Consumer complaint received 2025-07-02 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company: Westlake Services, LLC
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Hi there, after agreeing to a lower settlement offer with Wilshire Consumer Credit on XX/XX/XXXX, it has been showing up as a partial payment instead of a settlement on my credit report for 18 months now. As of right now, it is showing as a charge off on my account instead of a settlement that can be taken off my report. I paid {$2000.00} to Wilshire Consumer Credit on XX/XX/XXXX as a settlement for the entire balance of {$3600.00}. The representative that I spoke to on XX/XX/XXXX was XXXX XXXX. In the phone call, we agreed on a settlement offer of {$2000.00}. It was taken out of my personal bank account that day. I recently checked my credit when being screened for a new apartment for which I was denied. I believe this was a part of the reason for denial as it was still showing as a current balance still owed for {$3600.00}. Today, XX/XX/XXXX, I called Wilshire Consumer Credit to speak with a representative. XXXX XXXX answered the phone and said he needed to transfer me after he found my account. After a few minutes of waiting, the phone call dropped. Then, I called back the same number 3 times. After entering my last 4 of my SS to verify identity, I was briefly connected to a female rep each time where the calls were dropped just after she said her name. This happened 3 times with the female rep. Then, I called a second number I found online and the call was dropped, once again, after putting in my 4 SS digits and transferred to the same female rep. Is there a mechanism this company is using to drop calls when they have customer complaints- as in taking my settlement offer as a partial payment on a balance instead of the full settlement? I had moved a month after this call and do not recall if I received the settlement letter. It surely will be recorded in the phone call. 

In addition, I am submitting another complaint for another company, XXXX that utilized this same tactic after I was able to get a fraudulent stationary accident off my history report that was reported by " Customer '' instead of " CLUE ''. I only know this happened because I asked my insurance carrier to send me my driving history they were using for my rates. So I called the number XXXX gave me when I opened a claim. I would always be able to get through one time, be helped or transferred, and the call would magically drop. This would continue to happen for days. These calls were dropped in XXXX XXXX, CA where the calls from Wilshire Consumer Credit were dropped in XXXX, NJ. It was not my signal. I believe these companies are both using a mechanism to drop calls of customers with complaints or asking for consumer reports. 

This increased my rates that I had to use a third party insurer for over a year. This accident, they deemed it fraudulent on XX/XX/XXXX. This accident was stated to have happened on XX/XX/XXXX ; however, it was not reported to my insurance XXXX or the XXXX. I have documentation from my XXXX insurance that no accident was reported. My XXXX is also clear. It was also listed at {$1000.00}, which is the bare minimum for reporting accidents. XXXX, during a phone call, on XX/XX/XXXX, stated they deemed this accident fraudulent, removed it from my report, and there was no evidence they could send me of it ever being on my report. I thought this was odd as I wanted to report this to your Bureau and to see whom would do this. Therefore, I requested my XXXX report from them to see that it was cleared. XXXX sent me XXXX letters to access my report online with which I had to enter a passcode from the physical letter. Each time, the passcode did not work when I entered it on multiple devices and internet platforms. I called back to let them know, and I requested a hard copy of my report be sent to me California address. I never received this report. I called back to see if it had been send and they said yes. This was over XXXX weeks ago in XX/XX/XXXX. I have still not been able to access my XXXX XXXX XXXX report to this day, XX/XX/XXXX as they are not giving me access to it. 

It does not seem like there would be a benefit to anyone fraudulently claiming to be me to to add this to my report. I have a Federal Complaint with the XXXX XXXX XXXX California against an ex-partner, Special Agent in Charge XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, for back channeling my employment and now, this with my credit report. He is in need of some healing at this time. I do appreciate your help with this. Thank you, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation