Consumer complaint received 2015-03-20
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Credit reporting company's investigation
Sub-issue: No notice of investigation status/result

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX, while discussing an unrelated business mater with a current lender, I was made aware that an account, I did not authorize or initiate, had me listed as a cosigner. I immediately notified the lender that I was a victim of identity fraud and requested to see the information they had on file. In turn, I checked my credit reports, confirmed the presence of the fraudulent account, and contacted each of the XXXX ( XXXX ) credit reporting companies and disputed the information. At varying dates XXXX, each of the credit reporting companies ( CRCs ) reported that the account was confirmed by the lender. To date, the fraudulent information remains on my credit file and [ neither ] CRC has ever notated my credit profile about the account being disputed. 

After [ several ] additional telephonic requests to the lender between XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX, the lender mailed me a copy of the loan origination documents along with its internal ID theft package. I immediately filed a law enforcement report ( LER ) with my local Sheriff XXXX Office and returned the original package and supporting documentation to the lender XX/XX/XXXX. The supporting documentation included a copy of the lender 's loan origination document, my LER, drivers license, social security card, and hand writing samples. 

XX/XX/XXXX, I was notified by a potential employer that I was deemed unsuitable due the presence of delinquent financial information on my credit report. In that same notification, I was provided a copy of my combined credit report which still contained the fraudulent account on each of the CRC 's reports. I began researching laws and learned about the FCRA and the FTC. After learning that the combination of an LER and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit ( ITA ) produce an Identity Theft Report ( IDR ), I filed an ITA on the FTC 's website. 

In turn, I sent [ via certified mail ] FTC 's CRC-template letters and supporting documentation to each of the XXXX credit reporting companies requesting that the fraudulent account be blocked, removed, and that a extended fraud alert be placed on my credit file as per the FCRA. The supporting documentation for each submission of FTC 's CRC-template letter included a copy of the lender 's loan origination document ; my credit report, drivers license, social security card, and hand writing samples ; as well as FCRA Section 611. 

According to USPS tracking, the CRCs received their certified letters on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and XXXX/XXXX/XXXX [ XXXX ], respectively. To date, each CRC has placed an extended fraud alert but has [ not ] blocked the fraudulent account information from my respective credit profile [ or ] contacted me declining my request to block the fraudulent information. In fact, one CRC will not allow me to order a credit report directly and advised ( via telephone ) that my IDR was not sufficient but would not provide its justification method in making that determination. Subsequently, and, respectively, I have ordered additional credit reports which indicate each CRC 's non-compliance the FCRA 's imposed time limits. To their credit, XXXX CRCs have listed the fraudulent account as disputed/under investigation. 

Additionally, I sent [ for the second time, via certified mail ] FTC 's lender-template letter and supporting documentation to the lender requesting that the lender block, absolve me of responsibility, and stop inaccurately furnishing the fraudulent account information to the CRCs. The supporting documentation to my submission of FTC 's lender-template letter included a copy of the lender 's loan origination document and ID Theft Affidavit ; my IDR, credit report, drivers license, social security card, and hand writing samples ; as well as FTC 's Notice to Furnishers ) According to USPS tracking, the lender received its certified letter on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. To date, the lender has not made any contact with me. 

RE : FTC ITA # XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation