Consumer complaint received 2023-12-12
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: KY
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:
In accordance with Section 602 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681, it is imperative to ensure that consumer reporting agencies carry out their responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a profound regard for consumers ' privacy rights. Notably, Equifax and XXXX serve as consumer reporting agencies, and I, as the consumer, possess the right to safeguard my private information. This right is substantiated by Section 6801 of 15 USC, which articulates the congressional policy that financial institutions must continually respect customer privacy and safeguard the security and confidentiality of their nonpublic personal information. Importantly, entities referred to as " Furnishers of information to credit agencies '' fall under the definition of financial institutions within this framework.

Section 604a, subsection 2, of 15 USC 1681 establishes that a consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report only under specific circumstances, chiefly when acting in accordance with the written instructions of the concerned consumer. Regrettably, neither the financial institution nor the consumer reporting agencies, Equifax and XXXX, have obtained my written consent to disseminate this information. Indeed, they lack any form of my consent for such actions. 
I hereby revoke any and all permissions, whether implied, verbal, non-verbal, written, or otherwise, for Equifax, XXXX, and any entity classified as a " Furnisher of information to credit agencies '' to share my information. Section 6802 ( b ) ( c ) of 15 USC stipulates that a financial institution can not disclose nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties unless the consumer is provided with an explanation of how to exercise the nondisclosure option. Regrettably, " Furnisher of information to credit agencies '' never informed me of my right to exercise this nondisclosure option.

Furthermore, Section 1681C ( a ) ( 5 ) of 15 USC clearly specifies that a consumer reporting agency may not include certain adverse information in a consumer report unless authorized under subsection ( b ). This account, which is being reported without my consent, qualifies as an adverse item and is therefore in violation of the law.

Additionally, 15 U.S. Code 1681s2 ( a ) ( 1 ) asserts that it is impermissible to provide inaccurate consumer information to a consumer reporting agency when one knows or has reasonable cause to believe it to be inaccurate. Meanwhile, Section 1681e mandates every consumer reporting agency to uphold reasonable procedures designed to prevent violations of Section 1681c and restrict the provision of consumer reports solely for the purposes outlined in Section 1681b. Equifax and XXXX appear to be falling short in adhering to these reasonable procedures. 
Furthermore, as per 12 CFR 1016.7, a consumer maintains the right to opt out at any time. In light of these circumstances, I am hereby opting out of your reporting services.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief