplete and misleading. 
Violation : Incomplete reporting of payment history violates 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ), which requires accuracy and completeness in consumer credit reports.

4. Balance Reporting Discrepancies XXXX has reported a high balance of {$67000.00}, yet the most recent balance is listed as {$10000.00} as of XX/XX/XXXX. These figures are inconsistent and unverified. 
Violation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), XXXX must take steps to validate and ensure the accuracy of reported balances before including them in a consumer report. 
Violations of Privacy and Unauthorized XXXX XXXX. Unauthorized Sharing of Personal Information XXXX associated my legal name change, XXXX XXXX XXXX, with this account despite me never sharing this information with American Express. 
Violation : This unauthorized disclosure violates 15 U.S.C. 1681b, which limits permissible purposes for accessing and sharing consumer information.

6. Violation of Privacy Rights XXXX may have improperly disclosed or accessed my personal information, including my legal name change, without authorization. 
Violation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, XXXX is required to protect sensitive consumer information and ensure it is not disclosed without consent. 
Failure to Conduct Proper Verification 7. Lack of Verification of Discrepancies XXXX has failed to verify discrepancies in account status, balances, and payment history with the data furnisher ( American Express ). 
Violation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ), XXXX must ensure all information reported by furnishers is verified and accurate. Their failure to investigate disputes and discrepancies violates this provision. 
8. Misleading Reporting on Closed Accounts XXXX continues to report a balance of {$10000.00} on an account that was closed at my request. Reporting a balance on a closed account with a charged off status misrepresents the nature of the account.

Violation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ), reporting inaccurate statuses and balances on closed accounts is unlawful. 
Requested Resolution To resolve these violations and rectify the harm caused by Equifaxs actions, I demand the following : Immediate Deletion of the Trade Line Remove the American Express account ( Partial Account Number : XXXX ) from my credit report entirely, as the reporting is inaccurate, incomplete, and in violation of the FCRA. 
Written Explanation for Violations Provide a detailed explanation of the procedures followed to verify this account 's status, balance, and payment history. 
Address how and why my personal information, including my legal name change, was shared or disclosed without consent. 
Transparency and Documentation XXXX must provide : Evidence validating the high balance of {$67000.00} and the rationale for the reported balance of {$10000.00}. 
Documentation confirming that my personal name change was not shared or disclosed improperly. 
Correct Reporting Practices Commit to revising and improving internal processes to ensure compliance with 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) and prevent similar reporting errors in the future. 
Compensation for Damages XXXX must compensate me for the financial and emotional harm caused by these violations, including : Statutory damages of up to {$1000.00} for each FCRA violation, as permitted under 15 U.S.C. 1681n ( a ).

Additional punitive damages for willful noncompliance.

Free Credit Monitoring Provide at least two years of free credit monitoring services to ensure accurate reporting and protect against future errors or unauthorized disclosures. 
Conclusion Equifaxs failure to comply with the FCRA and its mishandling of my sensitive personal information have caused significant harm to my financial standing and personal reputation. I urge the CFPB to take immediate action to investigate these violations, hold XXXX accountable, and compel them to provide the requested relief. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation