vivekkopthsd/cfpb-consumer-complaints huggingface dataset:
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
On or about XXXX XXXX, my information was improperly used to attempt to open a line of credit with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I had made no application with them and I contacted them to notify them that this was fraud. 

I was advised to place fraud alerts onto the 3 major credit reporting agencies. Equifax, XXXX XXXX XXXX. When I contacted each of them to place this alert, only Equifax then redirected me to sales to attempt to sell me credit protection services for over $ XXXX. I wo n't even go into how tone deaf the person was and their attempt to trick me via standard telemarketing tactics. I will say it does n't surprise me that at all that they would resort to the same slimy tactics as fake vacation voucher reps. 

I then placed freezes on all 3 reporting agencies. For the privilege of not having my identity stolen through a service they provide without my consent, I was charged {$10.00} by each of them and will be charged more to have it removed. 

Fast forward to yesterday XXXX/XXXX/XXXX when Equifax announces they had a major data breach in XXXX. I am very careful with my information and find it more than a little likely that chain of events went a little something like this. 

Equifax provides negligent stewardship of high value personal information for millions of people. Hackers steal it. Equifax then tries to sell me the privilege of having them protect me from the situation they themselves caused. When I want to tell them to not provide this information without my advanced consent, Equifax charges me {$10.00} to freeze it and I can pay to have it unfrozen later if I need it. Then to make sure no one has used my identity for any other fraudulent activity, I can either wait 6 weeks for them to send me a report or I can pay them more money. 

Equifax should not be permitted to sell services that protects from their own negligence and the extremely poor security around the core consumer credit market. Identity theft is trivial because the brunt of the damage and liability is not borne by the companies whose duty it is to protect. 

Legislation should be introduced that requires real security on credit portfolios and proper identification of the borrower before credit lines can be opened. The credit card companies finally figured out that they have to do something about the fraud because they were on the hook for it. It 's time for the credit reporting companies to feel the same pain or this will never end.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AL

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my personal information including name, social security number, address, birthdate, driver 's license number, and possibly more. They allowed a data breach to occur in XXXX XXXX, and they confirmed I could be affected on their website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. They have put myself and millions of others at risk of identity theft/fraud due to negligent security protocols in handling consumer information. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation by signing injured parties they are responsible for up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services. The negligent loss of personal information of nearly 200 million consumers is unconscionably unethical, and it is further unreasonable that they are not directly notifying every single person affected by this incident.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: KS

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my personal information including name, social security number, address, birthdate, driver 's license number, and possibly more. They allowed a data breach to occur in XXXX XXXX, and they confirmed I could be affected on their website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. They have put myself and millions of others at risk of identity theft/fraud due to negligent security protocols in handling consumer information. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation by signing injured parties THEY are responsible for up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services. They are simultaneously defrauding these injured parties with hidden terms of service that waive their right to sue the company in what is clearly a situation of criminal negligence/fraudulent behavior as indicated by the three Equifax executives who dumped stock immediately prior to the data breach announcement.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: UT

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my personal information including Name, Social Security #, Address, Birthdate, etc. resulting in a data breach in XXXX 2017 that they confirmed I was affected by per their " Potential Impact '' site www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. 

They have put myself and millions of others at risk of identity theft/fraud due to negligent security protocols in handling consumer information. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation by signing injured parties THEY are responsible for up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services. 

Also it appears they are simultaneously defrauding these injured parties with hidden terms of service that waive their right to sue the company in what is clearly a situation of criminal negligence/fraudulent behavior, as indicated by the three Equifax executives that dumped stock immediately prior to the data breach announcement.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax was hacked and based on their own website check, my personal information may have been impacted by the hack. They did not agree to have my personal information released to hackers, so the information in my credit report was used improperly.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OK

Complaint narrative:
Unsafely stored my personal information without my knowledge and now can not determine if my information was stolen in a recent breach of their systems/databases.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Student loan — Private student loan
Issue: Dealing with your lender or servicer — Problem with customer service
Company: AES/PHEAA
State: CT

Complaint narrative:
I paid off my student loan on XX/XX/XXXX in full. There was an {$630.00} overage. I told AES about it. They stated it would be returned by mail ( check ) within 30days. I have no received anything yet and every week I e-mail them asking. All the say is that I am owed {$630.00} and it will come approximately 30days from when I paid my loan in full. It has been almost two months and they are not refunding my money.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MA

Complaint narrative:
> Equifax mishandled my personal information including Name, Social Security #, Address, Birthdate,  etc. resulting in a data breach in XX/XX/XXXX that they confirmed I was affected by per their " Potential Impact '' site www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. 

> They have put myself and millions of others at risk of identity theft/fraud due to negligent security protocols in handling consumer information. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation by signing injured parties THEY are responsible for up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services. 

> They are simultaneously defrauding these injured parties with hidden terms of service that waive their right to sue the company in what is clearly a situation of criminal negligence/fraudulent behavior as indicated by the three Equifax executives that dumped stock immediately prior to the data breach announcement.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Equifax did not properly protect my personal information and it has been breached by a hacker/unknown sources.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
This is in regards to the recent leak of information from Equifax including private personal and financial information, mine included. It is unacceptable for a organization that is in control of such important information to be open to such data loss. It shows a gross disregard for information security.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
I have been informed that my personal data was compromised by the Equifax breach in the summer of 2017. I assert that this breach was a combination of the lack of proper security controls ( initial breach ), the lack of sufficient security response ( duration of breach ), and the lack of transparency ( duration between knowledge of breach and notification of potentially impacted individuals ). While I have yet to  verify any loss, I will now incur charges due to putting in place credit freezes, credit monitoring, and am exposed to the potential of income tax fraud.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Equifax , Inc. was victim to a wide scale cyber attack that lasted fromXX/XX/XXXX where intruders gained access to information about 143 million U.S. customers of the credit reporting agency. Intruders accessed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and drivers license numbers as well as credit card numbers for about 209,000 consumers. The company set up a website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, that I used to determine that my information was indeed compromised.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
I was affected with the Equifax breach, confirmed by their website as of XXXX XXXX, XXXX. My name, address, SSN and credit card information was accessed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
My credit report was stolen from equifax servers without my consent. 
Equifax did not notify me right away and waited more than 2 months before informing the public, well after the company executives sold off their shares in the company.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Mortgage — VA mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage — 
Company: PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I have been struggling to keep my mortgage payments current and I 'm doing everything that I can. I have made several late payments but have recovered. I just got a letter from my mortgage company saying that my escrow account was insufficient by {$5000.00} and they need to collect the money. With the increase in my escrow from anticipating next years taxes and re-paying the mortgage company for deficit in my escrow this year my mortgage payment has increased almost {$800.00} per month. This is more than I can afford and I 'm afraid I will lose my house. I bought the home a year ago and I just do n't understand how my escrow could have been so incorrectly measured. I ca n't afford the {$5000.00} hit and with a brand new loan I do n't understand how this could 've happened. I called Penny Mac yesterday ( XXXX/XXXX/XXXX called at XXXX central ) and they would not or could not explain why it was so underfunded. I need help.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/2017 I saw reports of a large Data breach at Equifax. I went to the Equifax site and found that my information was compromised as part of the data breach. Equifax has known about this breach for weeks and not notified people that were impacted by this. Also, I am seeing articles stating that Equifax employees sold a bunch of stock prior to the breach being made public.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
I contacted USAA to inquire as to why my credit card reporting status showed under adverse accounts on my XXXX  report.I was never late with the account. I was advised that the company closed the account and that is why it is reporting as adverse. I specified the company closed the account because I had to go through a credit counseling agency to get an interest reduction and the stipulation for the reduction was that the account be closed. USAA would not negotiate a lower interest with me even though I was not late. I was instructed to dispute the account with the reporting agency XXXX 
I filed a dispute with XXXX because USAA stated they would not change the status. Initially, it appeared as closed. However, the completion of the investigation with XXXX  now shows the account is being managed by a financial counseling program. This addition to my report caused a decline in which my score went from XXXX to XXXX. If USAA did n't have that notation on my credit report before hand why did they feel compelled to place it on my credit report now.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
XXXX was hacked and failed to notify consumers. I was a consumer that was impacted by this hack. Managers sold stock before notifying customers. Unacceptable. My private information has now been shared with the President 's best XXXX buds.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Failed to secure my information and was accessed. Now my personal information may be at risk for identity theft.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
My personal information may have been stolen during the Equifax security breach. I have already visited www.equifaxsecurity2017.com, and after I entered my information, I received this message : " Thank You -- Based on the information provided, we believe that your personal information may have been impacted by this incident ... '' Because I may be affected by the breach, I have placed a 90 day fraud alert on my file.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Mortgage debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Alco Collections, Inc.
State: LA

Complaint narrative:
A couple of months ago I tried to dispute a debt that was reported on my credit by Alco collections. The debt is a debt that is not owed by me. Me and my fianc at the time were renting a house things didnt work out we both agreed to split. We both talked with the property manager and she agreed to remove my name off of the lease and to change the locks. I didnt have a key to the property. He still lived there. He had an unpaid balance when he left the house and it reported on my credit also. Last year in XXXX I contacted the property and the manager wrote me a letter stating this debt does not belong to me. It still reports on my credit. I contacted the collection agency sent in the document that the property manager typed for me. He was very rude and unprofessional. He was supposed to get back with me and never did. My ex fianc even tried to contact him to explain that this was his debt. Hes hung on him several times. Today I called again and he returned my call a couple hours later. I explained to him that its been a month and he still hasnt gotten back with me after the investigation. He rudely says its your debt! I tried explaining to him again the situation he cuts me off says Ill send you the paperwork and hangs up on me. I called back several times and left messages. No one from the company will even return my call. I even offered to give him my ex fianc number to call and he hangs up on me. This is over bearing simply because I can not rent or buy with this debt of XXXX $ on my credit that doesnt belong to me. XXXX XXXX XXXX is one of the rudest and inconsiderate people Ive came in contact with and he should not be employed there.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax 's data breach, ending in XXXX XXXX, was not announced till XXXX with no remedial action for individuals unless opted-in. Instead, I can only check if I was a victim ( I was ) by waiving my right to participate in legal action ( only later clarified not to be the case after the NY Attorney General requested clarification publicly ). Furthermore, the identity protection offered as compensation ( which was not clarified to have included waiving right to participate in class action ) lasts only one year whereas the fraud can be committed as long as the information stolen are valid. 

The massive delay between response, not to mention the Equifax CFO and other executives selling unscheduled shares, only indicates unwillingness to shoulder responsibility of data theft. Now I must place credit freeze with all credit rating agency at my own expense, freezes that I must now maintain for life as the data stolen only expires after my XXXX 

Too add insult to injury, Equifax 's security freeze can be unfrozen with a 10 digit pin - generated based on the date and year when the freeze was submitted. If I submitted a freeze on XXXX XXXX, XXXX, my pin will be XXXX. Given the rush to protect one 's credit, I am certain a four digit combination is n't enough to protect the 143 million affected.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
Equifax was hacked 2 months ago, they did nothing about it until now and all of my information has been compromised. They 've given no next step instructions, or explanations on how this happened.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MS

Complaint narrative:
Equifax has indicated it believes my information was compromised in the XXXX XXXX 2017 data breach. Of course, Equifax was not intentionally trying to give my information away -- however, the circumstances surrounding how they handled the situation is frankly unethical and likely illegal. I work for the XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, and when I read Equifax was saving sensitive user information in plain text I nearly burst a blood vessel. Handling sensitive user information in such a way is, at best, grossly negligent. I would probably get court martialed if I did something like that at my job. 
Secondly, Equifax executives knew about the breach for months, and not only did they not immediately inform the public, they cashed out their stock in the company. Last I checked, trading on insider information is illegal, and not informing compromised individuals as soon as possible is highly unethical.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation