Consumer complaint received 2022-09-21
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Was not notified of investigation status or results

Complaint:
These accounts are invalid, inaccurate, not timely, illegal and carry no documented evidence of their existence. To the least, they have not been authenticated as per my requirements as you are damaging my character, creditworthiness, and wellbeing by falsely stating those non-compliant unverifiable accounts on my report. 
I have not received any confirmation on how the credit bureaus have verified the alleged accounts and therefore request that you consider this. I am trying to rectify the subterfuge that the credit bureaus are reporting. 
I have not received confirmation nor certified testimony that the credit bureaus complied with FCRA and all its mandated rules when it comes to reporting accurately. I asked the credit bureaus to present to me a certificate in testimony that the alleged accounts are in fact compliant and not subterfuge. 

I have reached out to the credit bureaus by certified mail. These are the accounts that I am referring to : XXXX XXXX Alleged account # : XXXX XXXX  Alleged account # : XXXX XXXX Bank XXXX account # : XXXX XXXX Bank Alleged account # : XXXX XXXX XXXX Alleged account # : XXXX Attached are the letters that were sent certified to each bureau. 

Below are the Congressional laws that the credit bureaus are violated : 1640. Civil liability ( a ) Individual or class action for damages ; amount of award ; factors determining amount of award Except as otherwise provided in this section, any creditor who fails to comply with any requirement imposed under this part, including any requirement under SECTION 1635 OF THIS TITLE, subsection ( f ) or ( g ) of SECTION 1641 OF THIS TITLE, or part D or E of this subchapter with respect to any person is liable to such person in an amount equal to the sum of ( 1 ) any actual damage sustained by such person as a result of the failure ; ( 2 ) ( A ) ( i ) in the case of an individual action twice the amount of any finance charge in connection with the transaction, ( ii ) in the case of an individual action relating to a consumer lease under part E of this subchapter, 25 per centum of the total amount of monthly payments under the lease, except that the liability under this subparagraph shall not be less than {$200.00} nor greater than {$2000.00}, ( iii ) in the case of an individual action relating to an open end consumer credit plan that is not secured by real property or a dwelling, twice the amount of any finance charge in connection with the transaction, with a minimum of {$500.00} and a maximum of {$5000.00}, or such higher amount as may be appropriate in the case of an established pattern or practice of such failures ; 1 1So in original. The semicolon probably should be a comma. 
or ( iv ) in the case of an individual action relating to a credit transaction not under an open end credit plan that is secured by real property or a dwelling, not less than {$400.00} or greater than {$4000.00} ; or ( B ) in the case of a class action, such amount as the court may allow, except that as to each member of the class no minimum recovery shall be applicable, and the total recovery under this subparagraph in any class action or series of class actions arising out of the same failure to comply by the same creditor shall not be more than the lesser of {>= $1,000,000} or 1 per centum of the net worth of the creditor ; ( 3 ) in the case of any successful action to enforce the foregoing liability or in any action in which a person is determined to have a right of rescission under section 1635 or 1638 ( e ) ( 7 ) of this title, the costs of the action, together with a reasonable attorneys fee as determined by the court ; and ( 4 ) in the case of a failure to comply with any requirement under SECTION 1639 OF THIS TITLE, paragraph ( 1 ) or ( 2 ) of SECTION 1639B ( C ) OF THIS TITLE, or SECTION 1639C ( A ) OF THIS TITLE, an amount equal to the sum of all finance charges and fees paid by the consumer, unless the creditor demonstrates that the failure to comply is not material. 
In determining the amount of award in any class action, the court shall consider, among other relevant factors, the amount of any actual damages awarded, the frequency and persistence of failures of compliance by the creditor, the resources of the creditor, the number of persons adversely affected, and the extent to which the creditors failure of compliance was intentional. In connection with the disclosures referred to in subsections ( a ) and ( b ) of SECTION 1637 OF THIS TITLE, a creditor shall have a liability determined under paragraph ( 2 ) only for failing to comply with the requirements of SECTION 1635 OF THIS TITLE, 1637 ( a ) 2 1681b. Permissible purposes of consumer reports ( a ) In general Subject to subsection ( c ) of this section, any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other : ( 1 ) In response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order, or a subpoena issued in connection with proceedings before a Federal grand jury. ( 2 ) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. ( XXXX ) To a person which it has reason to believe ( A ) intends to use the information in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished and involving the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of, the consumer ; or ( B ) intends to use the information for employment purposes ; or ( C ) intends to use the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance involving the consumer ; or ( D ) intends to use the information in connection with a determination of the consumers eligibility for a license or other benefit granted by a governmental instrumentality required by law to consider an applicants financial responsibility or status ; or ( E ) intends to use the information, as a potential investor or servicer, or current insurer, in connection with a valuation of, or an assessment of the credit or prepayment risks associated with, an existing credit obligation ; or ( F ) otherwise has a legitimate business need for the information ( i ) in connection with a business transaction that is initiated by the consumer ; or ( ii ) to review an account to determine whether the consumer continues to meet the terms of the account. ( G ) executive departments and agencies in connection with the issuance of government-sponsored individually-billed travel charge cards. ( 4 ) In response to a request by the head of a State or local child support enforcement agency ( or a State or local government official authorized by the head of such an agency ), if the person making the request certifies to the consumer reporting agency that ( A ) the consumer report is needed for the purpose of establishing an individuals capacity to make child support payments or determining the appropriate level of such payments ; ( B ) the paternity of the consumer for the child to which the obligation relates has been established or acknowledged by the consumer in accordance with State laws under which the obligation arises ( if required by those laws ) ; ( C ) the person has provided at least 10 days prior notice to the consumer whose report is requested, by certified or registered mail to the last known address of the consumer, that the report will be requested ; and ( D ) the consumer report will be kept confidential, will be used solely for a purpose described in subparagraph ( A ), and will not be used in connection with any other civil, administrative, or criminal proceeding, or for any other purpose. 

1681a. Definitions ; rules of construction ( a ) Definitions and rules of construction set forth in this section are applicable for the purposes of this subchapter. ( b ) The term person means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity. ( c ) The term consumer means an individual. ( d ) CONSUMER REPORT. ( XXXX ) IN GENERAL.The term consumer report means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumers credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumers eligibility for ( A ) credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes ; ( B ) employment purposes ; or ( C ) any other purpose authorized under section 1681b of this title. ( 2 ) EXCLUSIONS.Except as provided in paragraph ( 3 ), the term consumer report does not include 1681a TITLE 15COMMERCE AND TRADE Page 1350 1So in original. The period probably should be ; and. ( A ) subject to section 1681s3 of this title, any ( i ) report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and the person making the report ; ( ii ) communication of that information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control ; or ( iii ) communication of other information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control, if it is clearly and conspicuously disclosed to the consumer that the information may be communicated among such persons and the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that the information is initially communicated, to direct that such information not be communicated among such persons ; ( B ) any authorization or approval of a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly by the issuer of a credit card or similar device ; ( C ) any report in which a person who has been requested by a third party to make a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly to a consumer conveys his or her decision with respect to such request, if the third party advises the consumer of the name and address of the person to whom the request was made, and such person makes the disclosures to the consumer required under section 1681m of this title ; or ( D ) a communication described in subsection ( o ) or ( x ) of this section. ( 3 ) RESTRICTION ON SHARING OF MEDICAL INFORMATION.Except for information or any communication of information disclosed as provided in section 1681b ( g ) ( 3 ) of this title, the exclusions in paragraph ( 2 ) shall not apply with respect to information disclosed to any person related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control, if the information is ( A ) medical information ; ( B ) an individualized list or description based on the payment transactions of the consumer for medical products or services ; or ( C ) an aggregate list of identified consumers based on payment transactions for medical products or services. ( 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. ( f ) The term consumer reporting agency means any person which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties, and which uses any means or facility of interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer reports. ( g ) The term file, when used in connection with information on any consumer, means all of the information on that consumer recorded and retained by a consumer reporting agency regardless of how the information is stored. ( h ) The term employment purposes when used in connection with a consumer report means a report used for the purpose of evaluating a consumer for employment, promotion, reassignment or retention as an employee. ( i ) MEDICAL INFORMATION.The term medical information ( 1 ) means information or data, whether oral or recorded, in any form or medium, created by or derived from a health care provider or the consumer, that relates to ( A ) the past, present, or future physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition of an individual ; ( B ) the provision of health care to an individual ; or ( C ) the payment for the provision of health care to an individual.1 ( 2 ) does not include the age or gender of a consumer, demographic information about the consumer, including a consumers residence address or e-mail address, or any other information about a consumer that does not relate to the physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition of a consumer, including the existence or value of any insurance policy. ( j ) DEFINITIONS RELATING TO CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS. ( 1 ) OVERDUE SUPPORT.The term overdue support has the meaning given to such term in section 666 ( e ) of title 42. ( 2 ) STATE OR LOCAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.The term State or local child support enforcement agency means a State or local agency which administers a State or local program for establishing and enforcing child support obligations. ( k ) ADVERSE ACTION. ( 1 ) ACTIONS INCLUDED.The term adverse action ( A ) has the same meaning as in section 1691 ( d ) ( 6 ) of this title ; and ( B ) means ( i ) a denial or cancellation of, an increase in any charge for, or a reduction or other adverse or unfavorable change in the terms of coverage or amount of, any insurance, existing or applied for, in connection with the underwriting of insurance ; ( ii ) a denial of employment or any other decision for employment purposes that adversely affects any current or prospective employee ; ( iii ) a denial or cancellation of, an increase in any charge for, or any other ad- Page 1351 TITLE 15COMMERCE AND TRADE 1681a verse or unfavorable change in the terms of, any license or benefit described in section 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ( D ) of this title ; and ( iv ) an action taken or determination that is ( I ) made in connection with an application that was made by, or a transaction that was initiated by, any consumer, or in connection with a review of an account under section 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ( F ) ( ii ) of this title ; and ( II ) adverse to the interests of the consumer.

15 U.S. Code 1681c2 - Block of information resulting from identity theft

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation