Consumer complaint received 2025-07-19 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB Representative, I am filing this formal complaint and demand against the credit reporting agenciesEquifax, XXXX XXXX XXXXfor their continued and willful violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). These agencies have failed to comply with their statutory duties to ensure the accuracy, verifiability, and transparency of consumer credit reporting. 

1. Summary of Violations Between XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, I sent multiple certified dispute letters to all three agencies requesting, in full compliance with federal law : Verification of alleged debts via original contract or wet-ink signature Identification of the original creditor A human-led investigation into the validity of the reported items Removal of any information not verified per FCRA standards I also called each agency on XX/XX/XXXX, reiterating my demand for lawful handling of my disputes. My requests were supported by the following legal authorities : 2. Legal Grounds Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) : 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : CRAs must investigate disputes within 30 days 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) : Unverifiable items must be promptly deleted 1681e ( b ) : Agencies must ensure maximum possible accuracy 1681g ( a ) : Consumers have the right to all information in the file, including the identity of the original creditor Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq. ) : 1692g ( a ) ( 4 ) : Consumers are entitled to a copy of the original signed agreement 1692g ( b ) : Collection efforts must cease until debt is properly verified 1692e ( 8 ) : Reporting of disputed debt without noting the dispute is unlawful Case Law : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Ind. XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : A billing statement alone is not sufficient validation of debt. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX ) : XXXX must allow the consumer to assess the legitimacy of the debt. 

XXXX XXXX TransUnion XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) : CRAs must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, not merely rely on furnishers.

3. Equifaxs Inadequate Response In response to my disputes, Equifax failed to provide legally sufficient verification. Instead, they merely stated that they verified the following accounts based on information from the furnishers : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX No contract or wet-ink signature provided XXXX XXXX XXXX No original documentation provided Equifax also refused to remove unauthorized hard inquiries, such as : XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX XXXX of XXXX XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX They justified this by stating that inquiries are factual records of access, despite my written denial of having initiated or authorized them. This violates FCRA 1681b ( f ), which prohibits access to a consumer 's credit report without a permissible purpose.

Equifax also incorrectly claimed that other disputed inquiries are " not currently reporting, '' despite the fact that these were included in my disputes and present on prior reports. 

4. Demand for Action Based on the repeated failures to comply with federal consumer protection laws and the clear violation of my rights, I am formally demanding the following : A. Immediate Deletion of Unverified Accounts and Inquiries : Accounts XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  {$3900.00} Hard Inquiries : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX entries ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Financial Compensation for Damages : Due to Equifax 's and the other agencies failure to comply with statutory timelines, failure to properly investigate, and ongoing publication of inaccurate and unverifiable data, I am seeking compensation for : Actual damages ( FCRA 1681o ) Statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation ( FCRA 1681n ) Punitive damages for willful noncompliance ( FCRA 1681n ( a ) ( 2 ) ) Emotional distress, denial of credit, and reputational harm In XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ), the court upheld that consumers may seek damages under the FCRA even where only emotional distress and reputational harm are proven. 

5. Conclusion and Request for Enforcement The actions of Equifax, XXXX XXXX XXXX are in clear violation of federal law. I am requesting that the CFPB enforce immediate removal of the disputed and unverifiable items, hold these agencies accountable for systemic FCRA and FDCPA violations, and ensure I am fairly compensated for the harm I have suffered. 

Please confirm receipt of this complaint. I am prepared to provide copies of all correspondence, certified mail receipts, credit reports, call logs, and dispute tracking numbers. 

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief