Consumer complaint received 2020-04-16
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX
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: Investigation took more than 30 days

Complaint:
I found out that a credit card had been fraudulently opened in my name on Wednesday XXXX last week while going through the process of refinancing my house so I can take advantage of lower rates and save my family at least {$150.00} a month in my mortgage payment. It wasn't until late XXXX that I realized the account was already in derogatory status and it tanked my credit score by 125 points. 

I submitted a Fraud Dispute regarding a Credit Card that was opened fraudulently in my name through XXXX  XXXX XXXX  to Equifax on XX/XX/11 and included a Identify Theft FTC Report with all of the information I had available to me ( Name of creditor, date opened, amount charged ). I called today to ensure my request to block the tradeline pursuant to FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) would be  completed as specified. 

( a ) Block. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a consumer reporting agency shall block the reporting of any information in the file of a consumer that the consumer identifies as information that resulted from an alleged identity theft, not later than 4 business days after the date of receipt by such agency of ( 1 ) appropriate proof of the identity of the consumer ; ( 2 ) a copy of an identity theft report ; ( 3 ) the identification of such information by the consumer ; and ( 4 ) a statement by the consumer that the information is not information relating to any transaction by the consumer. 

I completed all of the above and Equifax confirmed my identity over the phone with my SSN, DOB, Address, and name and was told they would not be able to complete the request because I had not included the account number for the account on the Identity Theft Report. I explained that I could not furnish such information because XXXX XXXX would not provide the number to me due to the open fraud investigation and I never received a statement from XXXX XXXX with any such information. I escalated the phone call " as high as possible '' and was told I would need to resubmit my Identity Theft FTC Report with the account number on it and they would then be able to block the tradeline. I once again explained that I did not have it and could not furnish it, I was then told by the agent that she could give me the account number and I would need to upload the new form so they could complete the request within 72 hours. I went back and forth with the agent about how ridiculous that  proposition was, they had clearly established that I was the consumer, my Identity Theft Report, and confirmation from me that it was fraudulent. She insisted they could not move forward due to internal policy. I provided the same information to XXXX   and they promptly blocked the tradeline from my credit report. 

Now my only option is to have Equifax delete my dispute, because they do not have a way for consumers to upload documentation after a dispute has been filed, and start the whole process over. Or I can put myself and my family, including a XXXX XXXX XXXX, at risk during a pandemic and spend ~ {$45.00} to overnight a new Identity Theft FTC Report to Equifax in order to fix the situation in a timely manner. 

I, the victim, should not have to go through so much effort to restore my name and credit. There are regulations in place to protect consumers in this situation and Equifax is placing an unfair ( and in some cases asinine ) burden on consumers to resolve fraudulent activity due to identity theft. Innocent until proven guilty is what everything else in this country is based on, but Equifax ( and the other credit reporting agencies for that matter ) are still operating like our older brother ( XXXX ) and making the consumer prove their innocence.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation