Consumer complaint received 2025-02-13 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Complaint Against : American Express Subject : Illegal and Unethical Reporting Practices under the FCRA Account : American Express Partial Account Number : XXXX To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this complaint against American Express for numerous, willful, and negligent violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) related to the reporting of my account with Partial Account Number XXXX. 

These violations have caused significant harm, including emotional distress, financial damage, and potential identity theft. I am seeking immediate corrective action, including the permanent deletion of this trade line from all credit reporting agencies. 

Violations of the FCRA by American Express 1. Inaccurate Reporting of a Charged-Off Balance American Express is unlawfully reporting a balance of {$9900.00} on an account that has been charged off. This practice directly contradicts FCRA 1681e ( b ), which requires the accuracy of reported information. If the account is charged off : Why does it still reflect an outstanding balance? 

Has American Express verified the validity of this balance, or was it reported without due diligence? 

Additionally, if the debt has been sold to a third party, American Express has no legal standing to continue reporting the balance, yet it persists. If the debt was forgiven or canceled, there should be a {$0.00} balance reported, and I should have received a 1099-C form in compliance with federal tax reporting laws.

2. Incomplete and Inaccurate Payment History The payment history for this account is reported as " No Data '' for most months. This constitutes incomplete reporting, violating FCRA 1681e ( b ), which mandates the accuracy and completeness of information.

American Express failed to provide a full and accurate payment history, rendering the reported data misleading.

3. Violation of the FCRAs Seven-Year Reporting Limit This account is scheduled to remain on my credit report until XX/XX/year>, yet American Express has not provided the official date of first delinquency to substantiate this timeline. This could be an intentional or negligent violation of FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ), which limits the reporting of adverse information to seven years from the date of first delinquency.

4. Mishandling of Dispute and Investigation Requirements I have disputed this account, yet there is no indication on my credit report that it is in dispute, violating FCRA 1681i ( c ). Furthermore : American Express has failed to provide documentation proving it conducted a reasonable investigation into the validity of the disputed information as required by FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ).

5. Privacy Violations and Unauthorized Disclosure The account is being reported under a name I never provided to American Express : XXXX XXXX XXXX. This represents a severe breach of my privacy and raises alarming concerns regarding identity theft : I never submitted my legal name change to American Express. 

American Express appears to have obtained and shared this private information without my consent, violating FCRA 1681b ( a ), which governs the permissible purposes for obtaining and sharing consumer information.

This mishandling of my private data may be part of a broader pattern of illegal practices or identity theft, which warrants further investigation.

6. Failure to Ensure Address Accuracy The address associated with this account does not match the one I provided to American Express. This inconsistency further demonstrates negligence in complying with FCRA 1681e ( b ), which requires the accuracy of all reported information.

Requested Resolution To resolve these violations, I am requesting the following actions from American Express and oversight from the CFPB : Immediate and Permanent Deletion of the Trade Line The account with Partial Account Number XXXX must be permanently removed from all credit reporting agencies ( XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX ) due to its numerous FCRA violations and the harm caused to me as a consumer. 

Acknowledgment of Wrongdoing and Privacy Violation American Express must issue a formal acknowledgment of its failure to comply with the FCRA and its mishandling of my personal information, including the unauthorized reporting of my legal name change. 

Investigation into Potential Identity Theft A thorough investigation must be conducted to determine how my private legal name change was obtained, shared, and reported without my consent. 
Compensation for Damages Statutory Damages : As provided under FCRA 1681n, I seek statutory damages of up to {$1000.00} per violation for each instance of willful non-compliance. 

Actual Damages : I request compensation for the emotional distress and financial harm caused by these violations, amounting to no less than {$10000.00}. 
Punitive Damages : To deter future violations, punitive damages should be assessed in accordance with FCRA 1681n.

Commitment to Future Compliance American Express must review and update its reporting, investigation, and data-sharing practices to ensure full compliance with the FCRA.

Conclusion American Express has shown a reckless disregard for its legal obligations under the FCRA, causing me significant harm. The persistent inaccurate reporting, mishandling of disputes, and potential privacy violations are unacceptable.

I request the CFPB to take immediate action to hold American Express accountable for its violations and ensure they comply with federal law. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation