Consumer complaint received 2024-04-22 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: SC

Complaint narrative:
As a young veteran I suffered from a XXXX that my government would not acknowledge. Because of this I lost a XXXX dollar a year job and ended up homeless. In XXXX I was found in an alley clinging to life with a fractured skull. I ended up in a VA facility where XXXX XXXX helped me get my XXXX addressed. A few years later I was able to by a home. Unfortunately, I purchased a predatory loan from XXXX. They were later fined but in XXXX I was forced into bankruptcy. 
Bankruptcy is a devastating process, especially for someone with a stress related condition. Dealing with the ruthlessness of the Credit bureaus was an unbelievable process, but I got through. In XXXX the bankruptcy came off my credit and I for the first time in my life I achieved and excellent credit rating by following the Credit Bureaus rules. 
The problem is the credit bureaus make the rules as they go along. It is known fact that a person must not only carry debt but do it in the fashion dictated by the banks to excellent credit. My XXXX XXXX stagnated from XXXX until XXXX. Although, I carried debt on my credit cards and paid my bills onetime. I havent missed a payment on anything since my bankruptcy in XXXX. I get daily credit scores through my bank with score factors. Last year it was suggested that not having revolving debt was hurting my XXXX XXXX, so I took out a personal loan that I didnt need costing hundreds in interest. Not only did it not improve my credit it dropped my score XXXX points and out of the excellent range. Recently I spoke with Experian XXXX about matter relating to my score. 
It is a rule that one must carry a certain amount of credit debt to maintain credit. Once based on suggestions by the an Experian representative I increased the balance on my cards which is still well below the good credit percentage. Then I received an alert from Experian telling me my score had gone down. Fearing there may be fraud on my account I tried to contact Experian for days and was unable to talk anyone. If it had actually been fraud I would have been financially ruined by the time I got through to Experian Customer service. The site regularly malfunctions and will not let me access my information. 
After many attempts I was able to access my information. It seems that once again following the credit bureaus suggestions has hurt my credit and caused me to assume debt that I didnt need and couldnt afford. This is clear fraud and a deceptive business practice. These bureaus are making apparent salacious suggestions to consumers improve credit through the banks credit monitoring. XXXX weeks ago they told me having a XXXX balance was hurting my credit now theyre telling that carrying an insignificant balance is hurting. The opposite of what they told me XXXX weeks ago. 
Id like to know what the actually rules are for the record because Im unable to get a straight answer from the credit burueas. I want to know how Experian justifies lowering my credit after following there advice. XXXX XXXX has done likewise the same. My credit balances were only increased into the range which Is considered acceptable debt. Im well below 25 % and above XXXX, but again it appears they make up the rules as they go. As I said in the last two years I have been buying things I dont need and taking out loans I dont need to maintain excellent credit in the hopes I will someday as a XXXX veteran be able to own a home again. These companies are deceiving consumers into debt under a guise of better credit. I would also like to know why Experian Customer service cant be reached by phone and I have to contact a government agency to address issues with my credit report. In addition why is Experians Website constantly inoperable? These companies hold be peoples lives in their hands. Credit is everything in this world. The importance of the effort it takes to maintain excellent credit is being undermined. In a truly free society these companies would be held accountable for their financial treachery.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation