Consumer complaint received 2021-09-24
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA
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:
Equifax is reporting two alleged student loan accounts with a fraudulent contact number for the alleged creditor. The accounts are currently under a reinvestigation from an additional dispute submitted by me. This will be at least the third time I have disputed these items to no avail. I disputed the same alleged accounts with XXXX, XXXX was not able to verify the accounts, and they were subsequently removed from my report. 

On XX/XX/2021 I called into Equifax for an update on my dispute of alleged accounts for DEPT OF ED/XXXX re entered on XX/XX/2021. After verifying my identity, I asked to speak with a supervisor, XXXX. 

I indicated my concerns with XXXX, and after reviewing the accounts, he confirmed that the contact information for the alleged creditor was incomplete, inaccurate, and unverifiable. 

XXXX said to me that he would help get these items removed due to his discovery, but due to the fact the account is currently under reinvestigation, he would not be able to do anything. 

XXXX could not provide me the method of verification Equifax continues to use for these accounts. Pursuant 15 USC 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), if the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumers file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly, or indirectly through a reseller, of such dispute, the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate and record the current status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph ( 5 ), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer or reseller.

Pursuant 15 USC 1681a ( e ) The term investigative consumer report means a consumer report or portion thereof in which information on a consumers character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living is obtained through personal interviews with neighbors, friends, or associates of the consumer reported on or with others with whom he is acquainted or who may have knowledge concerning any such items of information. However, such information shall not include specific factual information on a consumers credit record obtained directly from a creditor of the consumer or from a consumer reporting agency when such information was obtained directly from a creditor of the consumer or from the consumer. 

The only information regarding the method of verification I was able to receive from XXXX when I called Equifax, was when XXXX explained all Equifax does when an item is disputed is reach out to the creditor for verification. This is explicitly prohibited by the definition of " investigative consumer report '' pursuant 15 USC 1681a ( e ).

Equifax is in violation of my consumer rights as a natural person protected under 15 USC Chapter 41. I demand that this incomplete, inaccurate, and unverifiable information be deleted from my consumer report immediately.

I demand to invoke my specified remedy provided by 15 USC 1681n and 15 USC 1681o among others. Equifax is civilly liable to me in the minimum amount of {$2000.00} ( two thousand dollars ). Equifax has caused financial injury to me and my family by repeatedly ignoring my concerns and continuing to report this incomplete, inaccurate, and unverifiable information. I am seeking an additional {$3000.00} ( XXXX XXXX dollars ) of monetary relief due to these facts.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation