Consumer complaint received 2024-08-26
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (NY)

I am writing to file a formal complaint and dispute with the CFPB regarding several accounts that were fraudulently opened in my name, which were previously removed from my credit report but have since been improperly reinserted. I am a victim of identity theft, and the presence of these accounts is a clear violation of my rights under federal consumer protection laws. 

The fraudulent accounts in question are as follows : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX These accounts were removed from my credit report after I initially reported them as fraudulent and provided the necessary documentation of identity theft. However, these accounts have now been improperly reinserted, causing significant harm to my creditworthiness. Additionally, I have noticed incorrect addresses listed on my report, and I request that only XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX be listed as my valid address. 

Legal Protections and Obligations XXXX. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) : Under the FCRA, credit reporting agencies are required to investigate and correct any inaccurate or incomplete information on a consumers credit report. Specifically : When a consumer disputes the accuracy of any information, the agency must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate. 
The investigation must be completed within 30 days of receiving the dispute. 
If the information is found to be inaccurate or can not be verified, it must be promptly deleted or corrected. 
XXXX. 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( a ) : The FCRA also provides specific protections for victims of identity theft : Upon receiving an identity theft report, the credit reporting agency must block the reporting of any information that the consumer identifies as resulting from identity theft within XXXX business days. 
The credit reporting agency is prohibited from re-reporting the blocked information unless it determines that the information was blocked in error or the consumer requests the removal of the block. 
XXXX. 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) : Furnishers of information, such as XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX, are required by law to ensure the accuracy of the information they report to credit bureaus. They must not report information they know to be inaccurate and are required to correct or update any inaccurate information. 
XXXX. FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) : When an account is reinserted after being removed due to a dispute, the credit reporting agency must notify the consumer within XXXX business days. The notification must include the reasons for the reinsertion and identify the source of the reinserted information. Failure to provide this notice is a violation of the FCRA. 

Request for Address Correction In addition to disputing the fraudulent accounts, I have noticed that my credit report contains incorrect addresses. I have never lived at or used any other address except XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. Please remove any other listed addresses and ensure that only this address is reflected on my credit report moving forward. 

Supporting Documentation Enclosed with this letter are the following documents to support my claim : A copy of my identity theft report affidavit filed with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ). 
A copy of my state-issued ID for identity verification. 
A copy of a recent utility bill showing my current address. 

Request for Immediate Action In light of the above laws and the evidence provided, I respectfully request the following actions : XXXX. Immediate and Permanent Removal : The fraudulent accounts from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX should be permanently removed from my credit report. 
XXXX. Investigation of Procedures : Investigate how these accounts were improperly reinserted after being previously removed, in violation of the FCRA. The credit reporting agency and the furnishers of the information should be held accountable for this error. 
XXXX. Correction of Any Harmful Effects : Ensure that any negative impact on my credit score due to this improper reinsertion is promptly corrected, and any negative marks related to these fraudulent accounts are expunged. 
XXXX. Address Correction : Please ensure that XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX is the only address listed on my credit report, and that all other addresses are removed. 

Failure to comply with these legal requirements may result in further legal action to protect my rights as a consumer. Please confirm receipt of this complaint and provide me with a status update on your investigation as soon as possible. You may contact me via email or phone should you require any additional information or documentation. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX