Consumer complaint received 2025-01-08 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Investigation took more than 30 days
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
Summary of Violations : Equifax has violated several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) by failing to properly investigate and resolve my dispute regarding an inaccurate bankruptcy entry on my credit report ( Case # XXXX, filed on XX/XX/XXXX ). Below is a detailed account of their violations, along with evidence to support my claims. 

Summary of Violations : Equifax has violated several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) by failing to properly investigate my dispute regarding an inaccurate bankruptcy entry on my credit report. Below is a detailed account of their violations, along with evidence to support my claims. 

FCRA Violations : Failure to Resolve the Dispute Within 30 Days ( 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ) : Equifax did not properly resolve my initial dispute ( submitted XX/XX/XXXX, Confirmation # XXXX ) within the legally mandated XXXX timeframe. 
Instead of removing the unverifiable bankruptcy, they reopened the dispute on XX/XX/XXXX ( Confirmation # XXXX ), violating the statutory time limits under the FCRA. 
Failure to XXXX a Reasonable Investigation ( 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) : My first dispute was marked " Completed '' in just 2 days ( submitted XX/XX/XXXX, completed XX/XX/XXXX ). This short timeframe clearly shows that Equifax failed to conduct a thorough and reasonable investigation as required by law. 
Failure to Remove Unverifiable Information ( 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) ) : Equifax is required to delete unverifiable information if it can not confirm its accuracy within the investigation period. They failed to provide sufficient documentation verifying the bankruptcy entry, and yet the entry remains on my report.

Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy ( 607 ( b ) ) : By continuing to report this inaccurate and unverifiable bankruptcy, Equifax has failed to maintain maximum possible accuracy in my credit report. 
Failure to Provide Evidence of Verification ( 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ) : Equifax has not provided sufficient proof that the bankruptcy was verified. They claimed it was confirmed via court records, but when I contacted the court directly, they confirmed they do not share such information with credit bureaus. 

Evidence Supporting My Claims : Dispute Timeline ( Exhibit A ) : Screenshot of Equifax 's dispute history shows : Dispute # XXXX ( Confirmation # XXXX ) : Submitted XX/XX/XXXX, completed in just 2 days ( XX/XX/XXXX ), proving an inadequate investigation. 
Dispute # XXXX ( Confirmation # XXXX ) : Reopened on XX/XX/XXXX, well beyond the XXXX investigation window, showing failure to resolve the matter properly. 
Dispute Results Letter ( Exhibit B ) : Equifax 's generic response shows no meaningful verification of the bankruptcy. It indicates reliance on third-party vendors instead of direct court verification, contrary to FCRA requirements. 
Equifaxs Formal Response ( Exhibit C ) : Equifax did not provide any documentation or evidence verifying the bankruptcys accuracy, despite claiming it was verified. 

Court Confirmation : The court has confirmed that it does not provide bankruptcy information directly to credit bureaus, proving XXXX claims of verification are inaccurate. 

Harm Caused : Credit Damage : The continued reporting of this bankruptcy has significantly lowered my credit score. 
Financial Loss : I have lost opportunities for credit and financial benefits due to this inaccuracy. 
Emotional Distress : The ongoing mishandling of this matter has caused undue stress and frustration.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation