Consumer complaint received 2025-08-25 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: DC

Complaint narrative:
CFPB Escalated Complaint / FCRA Identity Theft Block Noncompliance Master Filing Consumer Information : Full Name : XXXX XXXX Date of Birth : XX/XX/XXXX Last Four of SSN : XXXX Current Address : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Government-Issued Photo ID Number : XXXX FTC Identity Theft Report : Provided Complaints Filed : XX/XX/XXXX : Equifax ( CFPB ID : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX response XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX TransUnion ( CFPB ID XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX response XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX : Equifax XXXX CFPB ID : XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX : TransUnion ( CFPB ID : XXXX ) Complaint Against : Equifax TransUnion Issue : Failure to comply with 15 U.S.C . 1681c-2 Identity Theft Blocking Requirement. Improperly treating a 1681c-2 block request as a 1681i reinvestigation. Failure to remove accounts and inquiries within four ( 4 ) business days. 
Background Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, CRAs must block information resulting from identity theft within four ( 4 ) business days of receiving : Proof of identity A valid identity theft report Identification of disputed information A statement asserting the disputed items are not authorized transactions I provided all four required elements for each dispute : FTC report Government-issueXXXX ID A list of disputed accounts and inquiries A signed statement affirming these items were not authorized by me Despite this, Equifax and TransUnion failed to comply within the statutory deadline. Misclassifying block requests as 1681i reinvestigations is unlawful, because 1681c-2 provides no discretion once statutory requirements are met.

Additionally, the disputed accounts and inquiries were reported without a permissible purpose under 1681b, which is aggravated identity theft under 18 U.S.C. 1028A. 
Disputed Information to Be Blocked/Removed TransUnion Hard Inquiries XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Equifax Hard Inquiries XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX ( Full detailed lists for Equifax and TransUnion accounts and inquiries can be inserted here for completeness. ) Legal Claims Count I Failure to Follow Reasonable Procedures ( 1681e ( b ) ) CRAs published inaccurate information ( hard inquiries not authorized by me ) Failed to maintain procedures ensuring maximum possible accuracy Authority : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX ) Damages : Credit denials, inability to obtain new credit, emotional distress ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) ) Count II Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Reinvestigation ( 1681i ) CRAs misclassified block requests as reinvestigations Did not substantively review disputes All disputes supported by FTC report and ID Authority : XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) XXXXmond v. Trans Union Credit Info. XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Damages : Credit denials, emotional distress, ongoing financial risk Count III Failure to Block Identity Theft Information ( 1681c-2 ( a ) ) CRAs failed to block disputed items within four business days Misclassification as 1681i investigation is noncompliant and in bad faith Authority : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ) XXXX XXXX Trans Union , LLC, XXXX. XXXX ( XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX, XXXX ) Damages : Denied access to credit, financial stress, risk of further identity theft

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation