Consumer complaint received 2025-01-22 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB, I am writing to formally request your assistance in investigating a violation of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other applicable consumer protection laws related to the reporting of a student loan on my credit report by XXXX. 


On XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX I sent a Debt Validation Letter to XXXX, requesting that they provide me with the following documentation regarding my student loan account : - A copy of the original contract with the original signature, - A detailed payment history from the original creditor, and - Proof that the debt was transferred to them, if applicable, from the original lender. 

I sent this request via certified mail to ensure delivery and kept a copy of all correspondence. 

Violation of Rights : Despite my formal request, XXXX has failed to provide the required documentation or validation of the debt. Specifically : 1. They have **not provided the original signed contract** or the **payment history** from the original creditor. 
2. They have **not substantiated their claim** to be the rightful owner or servicer of this debt, nor have they provided sufficient proof that they are entitled to collect on it.

3. They have continued to **report the student loan debt on my credit report**, without proper verification of the debt as required by law under the **Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) **, Section 609 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), which mandates that a consumer has the right to request and receive evidence of the debt and the contract that gives rise to the obligation.

Under the **Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) **, I also understand that creditors and debt collectors are required to respond within a reasonable time frame to debt validation requests. The fact that [ Name of Credit Reporting Company or Creditor ] has not provided the requested validation within the prescribed 30-day period constitutes a violation of my rights under this law. 

As a result of their failure to respond adequately, I am requesting that the student loan be **removed from my credit report** immediately, as it has been reported inaccurately and in violation of my rights to request proper validation of the debt. 

# # # Fair Resolution Request : Given the violations outlined above, I request the following : 1. **Immediate Removal of the Student Loan from My Credit Report : ** The student loan should be removed from my credit report entirely, as [ Name of Credit Reporting Company or Creditor ] has failed to provide the necessary validation or documentation required under the **FCRA** and **FDCPA**.

2. **Investigation into Potential Inaccuracies : ** I request that the CFPB initiate an investigation into the actions of [ Name of Credit Reporting Company or Creditor ] for failure to comply with the debt validation and credit reporting requirements under the **FCRA** and **FDCPA**.

3. **Correction of Any Negative Reporting : ** If for any reason the student loan can not be removed, I request that the reporting be corrected to reflect that the debt is under dispute, and that the lender or collection agency has failed to provide the required documentation to validate the debt.

4. **Formal Acknowledgment from the Credit Reporting Company : ** I request that the company involved formally acknowledge their failure to comply with my request and provide a detailed explanation of their error and steps to correct the issue.

Legal Rights and Consumer Protection : Under the **Fair Credit Reporting Act** ( FCRA ), I am entitled to dispute any inaccuracies on my credit report, and the creditor or reporting agency must either validate the debt or correct any errors within 30 days. They have failed to meet their obligations under the **EFTA** ( Electronic Fund Transfer Act ) and **Regulation E** as it pertains to debt verification and dispute handling.

I trust that the CFPB will investigate this matter and ensure that my rights are upheld, as I am being unfairly burdened by a debt that has not been properly validated. 

Thank you for your attention to this issue. I look forward to a prompt resolution. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Ga XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation