Consumer complaint received 2025-03-15 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
Dear Equifax, I am writing this letter as a formal follow-up dispute regarding an inaccurate and unlawful reporting on my credit file. Despite my previous dispute concerning the account listed under XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Equifax has only modified certain account details while still failing to remove this account in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 

Ongoing Disputed Information : Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Status : Charge-Off / Transferred / Sold Issue : Incorrect reporting as Late Payment Date of First Delinquency : XX/XX/year> Charge-Off Amount : {$10000.00} New Issues Identified After the Previous Investigation Upon reviewing my updated credit report, I noticed that Equifax made minor modifications XXXX such as removing the highest balance, last payment, payment status, worst payment status, and percentage of on-time payments. However, this account remains on my credit report despite the lack of legal validation or proper verification. 

Ongoing Legal Violations : 1. Failure to Remove a Collection Account Listed as Late ( FCRA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ) A collection account can not legally be reported as late because there is no ongoing contractual agreement with the debt buyer, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2, data furnishers must report only accurate information, and reporting a late payment on a charge-off violates this provision. 
This notation must be removed immediately as it continues to damage my credit standing unfairly.

2. Failure to Validate Debt Ownership ( FDCPA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1692g ) Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, a debt collector must provide validation of the debt, including a contract of assignment proving legal ownership and the right to collect and report the debt. 
Equifaxs previous response did not provide any documentation showing that XXXX XXXX XXXX legally owns this debt and has the right to report it. 
If Equifax can not provide a valid assignment contract, this account must be removed immediately.

3. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Investigation ( FCRA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, credit reporting agencies are required to conduct a reasonable investigation upon receiving a dispute. 
Simply modifying the information without verifying XXXX XXXX XXXX legal right to report this debt does not constitute a proper investigation. 
I demand documentation proving that Equifax verified the legal ownership of this accountotherwise, this account must be deleted.

4. Unauthorized Third-Party Communication ( FDCPA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( b ) ) 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( b ) states that a debt collector may not communicate about a debt with third parties ( such as a credit bureau ) unless they have a legal right to do so. 
Since XXXX XXXX XXXX has not proven ownership of this account, Equifax is unlawfully allowing them to communicate and report false information. 

Requested Resolution : Immediately delete this account from my credit report due to failure to verify legal ownership. 
Remove any late payment notations as they are a violation of the FCRA. 
Provide documentation proving XXXX XXXX XXXX right to collect this debtif none exists, this account must be deleted.

Cease any unauthorized third-party communications, as required under 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( b ).

This letter serves as my official follow-up dispute under the FCRA and FDCPA. I expect a final resolution within 15 days, as Equifax has already been given time to investigate. If no action is taken, I will escalate this matter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and pursue legal action for non-compliance with federal regulations. 

Despite my previous disputes, Equifax has : Failed to provide a method of verification ( FCRA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 2 ) ) Refused to remove an unverified debt that the furnisher ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) has not legally validated Ignored the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus ( CFPB ) precedent regarding improper reinvestigations Failure to Remove a Collection Account Reported as Late ( FCRA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ) Collection accounts can not legally be reported as late since there is no ongoing contractual obligation with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 mandates that only accurate information be furnished to credit bureaus. This notation is misleading and must be deleted. 

3. Improper Reinvestigation & CFPB Action Against Equifax ( FCRA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ) The CFPB has previously fined Equifax for failing to conduct proper reinvestigations of disputed accounts.

15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) requires Equifax to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, not simply rely on the furnishers word without documented proof.

If no proper reinvestigation was conducted, this account must be permanently removed.

4. Unauthorized Third-Party Communication ( FDCPA Violation 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( b ) ) XXXX XXXX XXXX has not provided legal proof of ownership of this debt, yet Equifax continues to allow them to report it.

15 U.S.C. 1692c ( b ) prohibits debt collectors from communicating about a debt without proper authorization.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation