Debt collection -- Attempts to collect debt not owed -- Complaint #6560807
Complaint Overview
Complaint ID: 6560807
Company: Equifax, INC.
Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Auto debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-Issue: Debt was paid
State: Ohio
ZIP Code: 440XX
Date Received: 2023-02-11T12:00:00-05:00
Date Sent to Company: 2023-02-11T12:00:00-05:00
Company Response: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Submitted Via: Web
Consumer Narrative
I submitted a previous complaint to XXXX about this issue, however the complaint was ignored as their response appeared to be in response to a separate complaint. Therefore I am resubmitting the complaint with TWO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS that I except XXXX to respond to : 1. I was a perfect customer of yours for 3 years of a lease, never missing a payment. When the lease was finalized in XX/XX/XXXX, I turned in the vehicle and bought a different make from the dealership. Then much later, in XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX charged me a fee and said they would have waived it if I had gotten a XXXX. Nine months earlier, nobody mentioned this fee or offered to waive it if I got another XXXX. Also, ignoring the fact that I have a receipt showing I pre-paid the turn-in fee, my question is this : why does XXXX think its appropriate to take 9 months to invoice a customer, then while that customer attempts to call-in and confirm the accuracy of the charge, XXXX instantly begins reporting late payments to the credit agencies? Why can XXXX take an unreasonable amount of time to submit an invoice, and not afford the customer a single day to understand where this charge is coming from ( especially when XXXX was unresponsive during the pandemic and it was difficult to receive responses )? 2. The process to have XXXX honor the terms of the agreement was extremely unpleasant. After months of attempting to get through to XXXX, I realized it was not worth my time and effort, so I decided to simply pay the invoice ( for the second time ). I spoke to a representative who confirmed any negative remarks would be removed from my credit report if the fee was paid. Therefore, I paid the fee and provided proof of payment to XXXX. Unfortunately they continue to ignore this payment. So the question is : why do you ignore this payment and refuse to update the remarks to the credit reporting agencies? While it was unethical to immediately report late payments to your seriously delinquent issuance of the fee, it is absolutely immoral and illegal to lie about not receiving payment. Since the actual complaint questions have been ignored in the past, I just want to reiterate so there's no confusion about what questions XXXX should be responding to : 1. Why can you take 9 months and issue a delinquent invoice, but the customer has no time to confirm the accuracy? 2. Why are you refusing to acknowledge that payment was made, even though I have submitted proof of payment made on XX/XX/XXXX?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Complaint #6560807 about?
Complaint #6560807 was filed against Equifax, INC. regarding Debt collection specifically about Attempts to collect debt not owed. It was received by the CFPB on 2023-02-11T12:00:00-05:00.
How did Equifax, INC. respond to this complaint?
The company responded with: "Closed with explanation". The response was timely.
What is the risk level of this complaint?
See the risk assessment section for details on this complaint's risk profile.
How do I file a similar complaint?
You can file a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Select the appropriate product category (Debt collection) and describe your issue in detail.
Can I see other complaints against Equifax, INC.?
Yes, visit the Equifax, INC. company profile at readthecomplaint.com/company/equifax-inc to see all complaints, risk scores, and analysis.
Disclaimer
This analysis is AI-generated based on publicly available CFPB complaint data. It does not constitute financial or legal advice.