Consumer complaint received 2024-04-24
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (CA)

I am a victim of identity theft and I write to dispute certain information in my file resulting from the crime. I have circled the items I dispute on the attached copy of Identity theft I received. The items I am disputing do not relate to any transactions that I have made or authorized. Please remove this information at the earliest possible time. Following FCRA 609 ( e ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( e ) ) Disclosures to Consumers Information Available to Victims ( e ) Information available to victims ( 1 ) In general. For the purpose of documenting fraudulent transactions resulting from identity theft, not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of a request from a victim in accordance with paragraph ( 3 ), and subject to verification of the identity of the victim and the claim of identity theft in accordance with paragraph ( 2 ), a business entity that has provided credit to, provided for consideration products, goods, or services to, accepted payment from, or otherwise entered into a commercial transaction for consideration with, a person who has allegedly made unauthorized use of the means of identification of the victim, shall provide a copy of application and business transaction records in the control of the business entity, whether maintained by the business entity or by another person on behalf of the business entity, evidencing any transaction alleged to be a result of identity theft to -- ( A ) the victim ; ( B ) any Federal, State, or local government law enforcement agency or officer specified by the victim in such a request ; or ( C ) any law enforcement agency investigating the identity theft and authorized by the victim to take receipt of records provided under this subsection. ( 2 ) Verification of identity and claim. Before a business entity provides any information under paragraph ( 1 ), unless the business entity, at its discretion, otherwise has a high degree of confidence that it knows the identity of the victim making a request under paragraph ( 1 ), the victim shall provide to the business entity -- ( A ) as proof of positive identification of the victim, at the election of the business entity -- ( i ) the presentation of a government-issued identification card ; ( ii ) personally identifying information of the same type as was provided to the business entity by the unauthorized person ; or ( iii ) personally identifying information that the business entity typically requests from new applicants or for new transactions, at the time of the victims request for information, including any documentation described in clauses ( i ) and ( ii ) ; and ( B ) as proof of a claim of identity theft, at the election of the business entity -- ( i ) a copy of a police report evidencing the claim of the victim of identity theft ; and ( ii ) a properly completed -- ( I ) copy of a standardized affidavit of identity theft developed and made available by the Commission ; or ( II ) an [ FN1 ] affidavit of fact that is acceptable to the business entity for that purpose. ( 3 ) Procedures. The request of a victim under paragraph ( 1 ) shall -- ( A ) be in writing ; ( B ) be mailed to an address specified by the business entity, if any ; and ( C ) if asked by the business entity, include relevant information about any transaction alleged to be a result of identity theft to facilitate compliance with this section including -- ( i ) if known by the victim ( or if readily obtainable by the victim ), the date of the application or transaction ; and ( ii ) if known by the victim ( or if readily obtainable by the victim ), any other identifying information such as an account or transaction number. ( 4 ) No charge to victim. Information required to be provided under paragraph ( 1 ) shall be so provided without charge. ( 5 ) Authority to decline to provide information. A business entity may decline to provide information under paragraph ( 1 ) if, in the exercise of good faith, the business entity determines that -- ( A ) this subsection does not require disclosure of the information ; ( B ) after reviewing the information provided pursuant to paragraph ( 2 ), the business entity does not have a high degree of confidence in knowing the true identity of the individual requesting the information ; ( C ) the request for the information is based on a misrepresentation of fact by the individual requesting the information relevant to the request for information ; or ( D ) the information requested is Internet navigational data or similar information about a persons visit to a website or online service. ( 6 ) Limitation on liability. Except as provided in section 1681s of this title, sections 1681n and 1681o of this title do not apply to any violation of this subsection. ( 7 ) Limitation on civil liability.

No business entity may be held civilly liable under any provision of Federal, State, or other law for disclosure, made in good faith pursuant to this subsection. ( 8 ) No new recordkeeping obligation. Nothing in this subsection creates an obligation on the part of a business entity to obtain, retain, or maintain information or records that are not otherwise required to be obtained, retained, or maintained in the ordinary course of its business or under other applicable law. ( 9 ) Rule of construction ( A ) In general.

No provision of subtitle A of title V of Public Law 106-102, prohibiting the disclosure of financial information by a business entity to third parties shall be used to deny disclosure of information to the victim under this subsection. ( B ) Limitation. Except as provided in subparagraph ( A ), nothing in this subsection permits a business entity to disclose information, including information to law enforcement under subparagraphs ( B ) and ( C ) of paragraph ( 1 ), that the business entity is otherwise prohibited from disclosing under any other applicable provision of Federal or State law. ( 10 ) Affirmative defense. In any civil action brought to enforce this subsection, it is an affirmative defense ( which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence ) for a business entity to file an affidavit or answer stating that -- ( A ) the business entity has made a reasonably diligent search of its available business records; and ( B ) the records requested under this subsection do not exist or are not reasonably available. ( 11 ) Definition of victim. For purposes of this subsection, the term victim means a consumer whose means of identification or financial information has been used or transferred ( or has been alleged to have been used or transferred ) without the authority of that consumer, with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, an identity theft or a similar crime. ( 12 ) Effective date. This subsection shall become effective 180 days after XX/XX/2003. ( 13 ) Effectiveness study. 
Not later than 18 months after XX/XX/2003, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress assessing the effectiveness of this provision.