Consumer complaint received 2025-02-13 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: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/year>, I tried to file a complaint with Equifax and Experian about a debt collection from a company called XXXX XXXX XXXX. The apartment complex called XXXX XXXX XXXX owned by XXXX is trying to extort {$2500.00} from me by altering a lease agreement. The leasing agent altered my lease agreement regarding an early lease termination process without my consent. I opted for option XXXX which says I'd be responsible for the rest of the lease if they couldn't find another renter ( which they did. ) The leasing agent checked a box that indicated I chose the first option to pay $ XXXX to break the lease. I NEVER opted for this choice and the other box was checked already by me with my initials in the space next to it. I have documentation to prove the fraud. The font that the apartment complex used is different than the font that I used in the same document when I filled it out online. 
They submitted a debt collection without my knowledge to XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have collections notice on all three of my credit reports - equifax, experian and transunion. 

When I tried to dispute with Equifax and Experian, I could not submit all the documents. Many documents required PDFs or TIFFs. Even though the lease agreement was in a PDF document, I could not submit it due to storage limits or capacity limits. I could not find their email adress or another way to submit the dispute to them except by mail or phone. Mailing the amount documents I have ( at least XXXX pages ) is labor intensive, costly, time-consuming and an undue burden. 

Also the documents need to be converted to PDF or a picture format such png or jpg or tiff to be submitted. I do not have access to XXXX or PDF. I have to pay to get the XXXX software in order to process, fill out and re-size PDF documents in order to upload them to equifax or experian. I feel this is purposeful and deliberate consumer suppression. It is done deliberately to make it hard for consumers to protect themselves against fraudulent and deceptive debt collections agencies and corporate landlords who prey on vulnerable populations. These apartment companies routinely claim a renter or consumer owes money that they know the consumer or renter does not owe. 

Equifax and Experian seem to be complicit in this process. The only other way to contact Equifax or Experian is by phone in an attempt to get an email or have them walk you through how to fill out the forms so that the right info gets submitted. I tried to call them and could not get through to anyone. I was on hold for at least XXXX minutes with Equifax. No one picked up. With Experian, no matter how many buttons or choices I picked, they would not put me on with a representative. I have a job and can not afford to sit on the phone waiting for a representative to pick up or waste XXXX minutes trying to figuring out which buttons to push to get a live rep on the phone. This is another attempt by Equifax and Experian to suppress the consumer 's ability to defend themselves against predatory landlords and debt collections agencies.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation