Consumer complaint received 2022-03-26
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OR
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Old information reappears or never goes away

Complaint:
This is my 5th and final complaint to CFPB against Equifax for the same problem. 
The problem has still NOT been resolved. 

I am an ID theft victim. I notified Equifax that I am an ID theft victim in XX/XX/XXXX via certified mail and identified information in my credit report that was the result of ID theft, I requested Equifax delete the information I identified. 
Most of the information has since been deleted after my complaints to CFPB in XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX except for 3 fraudulent hard inquiries. 

Each dispute result mailed from Equifax to my home stated that the information I identified had been deleted, hard inquiries 1. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX fraud 2. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX fraud 3. XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX fraud. 
Dispute results dated XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX all claimed to have deleted the fraudulent inquiries, but all 3 hard inquiries are still on my credit report negatively impacting my credit score. 

Equifax mailed the most recent dispute results to my home on XX/XX/XXXX. 
The dispute results stated that the XXXX fraudulent hard inquiries 1. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX 2. XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX and 3. XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX were deleted from my credit report as requested. 
After checking my credit report to confirm, I found that again, ALL 3 HARD INQUIRIES ARE STILL ON MY CREDIT REPORT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING MY CREDIT SCORE. 

I filed another online dispute XX/XX/XXXX, identifying the same hard inquiries as being the result of ID theft. I received the results tonight ( less than 24 hours after filing the online dispute ). The results state that the 3 hard inquiries I identified were a factual record and would not be removed for 2 years. 
Equifax has mailed dispute results to my home 5 separate times, stating the inquiries have been deleted. 
It is painfully obvious that Equifax does NOT complete any kind of an investigation or review documentation given to them. Equifax has had a copy of my FTC ID theft report since XX/XX/XXXX and has been given an updated copy of my FTC ID theft report with each dispute, including CFPB complaints ( 7 times total ). Equifax is openly violating the FCRA. 

As an ID theft victim, I am entitled to rights in addition to the rights granted by the FCRA. Equifax is required to remove information caused by identity theft from consumer credit reports within 4 days. Equifax has violated my rights during each dispute process referenced in this complaint. 
1. Equifax failed to respond to my initial dispute in XX/XX/XXXX ( Violation of FCRA ) 2. Equifax failed to conduct a proper investigation of my dispute and review the documentation provided during the online dispute process XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX complaint process XX/XX/XXXX. ( Violation of FCRA ) 3. Equifax has failed to delete information from my credit report after being notified of their error and my ID theft victim status, 7 times to date ( Violation of FCRA, ID theft victim rights ) On XX/XX/XXXX I filed a complaint against Equifax with the XXXX. Equifax responded 2 times with the same generic, computer-generated response. Equifax did not address my complaint or specific information related to my dispute in any way. It was clear the response was a computer-generated script. XXXX  closed my complaint unresolved on XX/XX/XXXX. 

Today I am filing my 5th and final complaint with the CFPB, hoping that someone will enforce the law and force Equifax to correct their error. I have clear documentation showing every step that has been taken on my part to resolve this problem using the dispute process. I have clear documentation showing Equifax 's incompetence and willful violations of my rights under the FCRA. 

If the fraudulent hard inquiries are not removed from my credit report within the next 4 days, I will be filing a lawsuit against Equifax. I have legal standing to file a lawsuit and clear evidence showing the repeated violation of my rights as well as the damages it has caused to my credit and personal finances. According to the law, Equifax has 4 days to comply and ensure the deletion of the fraudulent information I identified. 

PROBLEM : Equifax claims to have deleted 3 fraudulent hard inquiries. All 3 inquiries are still on my credit report today. 
CORRECTION NEEDED : ENSURE THE FRAUDULENT HARD INQUIRIES ARE ACTUALLY DELETED. 
1. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX 2. XXXXXXXX XX/XX/XXXX 3. XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Attached to this complaint : updated copy of FTC ID theft report. 
copy of most recent credit report ( hard inquiries section, provided by Equifax dispute results ). 
copy of the dispute result section, showing Equifax stated the inquiries were deleted. 
ID, Social Security card, utility bill ( for verification of my identity ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation