Consumer complaint received 2025-08-29 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX : I am formally disputing the alleged XXXX XXXX account referenced in your XX/XX/year> letter. I did not open this account, did not authorize its use, and I do not owe any balance claimed. Your letter contains multiple errors and reflects an inadequate investigation. 

Key Rebuttals XXXX. No contract/ no authentication. You admit a copy of the signed contract is not available. If you claim an electronic signature, you must be able to authenticate itincluding E-SIGN consent and the complete origination trail ( timestamps, IP addresses, device/browser fingerprint, geolocation, XXXX  results, and acceptance logs ). A bare assertion that data matches a credit bureau is not evidence of my assent or identity. 
XXXX. Matches a credit bureau is not validation. Identity thieves routinely use accurate biographical data. XXXX on bureau matches is circular and does not satisfy your duty to conduct a reasonable investigation of a direct dispute. See Regulation V, 12 C.F.R. 1022.43 and 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ) ( furnisher duties upon notice of dispute ).

3. Payments are not proof of authorization. Your note that successful payments were received via a debit card under the name XXXX XXXX does not authenticate the account origin, consent, or ongoing authorization. If any payment was made, it was not an admission of liability ; you must identify the funding source, IP/device data, timestamps, and authorization method for each transaction. 
XXXX. Overbroad PII demand to a XXXX XXXXXXXX. Mailing copies of my XXXX card and drivers license to a XXXX XXXXXXXX is an unnecessary security risk. I will provide identity documents securely ( e.g., via CFPB portal or a secure upload link ) as part of an identity theft report processnot as a prerequisite to your legally required investigation. 
XXXX. Tradeline & collection activity. If you are furnishing this account, you must mark it disputed and must not furnish information you know or should know is inaccurate. See 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) and ( a ) ( 3 ). Upon receipt of an Identity Theft Report, you must block the information. See 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2.

Formal Direct Dispute & Validation Demand Treat this as a direct dispute and demand for validation. Within 10 ( ten ) calendar days of receipt, provide all of the following : Complete account-opening file : full application, E-SIGN consent record ( 15 U.S.C. 7001 ( c ) ), all disclosures, the cardmember agreement in effect at opening, and all amendments. 
Origination & authentication data : IP addresses, timestamps, device/browser fingerprints, geolocation, KBA questions/answers or OTP logs, call recordings/transcripts, and any ID images used at application. 
Statements & transactions : all statements since opening, merchant-level transaction data, chargeback/fraud notes, and shipping/welcome-kit records ( addresses, dates, tracking ). 
Payment authorization detail : dates, amounts, processor records, name on the funding instrument, last XXXX digits, IP/device data at payment, and AVS/CVV results. 
Credit reporting records : XXXX XXXX history furnished to each CRA, alXXXX XXXX  e-OSCAR transmissions and your responses, and current status codes.

Fraud investigation file : internal notes, case numbers, correspondence, results, and Red Flags compliance notes.

Record retention proof : evidence of compliance for required retention periods ( e.g., 12 C.F.R. 1026.25 for Regulation Z/TILA disclosures ).

If you can not timely produce competent evidence tying me to a valid, authenticated agreement, you must : ( a ) close the account with a {$0.00} balance, ( b ) delete any tradeline from all CRAs and provide written confirmation, ( c ) cease all collection activity, and ( d ) refund any amounts you obtained, directly or indirectly, on this alleged account.

Notice of Identity Theft & Blocking I am preparing an Identity Theft Report ( police report/FTC affidavit ). Upon submission, I will direct the CRAs to block this tradeline under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2. You are likewise required to cease furnishing the information.

UDAAP / Unfair Practices Continuing to press for payment on an unauthenticated account, refusing to reasonably investigate, and conditioning your investigation on unsafe transmission of sensitive PII are unfair and deceptive practices in violation of 12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536 ( Dodd-Frank UDAAP ). I also reserve all rights under applicable Illinois law ( e.g., 815 ILCS 505/2 ).

Damages & Settlement Demand Because of your actions and the harm to my time, privacy, and credit, I demand {$5000.00} in damages to resolve this matter, in addition to : ( 1 ) written confirmation of tradeline deletion, ( 2 ) {$0.00} balance and account closure, and ( 3 ) a refund of any monies taken. This settlement demand is without prejudice to additional claims for actual, statutory, and punitive damages, costs, and attorneys fees under 15 U.S.C. 1681n, 1681o and other applicable law.

Litigation Hold ( Spoliation Notice ) Effective immediately, preserve all paper and XXXX  relevant to this account ( emails, notes, call logs, recordings, IP logs, device data, audit trails, vendor communications, XXXX  records, and compliance files ). Deletion or alteration of evidence will be addressed as spoliation.

Deadline You have 10 calendar days from receipt of this letter to ( 1 ) produce the documents above, or ( 2 ) confirm deletion/closure/refund and remit the {$5000.00} settlement. Absent satisfactory resolution, I will pursue formal remedies, including filing suit without further notice. 

All future communication must be in writing to the return address or through the CFPB portal. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation