Consumer complaint received 2023-09-24
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AZ
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
There is an account currently on my Equifax credit report listed as XXXX XXXX - XXXX BANK. This account does not belong to me, and I'm not legally responsible for this account because I was only added as an authorized user. On XX/XX/XXXX, I asked the owner of the account to remove me as an authorized user because the account had negative data attached to it and it was affecting my credit rating. The account owner removed me that same day, and I received an email confirmation of this removal from XXXX XXXX - XXXX BANK via email. I've attached a copy of this email for your reference. 

I opened up my first dispute with Equifax on the same day I was removed as an authorized user on XX/XX/XXXX. I requested that the account be removed from my credit report because it didn't belong to me and I was not legally responsible for the account. The confirmation number for that dispute is XXXX - opened on XX/XX/XXXX and closed on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX- opened on XX/XX/XXXX and closed on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX- opened on XX/XX/XXXX and closed on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX- opened on XX/XX/XXXX and closed on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX- opened on XX/XX/XXXX and closed on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX- opened on XX/XX/XXXX and closed on XX/XX/XXXX Equifax responded to all of my disputes, saying, " They verified the account belonged to me and sent me an updated copy of my credit report. Ironically, on the same credit report, under the section that says " whose account '' it says " association terminated '' which further confirms that this was an authorized user account that I am no longer associated with. This contradicts their investigation results, which said the XXXX XXXX  - XXXX XXXX account belonged to me. 

I've attached a copy of their last investigation report response and the credit report section showing the credit account that should have been deleted. All of their results were the same, so for time sake, I'm only attaching one.

I've given Equifax six different opportunities to conduct a thorough investigation and ultimately remove this account. They have failed to uphold the FCRA on all levels by allowing an account that doesn't belong to me to remain on my credit file. This has affected my credit score and ultimately put me in a position to get denied new credit and higher interest rates. I submitted disputes for this same account to XXXX and XXXX and they removed the account immediately after seeing that I was not liable and was only an authorized user. 

I considered submitting another dispute, but with the way they handled their previous investigations, I expect more of the same from Equifax. 

Attachments : XXXX. Email from XXXX confirming that I have been removed as an authorized user 2. Copy of Equifax dispute results dated XX/XX/XXXX that say we verified this account belongs to and also shows an ownership status of association terminated 3. Letter being sent to Equifax legal department dated XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation