Consumer complaint received 2025-09-23 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: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) because my credit report contains inaccurate, unverifiable, and misleading information that is causing me harm. The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) clearly states under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) that consumer reporting agencies must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information they report. These items are preventing me from accessing fair credit opportunities, which violates my rights. I am requesting that CFPB intervene and ensure the bureaus and furnishers follow the law and conduct a proper reinvestigation. 

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX This account is reporting as a charge-off even though the balance is showing as {$0.00} which is contradictory and misleading under FCRA 607 ( b ) which requires maximum possible accuracy. A {$0.00} balance means no debt is owed, yet the charge-off notation implies default and continues to harm my credit standing. This double-reporting creates a false impression of ongoing delinquency to lenders. If the balance was settled or paid, the charge-off remark is outdated and must be removed to prevent further harm. The FCRA prohibits reporting of inaccurate or obsolete information under 605 ( a ). The current reporting misrepresents my financial status and makes me appear as a high-risk borrower which is not true. Any negative mark must be verified with original charge-off documentation from the furnisher including accounting records proving a legal write-off. If you can not provide that proof, the account is unverifiable under 611 and must be deleted. Continued reporting without verification may expose your bureau to liability under 616 for willful noncompliance. I am demanding that this tradeline be updated to show paid/closed with no derogatory remark or be completely deleted. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$83.00} Late Payment XXXX XXXX This account is reporting late payments that are not accurate and are harming my credit profile. Under FCRA 607 ( b ), you must assure maximum possible accuracy of any data you report. I am requesting that you obtain original billing statements, proof of the due dates, and payment posting dates from the furnisher to confirm these alleged lates. If this proof can not be provided, the reporting becomes unverifiable under FCRA 611 and must be removed. Late payment history is one of the most damaging factors to a credit score, and reporting any incorrect data is unfair and misleading. Under FCRA 602, Congress found that inaccurate credit reporting can destroy a consumers ability to obtain credit, insurance, and employment. I am being harmed financially every day this false late payment remains. If these payments were made on time or within the creditors grace period, they must not be reported as late. If the lates are older than the allowed 7-year reporting period under 605 ( a ) ( 5 ), they must be removed entirely. Please update this account to reflect an on-time history or delete it completely if the lates can not be verified with proper documentation. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX This account is showing a charge-off even though the balance is {$0.00} which is misleading and inaccurate. A charge-off is supposed to indicate a debt that a creditor has written off as a loss, yet a XXXX balance indicates there is no loss remaining. This is contradictory reporting and violates the FCRA requirement of accuracy under 607 ( b ). It also suggests that I am still delinquent which is harming my credit score despite having no debt obligation. You must verify with the furnisher and provide me with signed documentation proving the account was legally charged off and not just closed or settled. If this verification can not be produced, you must delete the charge-off notation immediately. Any continued reporting of unverifiable information is a violation of FCRA 611 and 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) which prohibits furnishers from reporting information they know or should know is inaccurate. This tradeline is misleading creditors and preventing me from getting fair access to credit opportunities, which is exactly the harm Congress intended to prevent with the FCRA. I am requesting deletion of this tradeline if proper documentation can not be obtained. 

XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX This tradeline is reported as a charge-off but no balance is showing which is inconsistent with accurate credit reporting. Under FCRA 607 ( b ), you must assure maximum possible accuracy and this reporting is contradictory. A charge-off implies an unpaid debt, but a XXXX balance implies there is no debt owed, which misleads creditors reviewing my file. I request that you verify this account directly with the original furnisher and obtain original documentation proving a valid charge-off occurred. If you can not provide such documentation, this item is unverifiable and must be deleted under FCRA 611. This negative item is lowering my credit score and causing ongoing harm even though I do not owe money. If this account was settled, paid, or discharged, the derogatory status should no longer remain under 605 ( a ). Continued reporting without proof could be considered negligent or willful noncompliance exposing you to damages under 616 and 617. I demand this account be updated to paid/closed in good standing or removed entirely. 

DEPT OF ED XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry This inquiry was not initiated by me and is unauthorized under FCRA 604 ( a ). I have not applied for any student loans or credit products with the Department of Education on or near that date. The presence of this inquiry lowers my credit score and creates a false appearance of recent credit-seeking activity. You must verify the source and purpose of this inquiry and provide me with documentation of my authorization. If you can not verify it, FCRA 611 requires you to delete it. Continued reporting of unauthorized inquiries exposes your bureau to legal liability under 616 and 617 for willful or negligent noncompliance. I demand immediate deletion of this inquiry if it can not be fully substantiated. 

I am requesting CFPB to investigate these issues and ensure that the credit bureaus and data furnishers comply with the FCRA and FDCPA by conducting a full and fair reinvestigation. These items are harming my financial life, causing emotional distress, and limiting my ability to access credit. I expect full compliance with federal law and deletion or correction of any item that can not be 100 % verified with proper documentation.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief