Consumer complaint received 2023-09-15
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MA
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Reporting company used your report improperly

Complaint:
I am writing to file a complaint against Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX. I believe that these entities are violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) by requiring consumers to pay a premium subscription in order to file a complaint. 
I recently received a business credit card from XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX made a hard inquiry on my personal credit report, but they also reported the business credit card to my personal credit report. This was illegal under the FCRA, as the FCRA prohibits credit reporting agencies from reporting information about business credit accounts on personal credit reports. 
I tried to file a dispute with Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX, but they all required me to pay a premium subscription in order to do so. This is a violation of the FCRA, as the FCRA gives consumers the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information in their credit reports for free. 
I am requesting that the CFPB investigate this matter and take appropriate action. I believe that Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX are violating the FCRA by requiring consumers to pay a premium subscription in order to file a complaint. 
Also i am writing to dispute the following information in my credit report : Hard inquiry from Capital XXXX on XX/XX/2023 Business credit card account from XXXX XXXX I did not apply for a personal credit card from Capital XXXX. They sent me a XXXX Credit Card for XXXX XXXX. The hard inquiry and business credit card account are both inaccurate and should be removed from my credit report. 
I am a sole proprietorship and my business is legally separate from me as an individual. Capital XXXX is aware of this because I provided them with my business tax identification number when they sent me the business credit card. 
XXXX XXXX 's actions in making a hard inquiry on my personal credit and reporting the business credit card to my personal credit report were illegal under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). The FCRA prohibits credit reporting agencies from reporting information about business credit accounts on personal credit reports. 
I request that you investigate this matter and remove the disputed information from my credit report. I am entitled to have accurate information in my credit report under the FCRA. 
Fail to remove this inaccurate information will result in my company filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) because If an entity violates the FCRA, they are liable for damages, including actual damages, punitive damages, and attorneys ' fees. The amount of damages that can be awarded depends on the specific violation. 
Here are some of FCRA violations in this particular case : XXXX inaccurate or incomplete information in a credit report. 
Failing to investigate a dispute in a timely manner. 
Failing to correct inaccurate or incomplete information in a credit report after it has been disputed. 
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief