Consumer complaint received 2025-08-04 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing a formal complaint against Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for knowingly reporting materially inaccurate, incomplete, and misleading information related to accounts with XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX, as well as multiple unauthorized inquiries. 

XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : This account was paid in full in March 2025, confirmed by Santanders attached lien release letter ( dated XX/XX/XXXX ). 

Despite this, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax continue reporting : A {$1200.00} balance post-payment A XXXX XXXX monthly payment Conflicting statuses ( Closed, Open, Current, was 60 days late ) Experian still shows the account as Open, despite being paid and closed. 

XXXX XXXX Violations ( CRRG ) : A closed/paid account must reflect {$0.00} balance, with no ongoing payment terms. 

Status codes are misused the account is not delinquent or open, but still shows late payments for months after payoff ( violates XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX & XXXX ). 

Experian continues to report XX/XX/XXXX days late for XXXX XXXX, which postdates the final payment.

FCRA & Legal Violations : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) Furnishers must report accurately.

FCRA 607 ( b ) CRAs must follow reasonable procedures to assure accuracy.

FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 2 ) Furnishers must promptly update or correct info.

FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) Reinvestigation obligations are triggered by dispute.

FDCPA 807 Misrepresentation of balance is deceptive.

Case Law : Dennis v. BEH-1, LLC ( inaccurate charge-off balances violate FCRA ) Cushman v. TransUnion ( failure to conduct meaningful reinvestigation ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX Account ( Closed Collection XXXX ) Factual Errors & Inconsistencies : This was a cell phone collection account closed and paid long ago. 

Reported date of first delinquency is from XX/XX/XXXX, yet the account is still showing derogatory coding on Experian as recently as XX/XX/XXXX. 

Balance is {$0.00}, and the high credit is {$1500.00} yet status remains Paid after charge-off/collection.

No IRS 1099-C was ever issued, suggesting this was not truly forgiven or properly settled. 

FCRA XXXX XXXX XXXX Violations : FCRA 605 ( a ) ( 4 ) Negative tradelines may not be reported beyond 7 years from date of first delinquency.

FCRA 607 ( b ) Failure to accurately age the tradeline. 

XXXX XXXX Charged-off/paid collections must stop reporting as active or derogatory if time-barred. 

XXXX also fails to list a clear Date of First Delinquency field, violating XXXX XXXX 's Base Segment, Field 25.

Case Law : Pintor v. PCA Outdated and unverifiable collection data violates FCRA.

Miller v. TransUnion Continuing derogatory reporting after resolution is unlawful.

3. Unauthorized Hard Inquiries ( NO Permissible Purpose ) Inquiries Disputed : XXXX OF XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( TransUnion ) XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( Experian ) XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX Experian ) XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( Experian ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( Experian XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( Experian ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( TransUnion ) Legal Violations : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) Access to a consumer report is only permitted with explicit permissible purpose. No credit application or consent was given for any of these inquiries.

FCRA 616 / 617 These are actionable for statutory damages due to willful or negligent violations.

FTC Guidance Credit pulls by auto dealers or finance companies without signed authorization are impermissible.

Case Law : Godby v. Wells Fargo Unauthorized pull without permissible purpose violates FCRA.

Daniel v. Equable Ascent Credit report access requires documented purpose.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief