Consumer complaint received 2024-10-31
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (FL)

To Whom It May Concern : As Attorney-in-Fact for XXXX XXXX XXXX, I am filing this formal complaint to enforce privacy rights and assert protections under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ( GLBA ), and related federal statutes. This complaint is directed toward Equifax, XXXX, and any affiliated furnishers of information who have failed to comply with statutory obligations by unlawfully accessing and sharing private information. 

Legal Basis for Complaint XXXX. Consumer Privacy Rights under FCRA : XXXX U.S.C. XXXX ( a ) establishes that consumer reporting agencies such as Equifax and XXXX hold a grave responsibility to operate with fairness, impartiality, and respect for the consumers right to privacy. This fundamental right to privacy is not merely a regulatory expectation but a statutory mandate. As a federally protected consumer, XXXX XXXX XXXX demands that Equifax and XXXX respect this right by immediately halting unauthorized data sharing. 
XXXX. Financial Institutions Duty to Safeguard Consumer Information ( 15 U.S.C. 6801 ) : Congress has affirmed that financial institutions bear a continual duty to protect the confidentiality of consumers nonpublic information. Specifically, XXXX XXXX. XXXX obligates these institutions to adopt strong privacy safeguards. The failure of Equifax, XXXX, and any associated furnisher to adhere to these safeguards is an actionable violation of this duty. 
XXXX. Requirement for Consumer Authorization in Reporting ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b, 1681c ) : Under the FCRA, consumer reporting agencies are strictly limited to sharing consumer reports only with the explicit, written consent of the consumer. XXXX XXXX XXXX has not provided, nor does he provide, any form of authorizationwhether written, verbal, or impliedfor the furnishing of his information. Therefore, all authorizations, if assumed, are formally revoked as of this notice. 
XXXX. XXXX Rights XXXX the GLBA ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( b ) - ( c ) ) : Per the GLBA, consumers have the right to opt out of any nonpublic information sharing by financial institutions with nonaffiliated third parties. Despite this requirement, neither Equifax, XXXX, nor the relevant furnishers provided the requisite disclosures or procedures for exercising this option. This oversight constitutes a direct violation of XXXX XXXX XXXX rights under federal law. 
XXXX. Restriction on Adverse Information Reporting ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ) : The FCRA prohibits reporting any adverse information older than XXXX years, with few exceptions. Any adverse reporting beyond this statutory timeframe infringes on consumer rights and is, therefore, unlawful. As such, I demand an immediate cessation of reporting related to any adverse information that does not meet these criteria. 
XXXX. Mandate for Reasonable Accuracy Procedures ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( A ) and XXXX ) : The law requires consumer reporting agencies and furnishers of information to implement procedures that ensure the accuracy of reported data. Equifax and Experians repeated failure to maintain such procedures has compromised the accuracy of data reported on XXXX XXXX XXXX and is a clear breach of statutory duty. 

Actions Requested XXXX. Immediate Cease and Desist on Unauthorized Reporting : I demand that Equifax, XXXX, and all associated furnishers immediately halt any and all reporting or sharing of XXXX XXXX XXXX nonpublic personal information. This data has been shared in direct violation of federal privacy protections and without explicit consent. 
XXXX. Revocation of All Prior Authorizations : This complaint serves as a formal revocation of any and all prior authorizations for reporting or sharing XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Any form of implied, verbal, or written consentwhether previously provided or assumedis now nullified, effective as of the date of this notice. 
XXXX. Confirmation of Compliance and Accountability : I request the CFPB to enforce compliance with the above statutes and to confirm in writing that all unauthorized data-sharing practices have been terminated. Additionally, I request that the CFPB hold Equifax, XXXX, and associated furnishers accountable for failing to observe federal consumer protections. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter. I trust that the CFPB will take immediate steps to protect the privacy rights of XXXX XXXX XXXX and ensure that Equifax, XXXX, and other parties comply with all relevant federal statutes.