Consumer complaint received 2017-09-10
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (TX)

Complaint:
I am writing to you regarding the Equifax data breach which, according to their website, exposed my identifying information to cyber criminals who may use it now or in the future to steal my identity or access financial information. As a credit reporting agency, Equifax automatically has access to my information without my consent, which means that not only was my information compromised, but despite all the steps I take as a consumer to safeguard my information, there was and is nothing I can do to mitigate the breach except for signing up for their free credit monitoring and, if identity theft occurs, use my own money to recover my identity. 
The only remedy Equifax has offered for their negligence is free credit monitoring for one year and this remedy is simply not sufficient or justified given the reasons below The scope of the breach poses a long-term threat to me well beyond a year so one year of credit monitoring is not long enough and it should be extended to an indefinite period since their negligence caused damage for an indefinite period of time. 
The monitoring does not include identity theft repair in the event of occurrance and I should not be held responsible for repairing my identity due to Equifaxs negligence. This should be included in what they are offering. 
Equifax waited 6 weeks before informing consumers which means that Equifax purposefully delayed notifying me and thereby exposed me to further risk by increasing the time between me being able to obtain protection and secure my identity. 
The breach was not discovered promptly and instead was allowed to continue for a few months before Equifax could stop it, which means they did not have proper security and monitoring measurements in place and again were negligent. This calls into question whether Equifax should even be allowed to continue being a credit reporting agency with this massive amount of consumer information. 
With the delay of notification, the breach of information, and the pre-notification sale of executive stock prior to the announcement to the general public, I believe that Equifax is not engaging in a good faith effort to remedy the situation and I will pursue civil action against them for the irreparable damage they have caused to my financial information. 
Finally, based upon the breach and Equifaxs conduct, I insist that a criminal investigation be done based upon potential violations of federal regulations from the SEC and FTC, as well as the illegal criminal behavior of insider trading and purposefully deceptive trade. 
As a citizen of the United States and a taxpayer, I am asking that all government resources be used to investigate Equifaxs questionable conduct and business practices and that all action be taken to remedy their negligent behavior and protect consumers like myself who have no choice in whether Equifax has our information. If it were another company, I would simply stop doing business with them after this incident, but with Equifax I have no choice and that is why I am rightfully determined to seek justice against this negligent and, possibly criminal, company. 
Thank You for Your Time and Assistance, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation