Consumer complaint received 2024-08-17
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (GA)

I was notified that my information had been leaked in XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX via data breaches with Equifax, Employment Retirement System of Georgia ( XXXX ), and XXXX Permanent. In late XXXX I began seeing credit inquiries on my credit reports, which I neither submitted nor authorized, given I was in an active XXXX XXXX bankruptcy at the time. 

I contacted the credit bureaus multiple times, going back and forth with them until 1 of the 3 companies ( XXXX ) removed the unauthorized items thanks to an initial complaint. Many conversations and mailed letters later, XXXX stated I needed to file proof of the suspected identity theft with the Federal Trade Commission, and they would remove the inquiries once I sent the info to them. I did this at their advice, and they kept their word of removing the items immediately. 

Equifax, is another story. I have been fighting with them since XXXX, and they still choose not to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and will not remove the erroneous and unauthorized inquiries. My attorney has also sent a letter reminding them that they are violating my rights, and they STILL refuse to comply. 

There have been too many phone calls to recount them all, but the most recent took place as follows : XX/XX/XXXX : I contacted Equifax to inquire about the information I was told to mail to include the FTC report along with a copy of my license and social security card. This information was mailed on XX/XX/XXXX, so there was sufficient time for them to receive the documents, review the information, and take the appropriate action. I was told the by the rep that the documents had not been received and my only option was to mail them again, which I did on XX/XX/XXXX. In addition, I filed a dispute via the electronic process on the Equifax website. Within a couple of hours on a Friday night, I received an email with the results, stating the inquiries had been investigated, were validated as accurate, and they were not removing them. I was confused by this, because I'm certain no one is working at Equifax and reviewing disputes and documents after midnight. 

I called again on XX/XX/XXXX to inquire about the XXXX round of mailed documents and was again told they had not received anything from me since XX/XX/XXXX, not even those sent on XX/XX/XXXX. During the useless conversation, I asked the rep why the dispute was denied and she stated they did not see the documents. After debating with her and telling her numerous times that I uploaded all the documents needed, she claimed she saw them and said the inquiries would be removed within XXXX days. This time the dispute was closed an hour after speaking with her with the same claim that the inquiries had been validated and were not being removed. 

I filed another electronic dispute on XX/XX/XXXX and called again on XX/XX/XXXX demanding that someone explain to me how they have received every other document I've mailed but the XXXX packages sent recently were never received or reviewed. All he could say was that they did not have them. When I asked if there was somewhere I could hand deliver the information, he stated I could simply drop them off at the front desk of the XXXX Equifax headquarters. On XX/XX/XXXX, I drove an hour to do this, only to learn upon arrival that the company does not accept any documents in person, and they only allow in person credit freeze/alert/report requests in person. I was in tears at this point. The person extended me a courtesy and offered to mail them for me, so I again had to relinquish my personal information. This whole cycle of events has me terrified that someone else will again try and steal my identity and make false credit claims in my name, since I have mailed required documents three times, at the advise of multiple Equifax reps, yet they claim nothing has been received.

At this point I am extremely angry and bewildered at how Equifax can continue to get away with their blatant noncompliance and violation of the FCRA. They have shown no empathy and have not extended any type of resolution to me, the VICTIM. Who will hold them accountable for this? I have worked very hard to rebuild my credit only to have it damaged again due to someone else 's criminal activity and Equifax 's refusal to abide by the law. 

I am filing this complaint in hopes that the CFPB will force their hand to do what is right. Please help me!