Consumer complaint received 2025-03-21 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:
Transunion Attn : Fraud Department XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX FCRA 605B, 605C, 611, and 1681i Immediate Demand for Deletion, Verification Proof, and Permanent Suppression of Fraudulent Account Dear TransUnion, This letter serves as an official legal demand requiring the immediate removal of a fraudulent account from my credit report. Pursuant to FCRA 605B, you are required by law to block this account within four ( 4 ) business days of receiving this notice.

Any delay, failure, or refusal to comply will constitute willful noncompliance, subjecting TransUnion to legal liability under FCRA 616 & 617 for statutory, actual, and punitive damages.

Proof of Identity Documents In compliance with federal guidelines and to assist with the proper processing of this dispute, I have enclosed the following documents as proof of my identity : A clear copy of my government-issued photo identification ( e.g., drivers license or state ID ) A copy of my Social Security card A recent utility bill or bank statement showing my name and current mailing address These documents are provided to satisfy identity verification requirements under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and to ensure there is no delay in processing this dispute.

Disputed Account ( s ) : Creditor Name : DEPT OF EDUCATION/XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Amount : {$59000.00} Creditor Name : DEPT OF EDUCATION/XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Amount : {$38000.00} Creditor Name : DEPT OF EDUCATION/XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Amount : {$15000.00} Fraudulent HARD INQUIRIES XXXX Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX Inquiry : XXXX. XXXX, XXXX XXXX Inquiry : XXXX. XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX Inquiry : XXXX. XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX  Inquiry : XXXX XXXX, XXXX FCRA 605B Mandatory Fraudulent Account Block Pursuant to FCRA 605B, you must : 1. Block the fraudulent accounts within four ( 4 ) business days.

2. Provide immediate written confirmation once the accounts have been blocked.

3. Inform the furnisher and all three national credit bureaus ( XXXX, Equifax, and TransUnion itself ) that the accounts have been flagged as fraudulent and can not be reported.

4. Cease any further reporting of the blocked fraudulent accounts to third parties ( creditors, lenders, scoring agencies ). Failure to comply constitutes willful noncompliance under FCRA 616 & 617, exposing TransUnion to additional statutory, actual, and punitive damages. FCRA 605C and 611 Demand for Method of Verification as Proof and Authentication of FTC Identity Theft Affidavit If TransUnion refuses to block the disputed information or attempts verification instead of immediate removal, I demand a verifiable method of verification as proof, detailing the exact procedures, sources, timelines, and supporting documentation pursuant to FCRA 605C ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-3 ). Any denial based on prior payments, past disputes unrelated to ownership, or accounts opened before the alleged fraud must be fully substantiated with explicit, independent, certified documentary evidence.


If TransUnion claims : A. The information was blocked or requested in error ; B. The request involves material misrepresentation ; or C. I obtained goods, services, or money from the disputed accounts ; Then TransUnion is hereby demanded to provide documented proof through a verifiable method of verification, as required by FCRA 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ). Failure to comply with this demand and provide the verifiable method of verification will result in immediate legal action. Demand for Production of Verification Documentation Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ), I demand that TransUnion immediately produce the following documentation to substantiate any claim of verification or claim on which a refusal to block under FCRA 605B ( c ) is based : 1. A comprehensive chronological timeline detailing each verification step, including exact dates, times, communication methods, and identities of all parties involved. 2. Certified copies of all original documents bearing my wet-ink signature or, in the case of electronic agreements, documented electronic signature verification ( including IP addresses, geolocation, timestamps, and device fingerprints ). 3. Independent third-party verification documentation Internal databases or affiliated entities, as outlined in the Prohibited Verification Sources section of this letter, are strictly prohibited and do not satisfy the independent reinvestigation requirement under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 2 ) ( A ). 4. Full identification and contact information for all verification parties involved. 5. Certified copies of all communications related to the verification process. 6. A sworn affidavit from the responsible TransUnion representative, explicitly certifying compliance with the FCRA. 7. Certified copies of TransUnions internal compliance guidelines governing FCRA 605B and 605C procedures. Legal Consequences for Non-Compliance Failure to comply with this demand and provide the legally required verification documentation will constitute a direct violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ), and 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ). These violations carry civil liability under 15 U.S.C. 1681n for willful noncompliance and 15 U.S.C. 1681o for negligent noncompliance, exposing TransUnion to statutory damages, actual damages, punitive damages, and attorneys fees. Additionally, failure to comply may result in enforcement actions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and the U.S. District Court, leading to potential fines, sanctions, and further legal action. FTC Identity Theft Affidavit Verification Requirements & Prohibited Verification Sources TransUnion must explicitly certify that all verification steps are conducted using truly independent sources and that no verification may rely on affiliated entities or those with conflicts of interest. The following data providers and entities are strictly prohibited from being used in any verification process, as they are subsidiaries, affiliates, or financially connected data providers operating under the influence of major credit bureaus, including TransUnion, Equifax, and XXXX : Equifax : XXXX XXXX XXXX, Equifax XXXX, Equifax XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX TransUnion : XXXX, XXXX, TransUnion XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Additional prohibited entities : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( XXXX ), XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Using any of these entities violates FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) because they are subsidiaries, affiliates, or financially connected data providers that operate under the influence of major credit bureaus, including TransUnion, Equifax, and XXXX. Such verification fails to meet the legal standard for an independent reinvestigation, creates a clear conflict of interest, and constitutes a direct violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act ( FACTA ).

Additionally, I demand written certification that TransUnion has properly reviewed, authenticated, and verified my FTC Identity Theft Affidavit, as explicitly required under FCRA 605B.

Compliance Requirements : 1. TransUnion must provide written confirmation that they have directly contacted the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) to verify the authenticity of my submitted affidavit and to ensure compliance with federal fraud reporting protocols. This confirmation must include : The full name, title, and contact information of the FTC representative they spoke with.

The date and time of the contact.

The FTC case or reference number associated with this inquiry.

2. TransUnion must also submit a sworn affidavit under penalty of perjury confirming that they have fulfilled their legal obligation to contact the FTC for verification of my identity theft affidavit.

3. If the furnisher of the disputed account refuses to acknowledge the affidavit, TransUnion must provide written documentation detailing their response, refusal, or failure to act.

4. Failure to properly investigate, authenticate, or recognize the affidavit as a legal declaration of fraudparticularly failure to verify the affidavit with the FTCwill constitute reckless disregard of my rights under the FCRA and FACTA, exposing TransUnion to significant legal and financial liability.

Failure to Provide Verification = Legal Admission of No Valid Account If TransUnion fails to provide the required verification documents in full, it will be treated as an admission that no valid verification exists and that this account must be deleted immediately.

TransUnion must explicitly certify, under penalty of perjury, complete compliance with all verification, documentation, and FTC communication requirements as detailed previously in the FTC Identity Theft Affidavit Verification Requirements & Prohibited Verification Sources section of this letter.

Partial responses or failure to fully meet these standards constitutes willful noncompliance.

Mandatory Compliance Certification TransUnion must certify, under penalty of perjury, full compliance with every requirement outlined herein. Any partial, incomplete, or evasive response will constitute willful noncompliance and a direct violation of federal law, including but not limited to 15 U.S.C.

1681n, which imposes civil liability for willful noncompliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), exposing TransUnion to statutory, actual, and punitive damages along with attorneys fees ; 15 U.S.C. 1681o, which imposes civil liability for negligent noncompliance ; and 18 U.S.C. 1621, which establishes criminal liability for perjury, applicable to any false certification made under penalty of perjury. Failure to comply in full will result in immediate legal action and potential regulatory enforcement.

Explicit Demand for Reinvestigation Documentation : TransUnion is required to conduct a comprehensive, independent reinvestigation of the disputed account ( s ) in compliance with FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ). To ensure full transparency and legal accountability, I demand a detailed report outlining all aspects of the reinvestigation process, including : 1. A step-by-step breakdown of the reinvestigation process, specifying : Each source of information consulted during the verification.

The exact methodology used to verify the disputed account ( s ).

A timeline of all actions taken, including the date, time, and personnel involved in the verification process.

2. Copies of all documentation reviewed during the reinvestigation, including but not limited to : Any agreements, applications, or contracts allegedly signed by me ( must include my wet-ink signature or verifiable electronic signature metadataIP addresses, geolocation, timestamps, and device fingerprints ).

All correspondence between TransUnion, the furnisher, and any third parties regarding this account dispute.

Internal notes, logs, and system records documenting the reinvestigation process.

3. A sworn affidavit under penalty of perjury from the responsible TransUnion representative certifying that : The reinvestigation was conducted independently without reliance on prohibited entities or affiliated data sources.

All verification procedures met the maximum possible accuracy standard mandated by the FCRA.

No conflicts of interest influenced the reinvestigation findings.

4. Disclosure of all third-party data furnishers contacted during the reinvestigation, including : Full names, titles, company names, addresses, and direct contact information of individuals responsible for verifying the disputed account.

The specific data or evidence provided by each entity to support the verification.

5. An official statement certifying that : The disputed account is either verified with indisputable, legally binding documentationincluding original signed contracts or authenticated electronic signature recordsor must be deleted immediately from my credit file.

If TransUnion can not fully substantiate verification with independent, verifiable evidence, the account must be permanently deleted and suppressed from my credit file, ensuring that it can not be reinserted or reported in any form now or in the future.

Failure to Provide Reinvestigation Documentation = Legal Admission of No Valid Account If TransUnion fails to provide this detailed reinvestigation documentation in full within 15 calendar days, it will be treated as an admission that no valid verification exists, and the disputed account ( s ) must be deleted immediately from my credit file. Failure to comply will constitute willful noncompliance under FCRA 616 & 617, subjecting TransUnion to legal action, statutory damages, and regulatory escalation.

TransUnion must provide a certified copy of the reinvestigation report documenting all actions during reinvestigation.

Legal Consequences of Non-Compliance TransUnion has a strict legal obligation to comply with FCRA requirements in a timely manner. If you fail to act within the legal deadlines outlined in this letter, I will take immediate action, including : Filing regulatory complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and my State Attorney General.

Initiating civil litigation in U.S. District Court for statutory, actual, and punitive damages, plus attorneys fees.

Pursuing legal remedies to the fullest extent of the law, including injunctive relief, financial penalties, and enforcement actions under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ).

This is not a courtesy requestit is a formal demand backed by federal law.

Final Compliance Deadline & Written Confirmation Requirement You have 15 calendar days from receipt of this letter to fully comply.

Failure to comply within this timeframe will be considered willful noncompliance and will trigger immediate legal escalation without further notice.

Please provide written confirmation that the fraudulent account has been removed and ensure all necessary corrections are reflected across all credit reporting agencies.

List Of Enclosures ( Attached ) : FTC Identity Theft Affidavit Proof of Identity Documents ( Government-issued ID, Social Security card , and utility bill or bank statement ) Copy of Credit Report with Fraudulent Account Highlighted Govern yourselves accordingly. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation