Consumer complaint received 2025-03-14 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX XXXX XXXX Washington, XXXX XXXX Dear Sir/Madam, Subject : Formal Complaint Against Credit Bureaus for Violating My Rights Under the FCRA I am writing to formally file a complaint against the three major credit reporting agencies Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX for failing to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) in their handling of my credit disputes and for ignoring my Method of Verification ( MOV ) requests. These actions have led to the unlawful denial of my rights and have adversely impacted my creditworthiness and ability to access credit. 
Background : On [ insert dispute date ], I initiated disputes with all three credit bureaus regarding [ list disputed items ]. As part of my legal rights under the FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ), I requested that they conduct a proper investigation and verify the disputed items using their Method of Verification ( MOV ). However, instead of conducting a thorough manual investigation, the bureaus have relied on their automated system ( EOscar ) to generate predetermined verifications without any actual manual review or verification being requested from the original creditors.

Violation of FCRA and Consumer Rights : The FCRA clearly mandates that when a consumer disputes information, credit bureaus must investigate the dispute in a reasonable time frame ( typically 30 days ) and provide adequate notice of the results. Furthermore, when a consumer requests an MOV, the bureaus are obligated to respond appropriately, which includes providing a legitimate, human review and verification. 
Automated Responses are not an acceptable substitute for manual investigations, and system-generated verifications do not satisfy the FCRA 's requirement for proper and complete investigations.

Failure to Provide Proper Investigation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) The use of automated systems like EOscar undermines the manual review process, which is essential for a complete and accurate investigation of disputed items. This failure to review the dispute properly and in good faith is a clear violation of the FCRA.

Failure to Respond to MOV Requests ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ) The FCRA mandates that credit reporting agencies must respond to MOV requests and must not ignore or misclassify these requests as verification requests. The fact that my MOV letters were ignored and replaced with automatic system responses violates my legal rights.

Adverse Impact on My Creditworthiness ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) This improper handling of disputes and failure to verify information accurately has had a significant negative impact on my credit score and ability to access credit. My creditworthiness has been severely hindered by these uninvestigated errors, which I am now unable to correct due to the bureaus ' failure to comply with legal requirements. 


Request for Immediate Action : I request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) investigate this matter and hold the credit reporting agencies accountable for their violations. I ask that : The credit bureaus immediately conduct a proper investigation of the disputed items, including providing proper MOV responses and not relying on automated systems for verification. 
The bureaus be required to provide an accurate and complete investigation that complies with FCRA regulations and ensures all errors are corrected. 
I receive compensation for the damage caused by these unlawful practices, which have negatively impacted my ability to access credit and caused undue hardship. 
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter, and I look forward to your assistance in holding these agencies accountable for their failure to adhere to consumer protection laws.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief