Consumer complaint received 2022-06-14
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: SC
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:
To Whom It May Concern, 15 U.S. Code 1681i - Procedure in case of disputed accuracy ( a ) Reinvestigations of disputed information ( 1 ) Reinvestigation required ( A ) In general Subject to subsection ( f ) and except as provided in subsection ( g ), if the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumers file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly, or indirectly through a reseller, of such dispute, the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate and record the current status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph ( 5 ), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer or reseller. ( B ) Extension of period to reinvestigate Except as provided in subparagraph ( C ), the 30-day period described in subparagraph ( A ) may be extended for not more than 15 additional days if the consumer reporting agency receives information from the consumer during that 30-day period that is relevant to the reinvestigation. ( C ) Limitations on extension of period to reinvestigate Subparagraph ( B ) shall not apply to any reinvestigation in which, during the 30-day period described in subparagraph ( A ), the information that is the subject of the reinvestigation is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or the consumer reporting agency determines that the information can not be verified. ( 2 ) Prompt notice of dispute to furnisher of information ( A ) In general Before the expiration of the 5-business-day period beginning on the date on which a consumer reporting agency receives notice of a dispute from any consumer or a reseller in accordance with paragraph ( 1 ), the agency shall provide notification of the dispute to any person who provided any item of information in dispute, at the address and in the manner established with the person. The notice shall include all relevant information regarding the dispute that the agency has received from the consumer or reseller. ( B ) Provision of other information The consumer reporting agency shall promptly provide to the person who provided the information in dispute all relevant information regarding the dispute that is received by the agency from the consumer or the reseller after the period referred to in subparagraph ( A ) and before the end of the period referred to in paragraph ( 1 ) ( A ). ( 5 ) Treatment of inaccurate or unverifiable information ( A ) In general If, after any reinvestigation under paragraph ( 1 ) of any information disputed by a consumer, an item of the information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or can not be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall ( i ) promptly delete that item of information from the file of the consumer, or modify that item of information, as appropriate, based on the results of the reinvestigation; and ( ii ) promptly notify the furnisher of that information that the information has been modified or deleted from the file of the consumer. ( B ) Requirements relating to reinsertion of previously deleted material ( i ) Certification of accuracy of information If any information is deleted from a consumers file pursuant to subparagraph ( A ), the information may not be reinserted in the file by the consumer reporting agency unless the person who furnishes the information certifies that the information is complete and accurate. ( ii ) Notice to consumer If any information that has been deleted from a consumers file pursuant to subparagraph ( A ) is reinserted in the file, the consumer reporting agency shall notify the consumer of the reinsertion in writing not later than 5 business days after the reinsertion or, if authorized by the consumer for that purpose, by any other means available to the agency. ( iii ) Additional information As part of, or in addition to, the notice under clause ( ii ), a consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer in writing not later than 5 business days after the date of the reinsertion ( I ) a statement that the disputed information has been reinserted ; ( II ) the business name and address of any furnisher of information contacted and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available, or of any furnisher of information that contacted the consumer reporting agency, in connection with the reinsertion of such information ; and ( III ) a notice that the consumer has the right to add a statement to the consumers file disputing the accuracy or completeness of the disputed information.

This letter is a formal complaint that you are reporting inaccurate and incomplete credit information. 
I am distressed that you have included the information below in my credit profile and that you have failed to maintain reasonable procedures in your operations to assure maximum possible accuracy in the credit reports you publish. Credit reporting laws ensure that bureaus report only 100 % accurate credit information. Every step must be taken to assure the information reported is completely accurate and correct. The following information therefore needs to be re-investigated. 
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 609 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), you are required by federal law to verify, through the physical verification of the original signed consumer contract, any and all accounts that you post on a credit report. Otherwise anyone paying for your reporting services could fax, mail or email in a fraudulent account.

I demand to see verifiable proof ( i.e. : an original consumer contract with my signature on it ) that you have on file for the account listed below.

Your failure to positively verify these accounts has hurt my ability to obtain credit. Under the FCRA, unverifiable accounts must be removed and if you are unable to provide me with a copy of verifiable proof, you must remove the account listed below.

I demand that the following account be verified or removed immediately : 1. The following account is not mine XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
2. The following account is not mine XXXX  XXXX XXXX Account Number:XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
3. The following account is not mine XXXX  XXXX XXXX Account Number:XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
4. The following account is not mine XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number:XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
5. The following account is not mine XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number:XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
6. The following account is not mine XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number:XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
7. The following account is not mine XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number:XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 
8. The following inquiry is not mine XXXX Account Number : Please remove it from my credit report.

9. The following inquiry is not mine XXXX Account Number : Please remove it from my credit report. 
10. The following inquiry is not mine XXXX XXXX Account Number : Please remove it from my credit report. 
I respectfully request to be provided proof of this alleged item, specifically the contract, note or other instrument bearing my signature.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief