Consumer complaint received 2023-07-23
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NY
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:
15 U.S. Code 6803 - Disclosure of institution privacy policy U.S. Code Notes prev | next ( a ) Disclosure required At the time of establishing a customer relationship with a consumer and not less than annually during the continuation of such relationship, a financial institution shall provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure to such consumer, in writing or in electronic form or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title, of such financial institutions policies and practices with respect to ( 1 ) disclosing nonpublic personal information to affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties, consistent with section 6802 of this title, including the categories of information that may be disclosed ; ( 2 ) disclosing nonpublic personal information of persons who have ceased to be customers of the financial institution ; and ( 3 ) protecting the nonpublic personal information of consumers. ( b ) Regulations Disclosures required by subsection ( a ) shall be made in accordance with the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title. ( c ) Information to be included The disclosure required by subsection ( a ) shall include ( 1 ) the policies and practices of the institution with respect to disclosing nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties, other than agents of the institution, consistent with section 6802 of this title, and including ( A ) the categories of persons to whom the information is or may be disclosed, other than the persons to whom the information may be provided pursuant to section 6802 ( e ) of this title ; and ( B ) the policies and practices of the institution with respect to disclosing of nonpublic personal information of persons who have ceased to be customers of the financial institution ; ( 2 ) the categories of nonpublic personal information that are collected by the financial institution ; ( 3 ) the policies that the institution maintains to protect the confidentiality and security of nonpublic personal information in accordance with section 6801 of this title ; and ( 4 ) the disclosures required, if any, under section 1681a ( d ) ( 2 ) ( A ) ( iii ) of this title. ( d ) Exemption for certified public accountants ( 1 ) In general The disclosure requirements of subsection ( a ) do not apply to any person, to the extent that the person is ( A ) a certified public accountant ; ( B ) certified or licensed for such purpose by a State ; and ( C ) subject to any provision of law, rule, or regulation issued by a legislative or regulatory body of the State, including rules of professional conduct or ethics, that prohibits disclosure of nonpublic personal information without the knowing and expressed consent of the consumer. If a consumer contacts any consumer reporting agency that is not described in section 1681a ( p ) of this title to communicate a suspicion that the consumer has been or is about to become a victim of fraud or related crime, including identity theft, the agency shall provide information to the consumer on how to contact the Bureau and the consumer reporting agencies described in section 1681a ( p ) of this title to obtain more detailed information and request alerts under this section. account name ; XXXX account number XXXX account name ; XXXX account number ; XXXX account name ; XXXX XXXX account number ; XXXX account name ; XXXX XXXX account number ; XXXX  these comanies are in clear violation of my consumer rights ia i am federaly protected the the FCRA AND THE CFP15 USC 1681 ( a ) Accuracy and fairness of credit reporting The Congress makes the following findings : ( 1 ) The banking system is dependent upon fair and accurate credit reporting. Inaccurate credit reports directly impair the efficiency of the banking system, and unfair credit reporting methods undermine the public confidence which is essential to the continued functioning of the banking system. ( 2 ) An elaborate mechanism has been developed for investigating and evaluating the credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, and general reputation of consumers. ( 3 ) Consumer reporting agencies have assumed a vital role in assembling and evaluating consumer credit and other information on consumers. ( 4 ) There is a need to insure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumers right to privacy. ( b ) Reasonable procedures It is the purpose of this subchapter to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter. Legally, the right of privacy is a basic law which includes : The right of persons to be free from unwarranted publicity. Unwarranted appropriation of one 's personality. Publicizing one 's private affairs without a legitimate public concern. Legally, the right of privacy is a basic law which includes : The right of persons to be free from unwarranted publicity. Unwarranted appropriation of one 's personality. Publicizing one 's private affairs without a legitimate public concern. 15 U.S. Code 1681i - Procedure in case of disputed accuracy U.S. Code Notes prev | next ( a ) Reinvestigations of disputed information ( 1 ) Reinvestigation required ( A ) In general Subject to subsection ( f ) and except as provided in subsection ( g ), 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. ( B ) Extension of period to reinvestigate Except as provided in subparagraph ( C ), the 30-day period described in subparagraph ( A ) may be extended for not more than 15 additional days if the consumer reporting agency receives information from the consumer during that 30-day period that is relevant to the reinvestigation. ( C ) Limitations on extension of period to reinvestigate Subparagraph ( B ) shall not apply to any reinvestigation in which, during the 30-day period described in subparagraph ( A ), the information that is the subject of the reinvestigation is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or the consumer reporting agency determines that the information can not be verified. ( 2 ) Prompt notice of dispute to furnisher of information ( A ) In general Before the expiration of the 5-business-day period beginning on the date on which a consumer reporting agency receives notice of a dispute from any consumer or a reseller in accordance with paragraph ( 1 ), the agency shall provide notification of the dispute to any person who provided any item of information in dispute, at the address and in the manner established with the person. The notice shall include all relevant information regarding the dispute that the agency has received from the consumer or reseller. ( B ) Provision of other information The consumer reporting agency shall promptly provide to the person who provided the information in dispute all relevant information regarding the dispute that is received by the agency from the consumer or the reseller after the period referred to in subparagraph ( A ) and before the end of the period referred to in paragraph ( 1 ) ( A ). ( 3 ) Determination that dispute is frivolous or irrelevant ( A ) In general Notwithstanding paragraph ( 1 ), a consumer reporting agency may terminate a reinvestigation of information disputed by a consumer under that paragraph if the agency reasonably determines that the dispute by the consumer is frivolous or irrelevant, including by reason of a failure by a consumer to provide sufficient information to investigate the disputed information. ( B ) Notice of determination Upon making any determination in accordance with subparagraph ( A ) that a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, a consumer reporting agency shall notify the consumer of such determination not later than 5 business days after making such determination, by mail or, if authorized by the consumer for that purpose, by any other means available to the agency. ( C ) Contents of notice A notice under subparagraph ( B ) shall include ( i ) the reasons for the determination under subparagraph ( A ) ; and ( ii ) identification of any information required to investigate the disputed information, which may consist of a standardized form describing the general nature of such information. ( 4 ) Consideration of consumer information In conducting any reinvestigation under paragraph ( 1 ) with respect to disputed information in the file of any consumer, the consumer reporting agency shall review and consider all relevant information submitted by the consumer in the period described in paragraph ( 1 ) ( A ) with respect to such disputed information. ( 5 ) Treatment of inaccurate or unverifiable information ( A ) In general If, after any reinvestigation under paragraph ( 1 ) of any information disputed by a consumer, an item of the information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or can not be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall ( i ) promptly delete that item of information from the file of the consumer, or modify that item of information, as appropriate, based on the results of the reinvestigation; and ( ii ) promptly notify the furnisher of that information that the information has been modified or deleted from the file of the consumer. ( B ) Requirements relating to reinsertion of previously deleted material ( i ) Certification of accuracy of information If any information is deleted from a consumers file pursuant to subparagraph ( A ), the information may not be reinserted in the file by the consumer reporting agency unless the person who furnishes the information certifies that the information is complete and accurate. ( ii ) Notice to consumer If any information that has been deleted from a consumers file pursuant to subparagraph ( A ) is reinserted in the file, the consumer reporting agency shall notify the consumer of the reinsertion in writing not later than 5 business days after the reinsertion or, if authorized by the consumer for that purpose, by any other means available to the agency. ( iii ) Additional information As part of, or in addition to, the notice under clause ( ii ), a consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer in writing not later than 5 business days after the date of the reinsertion ( I ) a statement that the disputed information has been reinserted ; ( II ) the business name and address of any furnisher of information contacted and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available, or of any furnisher of information that contacted the consumer reporting agency, in connection with the reinsertion of such information ; and ( III ) a notice that the consumer has the right to add a statement to the consumers file disputing the accuracy or completeness of the disputed information. ( C ) Procedures to prevent reappearance A consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to prevent the reappearance in a consumers file, and in consumer reports on the consumer, of information that is deleted pursuant to this paragraph ( other than information that is reinserted in accordance with subparagraph ( B ) ( i ) ). ( D ) Automated reinvestigation system Any consumer reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis shall implement an automated system through which furnishers of information to that consumer reporting agency may report the results of a reinvestigation that finds incomplete or inaccurate information in a consumers file to other such consumer reporting agencies. ( 6 ) Notice of results of reinvestigation ( A ) In general A consumer reporting agency shall provide written notice to a consumer of the results of a reinvestigation under this subsection not later than 5 business days after the completion of the reinvestigation, by mail or, if authorized by the consumer for that purpose, by other means available to the agency. ( B ) Contents As part of, or in addition to, the notice under subparagraph ( A ), a consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer in writing before the expiration of the 5-day period referred to in subparagraph ( A ) ( i ) a statement that the reinvestigation is completed ; ( ii ) a consumer report that is based upon the consumers file as that file is revised as a result of the reinvestigation ; ( iii ) a notice that, if requested by the consumer, a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information shall be provided to the consumer by the agency, including the business name and address of any furnisher of information contacted in connection with such information and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available ; ( iv ) a notice that the consumer has the right to add a statement to the consumers file disputing the accuracy or completeness of the information ; and ( v ) a notice that the consumer has the right to request under subsection ( d ) that the consumer reporting agency furnish notifications under that subsection. ( 7 ) Description of reinvestigation procedure A consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer a description referred to in paragraph ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) by not later than 15 days after receiving a request from the consumer for that description. ( 8 ) Expedited dispute resolution If a dispute regarding an item of information in a consumers file at a consumer reporting agency is resolved in accordance with paragraph ( 5 ) ( A ) by the deletion of the disputed information by not later than 3 business days after the date on which the agency receives notice of the dispute from the consumer in accordance with paragraph ( 1 ) ( A ), then the agency shall not be required to comply with paragraphs ( 2 ), ( 6 ), and ( 7 ) with respect to that dispute if the agency ( A ) provides prompt notice of the deletion to the consumer by telephone ; ( B ) includes in that notice, or in a written notice that accompanies a confirmation and consumer report provided in accordance with subparagraph ( C ), a statement of the consumers right to request under subsection ( d ) that the agency furnish notifications under that subsection ; and ( C ) provides written confirmation of the deletion and a copy of a consumer report on the consumer that is based on the consumers file after the deletion, not later than 5 business days after making the deletion. ( b ) Statement of dispute If the reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute, the consumer may file a brief statement setting forth the nature of the dispute. The consumer reporting agency may limit such statements to not more than one hundred words if it provides the consumer with assistance in writing a clear summary of the dispute. ( c ) Notification of consumer dispute in subsequent consumer reports Whenever a statement of a dispute is filed, unless there is reasonable grounds to believe that it is frivolous or irrelevant, the consumer reporting agency shall, in any subsequent consumer report containing the information in question, clearly note that it is disputed by the consumer and provide either the consumers statement or a clear and accurate codification or summary thereof. ( d ) Notification of deletion of disputed information Following any deletion of information which is found to be inaccurate or whose accuracy can no longer be verified or any notation as to disputed information, the consumer reporting agency shall, at the request of the consumer, furnish notification that the item has been deleted or the statement, codification or summary pursuant to subsection ( b ) or ( c ) to any person specifically designated by the consumer who has within two years prior thereto received a consumer report for employment purposes, or within six months prior thereto received a consumer report for any other purpose, which contained the deleted or disputed information. ( e ) Treatment of complaints and report to Congress ( 1 ) In general The Commission [ 1 ] shall ( A ) compile all complaints that it receives that a file of a consumer that is maintained by a consumer reporting agency described in section 1681a ( p ) of this title contains incomplete or inaccurate information, with respect to which, the consumer appears to have disputed the completeness or accuracy with the consumer reporting agency or otherwise utilized the procedures provided by subsection ( a ) ; and ( B ) transmit each such complaint to each consumer reporting agency involved. ( 2 ) Exclusion Complaints received or obtained by the Bureau pursuant to its investigative authority under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 shall not be subject to paragraph ( 1 ). ( 3 ) Agency responsibilities Each consumer reporting agency described in section 1681a ( p ) of this title that receives a complaint transmitted by the Bureau pursuant to paragraph ( 1 ) shall ( A ) review each such complaint to determine whether all legal obligations imposed on the consumer reporting agency under this subchapter ( including any obligation imposed by an applicable court or administrative order ) have been met with respect to the subject matter of the complaint ; ( B ) provide reports on a regular basis to the Bureau regarding the determinations of and actions taken by the consumer reporting agency, if any, in connection with its review of such complaints ; and ( C ) maintain, for a reasonable time period, records regarding the disposition of each such complaint that is sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this subsection. ( 4 ) Rulemaking authority The Commission1 may prescribe regulations, as appropriate to implement this subsection

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief