Consumer complaint received 2024-11-20 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
I, XXXX XXXX, am writing to address several violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and related consumer protection laws that have occurred in my credit reporting process. After reviewing my credit report, I discovered numerous inaccuracies and violations that have had a significant impact on my financial wellbeing. These issues, which I am formally disputing, include unauthorized inquiries, inaccurate personal information, and the reporting of incorrect or unverifiable debts.

Summary of Violations : FCRA Section 616 Civil Liability for Willful Noncompliance : I noticed that credit information about me was accepted and reported without proper verification of its accuracy. According to 15 U.S. Code 1681n and 1681o, such willful noncompliance is punishable by civil liability, including potential damages of up to {$1000.00} per violation. This failure to properly verify the accuracy of my credit information violates my rights as a consumer.

FCRA Section 603 ( d ) ( 2 ) ( A ) Obligations with Respect to Disclosures of Personal Information : I was not informed of my right to opt out of the sharing of my personal information. This omission is a violation of the FCRA, which mandates that I be informed of my rights under 15 U.S. Code 1681b. The failure to disclose this important information is deceptive and violates my consumer rights.

FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 3 ) Furnishing Deceptive Forms : Certain accounts and inquiries were reported without proper validation or proper documentation. This includes reports of late payments on accounts that were never late and debts that were inaccurately listed. Under 15 U.S. Code 1681e ( b ), the FCRA requires that all information reported must be accurate, and creditors or debt collectors must furnish accurate information. Inaccurate reporting of these details is a violation of this regulation.

Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) : There were instances where debt collectors reported debts I do not owe, without my consent, and in ways that caused unnecessary contact from creditors. These practices violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), which restricts how debt collectors may communicate with consumers. Specifically, debt collectors should not report inaccurate or unverifiable debts, as this constitutes harassment and unfair business practices.

Acquiring Location Information Regulations : In addition to the reporting of inaccurate debts, third-party agencies were contacted by debt collectors to acquire information about me, and they stated that I owed a " debt. '' Under 15 U.S. Code 1692b, debt collectors are prohibited from disclosing information about debts to third parties unless specific criteria are met. This violation highlights a failure to respect my privacy and rights under the FDCPA.

Violation of Timely Payments Regulations : My credit report shows " late payments '' for accounts where no late payments were actually made. 15 U.S. Code 1681e ( b ) requires that all information reported must be accurate and consistent. Reporting " late payments '' without clear definitions of what constitutes a late payment is deceptive and misleading.

Violation of Finance Charge Determination : Some finance charges were inaccurately calculated or not properly disclosed. Under 15 U.S. Code 1666 and related regulations, credit reporting agencies and creditors are required to determine finance charges accurately and report them in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ( GAAP ).

Violation of Credit Report Permissible Purposes : A number of unauthorized hard inquiries were made on my credit report by companies that did not have my consent, violating the permissible purposes under 15 U.S. Code 1681b ( a ) ( 2 ). This section of the FCRA clearly defines the permissible purposes for which a consumers credit report may be accessed, and unauthorized inquiries are prohibited.

The Requested Resolution : As a result of these violations, I am requesting the following actions : Immediate correction or removal of the inaccurate personal information from my credit report, including the incorrect address ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NC XXXX ). 
Updates to accounts such as XXXX and XXXX to reflect " paid as agreed '' rather than " late, '' as these payments were not made late. 
Validation of disputed debt collection accounts under 15 U.S. Code 1692g. If these debts can not be validated, I expect them to be removed from my credit report.

Removal of unauthorized hard inquiries, as outlined in 15 U.S. Code 1681b ( a ) ( 2 ).

I request written confirmation of these corrections and a copy of the updated credit report reflecting the changes.

If these violations are not addressed in a timely manner, I will be forced to pursue legal remedies, which may include filing complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and taking legal action as outlined under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and related laws.

In Conclusion : What happened is that I encountered multiple violations of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including inaccurate reporting, unauthorized hard inquiries, and failure to disclose important consumer rights. These violations have caused me distress and potentially damaged my credit score, and I am requesting that these issues be corrected promptly in accordance with federal law. 

I look forward to your timely response and the resolution of these issues. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation