Consumer complaint received 2023-05-04
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, 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 report on various violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) from the following organizations, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX ( further known as DEBT COLLECTORS ) and XXXX, Equifax and XXXX ( further known as CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES ). First, all companies, including DEBT COLLECTORS, have agreed to follow the regulations to protect consumers ' information. The information that is shown on the consumer report has adversely affected my life as it bears on the credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living. The violations are as followed : Opt Out Laws - Exhibit A shows an example of a letter sent to the debt collectors expressing my choice to opt out. 15 USC 1681 section 604 ( a ) section 2 states that In general subject to subsection, any consumer agency may furnish a consumer credit report under the following circumstances and no other : in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to who it relates. The CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES and DEBT COLLECTORS do not have, nor did I ever give, my permission to and written or any other consent to furnish this information. Any and all consent to the CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES and DEBT COLLECTORS for these collection items have been revoked. 15 USC 6802 ( b ) ( c ) states that A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless- the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise the non disclosure option. The DEBT COLLECTORS never informed me of my right to exercise my nondisclosure option. To add, this account is an adverse item that is in violation of of USC 1681 ( c ) ( 5 ) which states : Except as authorized under subsection ( b ), no CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information : Any ADVERSE item of information other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the report by more than seven years. Further, the credit reports shows information that falsely represents the DEBT COLLECTORS as ATTORNEYS. These agencies are not attorneys and should not appear as falsely representing themselves in accordance with Title 15 USC 1692. It is stated that every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures when there is cause for information to be inaccurate. 15 USC 1681 ( a ) states A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate. All of this is also in violation of the Privacy Act of 1974. The CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES are not maintaining reasonable procedures to avoid violations of for fair credit reporting. Per 12 CFR 1026.7, A consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX, I am opting out of your reporting services per the attached written notices. Equifax, XXXX and XXXX, I am opting out of the reporting of XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX  and I am holding you accountable to ensure these measures are taken.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation