Consumer complaint received 2023-04-11
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Information belongs to someone else

Complaint:
On about 2018, I was a victim of apparent Identity Theft as well as Data Breach from several businesses i.e. XXXX, XXXX, Equifax and others. I reported the information to the consumer reporting agencies as I was getting calls and collection attempts for accounts that I did not consent to, authorize or create. Nothing was done other than tell me that the accounts are mine. I explained that someone had used my information to obtain credit and I would not be responsible for for payment and that they remove such accounts from my credit reports, but to no avail. Also some of the accounts eventually went into collection and was either assigned or sold to non-compliant collection agencies. They started sending me letters and putting erroneous, inaccurate and false information on my consumer credit report. I called them and I wrote to them and I tried on numerous occasions to have them remove the accounts from my credit reports, but they threatened me and bullied me and tried to extort money from me. I have tried contacting the three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, XXXX and XXXX and they give a half effort to verify the accounts with the creditors on the credit cards and the collection agencies for the unpaid accounts. Obviously, as I have communicated to the credit reporting agencies, the information will be VERIFIED by the creditors as my debt because the information obtained to open the accounts is similar to my information but the addresses used and the use of the credit cards was not my doing. But the credit reporting agencies allow the collection agencies and the creditors to continue to state that the debt is mine without obtaining the " ORIGINAL CONTRACTS '' from the creditors and collection agencies. All of the collection agencies who are attempting to collect on the debt are not AUTHORIZED by the State of GEORGIA to conduct collection business ; therefore they are in clear violation of federal laws and violating my privacy rights. They have no permissible purpose to collect from me as well as not be allowed to report negative information on my credit reports. 
I am requesting that your agency submit a CEASE and DESIST order to them and have them remove all negative collections from my consumer credit reports within the next 15 days. I would also ask that I be awarded civil damages from the following collection agencies for the blatant violation and disregard of federal laws. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Your cooperation in the matter would be greatly appreciated. I am also attaching several attachments to this complaint and you should be aware that I have submitted these documents to the collection agencies and the Credit reporting agencies and the negative accounts still remain on my consumer credit report without my consent and my authorization. 
PLEASE STOP THE COLLECTION ATTEMT AND PERMANEMTLY REMOVE AND DELETE THE NEGATIVE ACCOUNTS OFF OF MY CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTS. ( ALL THREE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES )

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation