Consumer complaint received 2024-10-03
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (NJ)

Subject : Demand for Reinvestigation of Disputed Items on Credit Report Dear Equifax I am writing to formally dispute the accuracy and completeness of the following items on my credit report : XXXX Acct # XXXX - XXXX late payment are not correct XXXX XXXX Acct # XXXX - This acct was paid on time. Pls excluded Collection Account ( no name ) Acct # XXXX - No knowledge of this account US BKPT CT XXXX  XXXX Ref # XXXX - Pass the statue of limitation for GA In addition to disputing these inaccuracies, I believe my privacy rights have been violated in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1681b. I am specifically emphasizing the responsibilities outlined in 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( 6 ) ( b ) ( iii ). 

Demand for Reinvestigation Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), you are required to ensure the accuracy of the information in consumer credit reports. The items listed above are incorrect and have negatively impacted my creditworthiness. I respectfully request a comprehensive reinvestigation of these items. 

Obligations Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( 6 ) ( b ) ( iii ) This section stipulates that when a consumer disputes information, the consumer reporting agency ( CRA ) must undertake the following critical actions : Thorough Investigation : The CRA must perform a meaningful and comprehensive investigation of the disputed items. This includes evaluating the validity of the consumer 's claims rather than simply confirming the original source of the information. 

Notification of the Furnisher : If I have provided relevant evidence to support my dispute, you are obligated to notify the furnisher of the disputed information. This step is crucial as it allows the furnisher an opportunity to verify or correct their records based on my input. 

Timeliness : You must complete your investigation within 15 days of receiving my dispute. This timeframe is essential to prevent ongoing harm to my credit status. 

Corrective Actions : Should your investigation reveal inaccuracies, you are required to correct the information and notify me of the results. Furthermore, any third parties that accessed the incorrect information within the last six months must also be informed of the corrections.

Documentation and Records : The CRA must maintain detailed records of the dispute and the results of your investigation, which serves as evidence of compliance with the FCRA.

Consumer Rights : I have the right to obtain a copy of my credit report reflecting any changes made as a result of this dispute. This transparency allows me to verify that my credit file is accurate. 

Relevant Court Cases Several court cases emphasize the obligations of CRAs under the FCRA : Cortez v. Trans Union , LLC, 617 F.3d 688 ( 3rd Cir. 2010 ) : This case established that CRAs must perform a reasonable investigation of disputed information, emphasizing that they can not simply rely on the accuracy of the original reporting without verifying it.

Harris v. New Century Financial Services , Inc., 573 F.3d 160 ( 2nd Cir. 2009 ) : This ruling affirmed that consumers have a right to accurate reporting and held CRAs accountable for failing to conduct thorough investigations. 

Gordon v. HSBC Bank USA, N.A., 648 F.3d 711 ( 7th Cir. 2011 ) : The court ruled that when a consumer disputes information, CRAs must take meaningful actions to investigate and rectify inaccuracies, reinforcing the importance of thorough and fair practices. 

Conclusion Given the inaccuracies present in my credit report and the potential violation of my privacy rights, I demand a thorough reinvestigation of the items listed above in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( 7 ) and the requirements of 1681i ( 6 ) ( b ) ( iii ). Please provide me with the results of your investigation within the mandated 15-day timeframe. 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.