Consumer complaint received 2022-11-08
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
My former communications have been exceedingly courteous and kind to XXXX, XXXX and Equifax and they have yet to fix the erroneous information, inaccurate accounts, and fraudulent information. Now, I am writing to set the record straight as I would very much like to ensure my credit score is showing an accurate depiction of my creditworthiness. These companies are reporting inaccurate and/or incorrect information including but not limited to inaccurate addresses, phone numbers, names and inaccurate and/or fraud accounts on my behalf. This inaccurate information is defaming my character and causing my to suffer damages. I am requesting your assistance in having this inaccurate information removed forthwith. 

While reviewing my credit report, I noticed that my name has been mystified with a credit file of someone with a similar name or names. My name is erroneously listed on my credit reports as " XXXX XXXX, I have no middle name, so there should NOT be a XXXX XXXX listed on my credit report. TO POINT OUT, my one and only correct name is XXXX XXXX. In addition, there is an inaccurate address on my credit report that I have never had any affiliation with or lived at. On top of this, there are fraudulent accounts that I did not open or authorize to be opened. This fraud information is defaming my character and causing me to suffer damages including but not limited to denial of employment and denial of residency based on my credit reports. DO NOT CONFUSE MY CREDIT FILE WITH PEOPLE OF SIMILAR NAME, ADDRESS OR SSN. PLEASE VERIFY ALL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION. 

Please be advised that my information has been leaked in a data breach. As a result, there has been some misuse of my information. To be specific, my information has been used to fraudulently obtain goods, services and open accounts. Therefore, I am writing to request an investigation, removal, and dispute of these unauthorized accounts, inquiries and information promptly. A credit investigation is supposed to involve reviewing documents, researching facts, interviewing witnesses, or comparing handwriting. During my previous dispute process, your company did NOT conduct a meaningful examination of the underlying facts, which is a mere violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Your company did NOT properly review any documents, research facts, or interview any witnesses, such as family, associates and/or neighbors. 
As previously mentioned, my identity information was leaked in a data breach. Please see the letter attached hereto advising that my information was leaked in a data breach. Moreover, Equifax announced a data breach that exposed the personal information of XXXX XXXX people. Unfortunately, I was one of those people. As can be seen, I am a victim of identity theft, my information has been used to fraudulently obtain service and open accounts. 

Pursuant to 15 U.S. Code 1681b, permissible purposes of consumer reports, I never gave you any written consent to report anything on my consumer reports, no consent is identity theft. Thus, I am demanding that the following accounts, and information be removed from my credit report instantly. 

Somebody fraudulently used my information and drove off a car dealership parking lot with a whole vehicle. The account associated with the fraudulent purchase is Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date opened : XX/XX/XXXX - Account type : Auto Loan Status : Charge-off/Closed Amount : {$19000.00}. I have never obtained any goods or services at this facility/company. I did not open this account and I refuse to pay this debt. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  has been annoying me with an unreasonable amount of annoying phone calls. Pursuant to 15 USC 1692 ( d ) ( 5 ), causing a consumers telephone to ring in a manner in which is annoying to the consumer is a violation of the law. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has been threatening to sue me over this fraud debt. Pursuant to 15 USC 1692 ( e ) ( 5 ), threatening to sue a consumer is a violation of the law. Pursuant to 15 USC 1692 ( E ) ( 10 ), using deceptive means to coerce a consumer into paying a debt is a violation of the law. I am not sure what legal authority you have to disclose this information. This account is invalid and/or inaccurate. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( 7 ), method of verification, this account is in violation it was reported without valid evidence. I did not provide any written, oral or informed consent for this account to be opened. This is obviously a systemic issue or fraud. Again, I had no knowledge of this account and it appears to be fraud. I have been getting harassing phone calls in the wee hours of the night with regard to the account with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX According to US 1692c, a debt collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after XXXX XXXX  antemeridian and before XXXX XXXX  postmeridian, local time at the consumers location. I sent XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX a cease and desist letter. I did not authorize XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX or any XXXX party to contact me : therefore, any communication is a violation of US 1692.c. In any event, the reporting requirements do NOT comply with FCRA 611 and/or 15 U.S.C. 1681 and the information must be deleted immediately. Please dispute, suppress, block and remove Account Name XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - Account number : XXXX Date opened : XX/XX/XXXX - Account type : Auto Loan Status : Charge-off/Closed Amount : {$19000.00} from my credit report immediately. 

I need the above account and below information removed and deleted forthwith. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C 1681 ( b ), furnishing a consumer report without the consent of the consumer is a violation of the law. Pursuant to 15 U.S. Code 1681b, permissible purposes of consumer reports, I never gave any credit bureau any written consent to report anything on my consumer reports, no consent is identity theft. Thus, I am demanding that the following accounts, and information be removed from my credit report without delay.

Currently, there are countless fraudulent addresses on my credit report that I have no knowledge of, the fraudulent addresses are listed on my credit report as follows : At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX ( APARTMENT UNIT IS MISSING and/or inaccurate ), I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX, I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX, I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX, I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX - ( address is wrong by one number and/or inaccurate ) I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX - ( address is wrong by one number and/or inaccurate ), I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX, I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX # A XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NV XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX  XXXX, CA XXXX At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NV XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 
At no point in my life have I ever lived at or been associated with XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX I have no knowledge, recognition or affiliation of/with this address. 

Please remove these addresses immediately. I have no knowledge or affiliation with any of these addresses. 

I am not employed with XXXX XXXX  and I have never been employed with this company so I am confused as to why this information is on my credit report. Please remove forthwith. 

I am not employed with XXXX XXXX, and I have never been employed with this company so I am confused as to why this information is on my credit report. Please remove forthwith. 

I am not employed with XXXX XXXX XXXX, and I have never been employed with this company so I am confused as to why this information is on my credit report. Please remove forthwith. 

There are XXXX wrong phone numbers listed on my credit report as : ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Please remove these unknown numbers from my credit report. 

There are some unauthorized inquiries that I did not perform or authorize to be performed. 
XXXX - Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX All of these inquiry requests occurred without my consent and I did not initiate these inquires. By the same token, I did not provide any written, oral or informed consent for my credit report to be checked by any of these companies. Please investigate remove, dispute, block and delete these unauthorized inquires from my credit report as they are defaming my character. Please remove these unauthorized inquiries immediately. 

Over the past several months, I have tried to resolve these issues, but to no avail. Enclosed is documentation regarding my identity theft. 

According to US 1692c, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt.

According to 15 U.S. Code 1692c ( b ), without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a post judgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than the consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.

According to 15 U.S. Code 1692c ( c ), If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, except ( 1 ) to advise the consumer that the debt collectors further efforts are being terminated ; Pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, creditors are required to furnish accurate and complete information to the credit bureaus. As you know, identity thieves are known to use other peoples ID and Social Security numbers and leave victims to handle the situation. To repeat, these transactions occurred WITHOUT my permission.

In any situation, it is hampering my reputation and I am unable to obtain new credit. In addition, I have been getting denied for employment, having difficulty purchasing a car, and trouble getting approved for a place to live.

Pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, creditors are required to furnish accurate and complete information to the credit bureaus. As can be seen, these unapproved inquiries are harming my ability to obtain new credit. I would very much like to ensure my credit score is showing an accurate depiction of my creditworthiness.

Again, furnishing a consumer report without the consent of the consumer is a violation of the law pursuant to Pursuant to 15 U.S.C 1681 ( b ). I am requesting removal, suppression, deletion and/or dispute of the below mentioned from my credit report, which are the result of me being a victim of identity theft. Please update me with a full report on your findings within the next 20 days. I look forward to having this situation rectified as soon as possible. Supporting documents are enclosed with this letter. After removal of these unauthorized accounts please send the notices required by the FCRA to all furnishers of the blocked information.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation