Consumer complaint received 2023-09-10
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: PA
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:
I did NOT give this agency written instructions to report the information on the attached dispute letter and when I requested the removal of it per the privacy act of 1974 and 15 USC 1681b, they denied me my consumer right. Because of this, they have caused me damages and have additionally broken the following federal laws ; 15 U.S. Code 1681a - Definitions ; rules of construction ( 2 ) Exclusions.Except as provided in paragraph ( 3 ), the term consumer report does not include ( A ) subject to section 1681s3 of this title, any ( i ) report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and the person making the report ; ( ii ) communication of that information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control ; or ( iii ) communication of other information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control, if it is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the consumer that the information may be communicated among such persons and the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that the information is initially communicated, to direct that such information not be communicated among such persons ; ( B ) any authorization or approval of a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly by the issuer of a credit card or similar device ; ( C ) any report in which a person who has been requested by a third party to make a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly to a consumer conveys his or her decision with respect to such request, if the third party advises the consumer of the name and address of the person to whom the request was made, and such person makes the disclosures to the consumer required under section 1681m of this title ; or ( D ) a communication described in subsection ( o ) or ( x ). [ 1 ] ( 3 ) Restriction on sharing of medical information.Except for information or any communication of information disclosed as provided in section 1681b ( g ) ( 3 ) of this title, the exclusions in paragraph ( 2 ) shall not apply with respect to information disclosed to any person related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control, if the information is ( A ) medical information ; ( B ) an individualized list or description based on the payment transactions of the consumer for medical products or services ; or ( C ) an aggregate list of identified consumers based on payment transactions for medical products or services. 

15 U.S. Code 6802 - Obligations with respect to disclosures of personal information ( a ) Notice requirements Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a financial institution may not, directly or through any affiliate, disclose to a nonaffiliated third party any nonpublic personal information, unless such financial institution provides or has provided to the consumer a notice that complies with section 6803 of this title. 

( b ) Opt out ( 1 ) In general A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless ( A ) such financial institution clearly and conspicuously discloses to the consumer, in writing or in electronic form or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title, that such information may be disclosed to such third party ; ( B ) the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party ; and ( C ) the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option. 
( 2 ) Exception This subsection shall not prevent a financial institution from providing nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party to perform services for or functions on behalf of the financial institution, including marketing of the financial institutions own products or services, or financial products or services offered pursuant to joint agreements between two or more financial institutions that comply with the requirements imposed by the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title, if the financial institution fully discloses the providing of such information and enters into a contractual agreement with the third party that requires the third party to maintain the confidentiality of such information. 

( c ) Limits on reuse of information Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a nonaffiliated third party that receives from a financial institution nonpublic personal information under this section shall not, directly or through an affiliate of such receiving third party, disclose such information to any other person that is a nonaffiliated third party of both the financial institution and such receiving third party, unless such disclosure would be lawful if made directly to such other person by the financial institution. 

( d ) Limitations on the sharing of account number information for marketing purposes A financial institution shall not disclose, other than to a consumer reporting agency, an account number or similar form of access number or access code for a credit card account, deposit account, or transaction account of a consumer to any nonaffiliated third party for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing, or other marketing through electronic mail to the consumer. 

( e ) General exceptions Subsections ( a ) and ( b ) shall not prohibit the disclosure of nonpublic personal information ( 1 ) as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction requested or authorized by the consumer, or in connection with ( A ) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested or authorized by the consumer ; ( B ) maintaining or servicing the consumers account with the financial institution, or with another entity as part of a private label credit card program or other extension of credit on behalf of such entity ; or ( C ) a proposed or actual securitization, secondary market sale ( including sales of servicing rights ), or similar transaction related to a transaction of the consumer ; ( 2 ) with the consent or at the direction of the consumer ; ( 3 ) ( A ) to protect the confidentiality or security of the financial institutions records pertaining to the consumer, the service or product, or the transaction therein ; ( B ) to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized transactions, claims, or other liability ; ( C ) for required institutional risk control, or for resolving customer disputes or inquiries ; ( D ) to persons holding a legal or beneficial interest relating to the consumer ; or ( E ) to persons acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity on behalf of the consumer ; ( 4 ) to provide information to insurance rate advisory organizations, guaranty funds or agencies, applicable rating agencies of the financial institution, persons assessing the institutions compliance with industry standards, and the institutions attorneys, accountants, and auditors ; ( 5 ) to the extent specifically permitted or required under other provisions of law and in accordance with the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 [ 12 U.S.C. 3401 et seq. ], to law enforcement agencies ( including the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection [ 1 ] a Federal functional regulator, the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, and chapter 2 of title I of Public Law 91508 ( 12 U.S.C. 19511959 ), a State insurance authority, or the Federal Trade Commission ), self-regulatory organizations, or for an investigation on a matter related to public safety ; ( 6 ) ( A ) to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act [ 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ], or ( B ) from a consumer report reported by a consumer reporting agency ; ( 7 ) in connection with a proposed or actual sale, merger, transfer, or exchange of all or a portion of a business or operating unit if the disclosure of nonpublic personal information concerns solely consumers of such business or unit; or ( 8 ) to comply with Federal, State, or local laws, rules, and other applicable legal requirements ; to comply with a properly authorized civil, criminal, or regulatory investigation or subpoena or summons by Federal, State, or local authorities ; or to respond to judicial process or government regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the financial institution for examination, compliance, or other purposes as authorized by law. 

15 U.S. Code 1681b - Permissible purposes of consumer reports ( a ) In general Subject to subsection ( c ), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other : ( 1 ) In response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order, a subpoena issued in connection with proceedings before a Federal grand jury, or a subpoena issued in accordance with section 5318 of title 31 or section 3486 of title 18. 
( 2 ) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. 

15 U.S. Code 1681e - Compliance procedures ( a ) Identity and purposes of credit users Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 1681c of this title and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b of this title. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section 1681b of this title. 

( b ) Accuracy of report Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. 

5 U.S. Code 552a - Records maintained on individuals ( a ) Definitions.For purposes of this section ( 1 ) the term agency means agency as defined in section 552 ( e ) [ 1 ] of this title ; ( 2 ) the term individual means a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence ; ( 3 ) the term maintain includes maintain, collect, use, or disseminate ; ( 4 ) the term record means any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history and that contains his name, or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph ; ( 5 ) the term system of records means a group of any records under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual ; ( 6 ) the term statistical record means a record in a system of records maintained for statistical research or reporting purposes only and not used in whole or in part in making any determination about an identifiable individual, except as provided by section 8 of title 13 ; ( 7 ) the term routine use means, with respect to the disclosure of a record, the use of such record for a purpose which is compatible with the purpose for which it was collected ; ( 8 ) the term matching program ( A ) means any computerized comparison of ( i ) two or more automated systems of records or a system of records with non-Federal records for the purpose of ( I ) establishing or verifying the eligibility of, or continuing compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements by, applicants for, recipients or beneficiaries of, participants in, or providers of services with respect to, cash or in-kind assistance or payments under Federal benefit programs, or ( II ) recouping payments or delinquent debts under such Federal benefit programs, or ( ii ) two or more automated Federal personnel or payroll systems of records or a system of Federal personnel or payroll records with non-Federal records, ( B ) but does not include ( i ) matches performed to produce aggregate statistical data without any personal identifiers ; ( ii ) matches performed to support any research or statistical project, the specific data of which may not be used to make decisions concerning the rights, benefits, or privileges of specific individuals ; ( iii ) matches performed, by an agency ( or component thereof ) which performs as its principal function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws, subsequent to the initiation of a specific criminal or civil law enforcement investigation of a named person or persons for the purpose of gathering evidence against such person or persons ; ( iv ) matches of tax information ( I ) pursuant to section 6103 ( d ) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, ( II ) for purposes of tax administration as defined in section 6103 ( b ) ( 4 ) of such Code, ( III ) for the purpose of intercepting a tax refund due an individual under authority granted by section 404 ( e ), 464, or 1137 of the Social Security Act ; or ( IV ) for the purpose of intercepting a tax refund due an individual under any other tax refund intercept program authorized by statute which has been determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to contain verification, notice, and hearing requirements that are substantially similar to the procedures in section 1137 of the Social Security Act ; ( v ) matches ( I ) using records predominantly relating to Federal personnel, that are performed for routine administrative purposes ( subject to guidance provided by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to subsection ( v ) ) ; or ( II ) conducted by an agency using only records from systems of records maintained by that agency ; if the purpose of the match is not to take any adverse financial, personnel, disciplinary, or other adverse action against Federal personnel ; ( vi ) matches performed for foreign counterintelligence purposes or to produce background checks for security clearances of Federal personnel or Federal contractor personnel ; ( vii ) matches performed incident to a levy described in section 6103 ( k ) ( 8 ) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ; ( viii ) matches performed pursuant to section 202 ( x ) ( 3 ) or 1611 ( e ) ( 1 ) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 402 ( x ) ( 3 ), 1382 ( e ) ( 1 ) ) ; ( ix ) matches performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services with respect to potential fraud, waste, and abuse, including matches of a system of records with non-Federal records ; or ( x ) matches performed pursuant to section 3 ( d ) ( 4 ) of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 ; 1 ( 9 ) the term recipient agency means any agency, or contractor thereof, receiving records contained in a system of records from a source agency for use in a matching program ; ( 10 ) the term non-Federal agency means any State or local government, or agency thereof, which receives records contained in a system of records from a source agency for use in a matching program ; ( 11 ) the term source agency means any agency which discloses records contained in a system of records to be used in a matching program, or any State or local government, or agency thereof, which discloses records to be used in a matching program ; ( 12 ) the term Federal benefit program means any program administered or funded by the Federal Government, or by any agent or State on behalf of the Federal Government, providing cash or in-kind assistance in the form of payments, grants, loans, or loan guarantees to individuals ; and ( 13 ) the term Federal personnel means officers and employees of the Government of the United States , members of the uniformed services ( including members of the Reserve Components ), individuals entitled to receive immediate or deferred retirement benefits under any retirement program of the Government of the United States ( including survivor benefits ).

( b ) Conditions of Disclosure.No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains, unless disclosure of the record would be ( 1 ) to those officers and employees of the agency which maintains the record who have a need for the record in the performance of their duties; ( 2 ) required under section 552 of this title ; ( 3 ) for a routine use as defined in subsection ( a ) ( 7 ) of this section and described under subsection ( e ) ( 4 ) ( D ) of this section ; ( 4 ) to the Bureau of the Census for purposes of planning or carrying out a census or survey or related activity pursuant to the provisions of title 13 ; ( 5 ) to a recipient who has provided the agency with advance adequate written assurance that the record will be used solely as a statistical research or reporting record, and the record is to be transferred in a form that is not individually identifiable ; ( 6 ) to the National Archives and Records Administration as a record which has sufficient historical or other value to warrant its continued preservation by the United States Government, or for evaluation by the Archivist of the United States or the designee of the Archivist to determine whether the record has such value ; ( 7 ) to another agency or to an instrumentality of any governmental jurisdiction within or under the control of the United States for a civil or criminal law enforcement activity if the activity is authorized by law, and if the head of the agency or instrumentality has made a written request to the agency which maintains the record specifying the particular portion desired and the law enforcement activity for which the record is sought ; ( 8 ) to a person pursuant to a showing of compelling circumstances affecting the health or safety of an individual if upon such disclosure notification is transmitted to the last known address of such individual ; ( 9 ) to either House of Congress, or, to the extent of matter within its jurisdiction, any committee or subcommittee thereof, any joint committee of Congress or subcommittee of any such joint committee ; ( 10 ) to the Comptroller General, or any of his authorized representatives, in the course of the performance of the duties of the Government Accountability Office ; ( 11 ) pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction ; or ( 12 ) to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with section 3711 ( e ) of title 31.

( c ) Accounting of Certain Disclosures.Each agency, with respect to each system of records under its control, shall ( 1 ) except for disclosures made under subsections ( b ) ( 1 ) or ( b ) ( 2 ) of this section, keep an accurate accounting of ( A ) the date, nature, and purpose of each disclosure of a record to any person or to another agency made under subsection ( b ) of this section; and ( B ) the name and address of the person or agency to whom the disclosure is made ; ( 2 ) retain the accounting made under paragraph ( 1 ) of this subsection for at least five years or the life of the record, whichever is longer, after the disclosure for which the accounting is made ; ( 3 ) except for disclosures made under subsection ( b ) ( 7 ) of this section, make the accounting made under paragraph ( 1 ) of this subsection available to the individual named in the record at his request; and ( 4 ) inform any person or other agency about any correction or notation of dispute made by the agency in accordance with subsection ( d ) of this section of any record that has been disclosed to the person or agency if an accounting of the disclosure was made.

( d ) Access to Records.Each agency that maintains a system of records shall ( 1 ) upon request by any individual to gain access to his record or to any information pertaining to him which is contained in the system, permit him and upon his request, a person of his own choosing to accompany him, to review the record and have a copy made of all or any portion thereof in a form comprehensible to him, except that the agency may require the individual to furnish a written statement authorizing discussion of that individuals record in the accompanying persons presence ; ( 2 ) permit the individual to request amendment of a record pertaining to him and ( A ) not later than 10 days ( excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays ) after the date of receipt of such request, acknowledge in writing such receipt ; and ( B ) promptly, either ( i ) make any correction of any portion thereof which the individual believes is not accurate, relevant, timely, or complete ; or ( ii ) inform the individual of its refusal to amend the record in accordance with his request, the reason for the refusal, the procedures established by the agency for the individual to request a review of that refusal by the head of the agency or an officer designated by the head of the agency, and the name and business address of that official ; ( 3 ) permit the individual who disagrees with the refusal of the agency to amend his record to request a review of such refusal, and not later than 30 days ( excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays ) from the date on which the individual requests such review, complete such review and make a final determination unless, for good cause shown, the head of the agency extends such 30-day period ; and if, after his review, the reviewing official also refuses to amend the record in accordance with the request, permit the individual to file with the agency a concise statement setting forth the reasons for his disagreement with the refusal of the agency, and notify the individual of the provisions for judicial review of the reviewing officials determination under subsection ( g ) ( 1 ) ( A ) of this section ; ( 4 ) in any disclosure, containing information about which the individual has filed a statement of disagreement, occurring after the filing of the statement under paragraph ( 3 ) of this subsection, clearly note any portion of the record which is disputed and provide copies of the statement and, if the agency deems it appropriate, copies of a concise statement of the reasons of the agency for not making the amendments requested, to persons or other agencies to whom the disputed record has been disclosed ; and ( 5 ) nothing in this section shall allow an individual access to any information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action or proceeding.

( e ) Agency Requirements.Each agency that maintains a system of records shall ( 1 ) maintain in its records only such information about an individual as is relevant and necessary to accomplish a purpose of the agency required to be accomplished by statute or by executive order of the President ; ( 2 ) collect information to the greatest extent practicable directly from the subject individual when the information may result in adverse determinations about an individuals rights, benefits, and privileges under Federal programs ; ( 3 ) inform each individual whom it asks to supply information, on the form which it uses to collect the information or on a separate form that can be retained by the individual ( A ) the authority ( whether granted by statute, or by executive order of the President ) which authorizes the solicitation of the information and whether disclosure of such information is mandatory or voluntary ; ( B ) the principal purpose or purposes for which the information is intended to be used ; ( C ) the routine uses which may be made of the information, as published pursuant to paragraph ( 4 ) ( D ) of this subsection ; and ( D ) the effects on him, if any, of not providing all or any part of the requested information ; ( 4 ) subject to the provisions of paragraph ( 11 ) of this subsection, publish in the Federal Register upon establishment or revision a notice of the existence and character of the system of records, which notice shall include ( A ) the name and location of the system ; ( B ) the categories of individuals on whom records are maintained in the system ; ( C ) the categories of records maintained in the system ; ( D ) each routine use of the records contained in the system, including the categories of users and the purpose of such use ; ( E ) the policies and practices of the agency regarding storage, retrievability, access controls, retention, and disposal of the records ; ( F ) the title and business address of the agency official who is responsible for the system of records ; ( G ) the agency procedures whereby an individual can be notified at his request if the system of records contains a record pertaining to him ; ( H ) the agency procedures whereby an individual can be notified at his request how he can gain access to any record pertaining to him contained in the system of records, and how he can contest its content ; and ( I ) the categories of sources of records in the system ; ( 5 ) maintain all records which are used by the agency in making any determination about any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is reasonably necessary to assure fairness to the individual in the determination ; ( 6 ) prior to disseminating any record about an individual to any person other than an agency, unless the dissemination is made pursuant to subsection ( b ) ( 2 ) of this section, make reasonable efforts to assure that such records are accurate, complete, timely, and relevant for agency purposes ; ( 7 ) maintain no record describing how any individual exercises rights guaranteed by the First Amendment unless expressly authorized by statute or by the individual about whom the record is maintained or unless pertinent to and within the scope of an authorized law enforcement activity ; ( 8 ) make reasonable efforts to serve notice on an individual when any record on such individual is made available to any person under compulsory legal process when such process becomes a matter of public record ; ( 9 ) establish rules of conduct for persons involved in the design, development, operation, or maintenance of any system of records, or in maintaining any record, and instruct each such person with respect to such rules and the requirements of this section, including any other rules and procedures adopted pursuant to this section and the penalties for noncompliance ; ( 10 ) establish appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to insure the security and confidentiality of records and to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to their security or integrity which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained ; ( 11 ) at least 30 days prior to publication of information under paragraph ( 4 ) ( D ) of this subsection, publish in the Federal Register notice of any new use or intended use of the information in the system, and provide an opportunity for interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments to the agency ; and ( 12 ) if such agency is a recipient agency or a source agency in a matching program with a non-Federal agency, with respect to any establishment or revision of a matching program, at least 30 days prior to conducting such program, publish in the Federal Register notice of such establishment or revision.

( f ) Agency Rules.In order to carry out the provisions of this section, each agency that maintains a system of records shall promulgate rules, in accordance with the requirements ( including general notice ) of section 553 of this title, which shall ( 1 ) establish procedures whereby an individual can be notified in response to his request if any system of records named by the individual contains a record pertaining to him ; ( 2 ) define reasonable times, places, and requirements for identifying an individual who requests his record or information pertaining to him before the agency shall make the record or information available to the individual ; ( 3 ) establish procedures for the disclosure to an individual upon his request of his record or information pertaining to him, including special procedure, if deemed necessary, for the disclosure to an individual of medical records, including psychological records, pertaining to him ; ( 4 ) establish procedures for reviewing a request from an individual concerning the amendment of any record or information pertaining to the individual, for making a determination on the request, for an appeal within the agency of an initial adverse agency determination, and for whatever additional means may be necessary for each individual to be able to exercise fully his rights under this section; and ( 5 ) establish fees to be charged, if any, to any individual for making copies of his record, excluding the cost of any search for and review of the record.

The Office of the Federal Register shall biennially compile and publish the rules promulgated under this subsection and agency notices published under subsection ( e ) ( 4 ) of this section in a form available to the public at low cost.

( g ) ( 1 ) Civil Remedies.Whenever any agency ( A ) makes a determination under subsection ( d ) ( 3 ) of this section not to amend an individuals record in accordance with his request, or fails to make such review in conformity with that subsection ; ( B ) refuses to comply with an individual request under subsection ( d ) ( 1 ) of this section ; ( C ) fails to maintain any record concerning any individual with such accuracy, relevance, timeliness, and completeness as is necessary to assure fairness in any determination relating to the qualifications, character, rights, or opportunities of, or benefits to the individual that may be made on the basis of such record, and consequently a determination is made which is adverse to the individual ; or ( D ) fails to comply with any other provision of this section, or any rule promulgated thereunder, in such a way as to have an adverse effect on an individual, the individual may bring a civil action against the agency, and the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction in the matters under the provisions of this subsection.

( 2 ) ( A ) In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection ( g ) ( 1 ) ( A ) of this section, the court may order the agency to amend the individuals record in accordance with his request or in such other way as the court may direct. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo.

( B ) The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

( 3 ) ( A ) In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection ( g ) ( 1 ) ( B ) of this section, the court may enjoin the agency from withholding the records and order the production to the complainant of any agency records improperly withheld from him. In such a case the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of any agency records in camera to determine whether the records or any portion thereof may be withheld under any of the exemptions set forth in subsection ( k ) of this section, and the burden is on the agency to sustain its action.

( B ) The court may assess against the United States reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this paragraph in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

( 4 ) In any suit brought under the provisions of subsection ( g ) ( 1 ) ( C ) or ( D ) of this section in which the court determines that the agency acted in a manner which was intentional or willful, the United States shall be liable to the individual in an amount equal to the sum of ( A ) actual damages

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief