Consumer complaint received 2025-09-08 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
This complaint details the willful non-compliance and willful violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) by the credit reporting agencies and the furnisher of the information, SCA Collections. 

This issue is a severe billing error that has been corrected, yet continues to be maliciously and inaccurately reported by both parties. 

The original creditor, XXXX XXXX XXXX, failed to submit a claim for services to my health insurance provider, XXXX Florida, in a timely manner. At the time the services were rendered, I had active and verifiable health insurance coverage. I took it upon myself to reach out to XXXX Florida and after a thorough review, they correctly processed the claim and paid the provider, resolving the balance to XXXX. 

I provided documented proof from XXXX Florida specifically, the processed claim statement showing a {$0.00} balance to both the Credit reporting agencies and XXXX Collections. Despite receiving this irrefutable evidence of the debt 's resolution, both companies " validated '' the debt and continued to report it as delinquent on my credit file. 

This action constitutes a willful violation of their duties under the FCRA. Experian, TransUnion and Equifax failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of my dispute, and XXXX Collections failed to correct inaccurate information after receiving documentation proving its inaccuracy. Both parties were put on notice with clear evidence and chose to disregard it, validating a debt they knew to be inaccurate.

My Rights Violated ( FCRA Sections ) : 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Mandates that consumer reporting agencies ( CRAs ) conduct a " reasonable reinvestigation '' of a disputed item.

15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) & ( b ) : Requires furnishers of information to provide accurate information and to conduct a reasonable investigation upon receiving a dispute from a CRA.

15 U.S.C. 1681n : Establishes civil liability for willful non-compliance with the FCRA, which applies when a company acts with reckless disregard for a consumer 's rights. The willful validation of a debt that I had already proven to be resolved falls under this category. 

While the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) requires that a consumer reporting agency ( CRA ) like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion conduct a " full, complete, and accurate '' reinvestigation of all disputed items, the aforementioned agencies have failed to meet this obligation. Instead of conducting a diligent and reasonable investigation, they have immediately validated the inaccurate information provided by the furnisher without any meaningful review or consideration of the evidence I provided. 

This failure to perform a proper reinvestigation is not merely an oversight ; it constitutes a willful and reckless non-compliance with its duties under Section 611 of the FCRA. A reasonable investigation would have required the credit bureaus to do more than simply accept the furnisher 's response as fact. By " rubber-stamping '' the disputed information, these agencies have demonstrated a deliberate disregard for the accuracy of my credit file and my rights as a consumer.

The consequences of this willful non-compliance have been severe and far-reaching. The continued reporting of this inaccurate information has : Directly and negatively impacted my creditworthiness. This has resulted in a lower credit score, which has made it difficult or impossible to secure new lines of credit, or has forced me to accept less favorable interest rates and terms. 

Caused significant financial hardship and emotional distress. I have been subjected to substantial stress, XXXX, and frustration as a result of trying to correct this error. The process has consumed a great deal of my time and has created a feeling of powerlessness in the face of a system that is supposed to protect me.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation