Consumer complaint received 2025-08-12 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: SC

Complaint narrative:
I am formally disputing inaccurate, incomplete, and unverified information currently appearing on my Equifax credit report under my rights granted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically 15 U.S.C. 1681i. The following accounts and items are being reported incorrectly, and their continued presence is causing damage to my creditworthiness and reputation. 

Under FCRA 607 ( b ), Equifax is required to maintain maximum possible accuracy in the information it reports. Under FCRA 611 ( a ), you must remove or correct any item that can not be fully verified. A reasonable reinvestigation is required, and this must include contacting the original creditor to confirm the accuracy of the reporting with proper documentation. If such documentation can not be produced, the disputed item must be deleted immediately. 

Below are the disputed items : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 602A, 607 ( b ), and 611 ( a ) Story : This account is showing as charged-off despite having a {$0.00} balance. A charge-off means the creditor considers the debt uncollectible, but with no balance due, such a status is both misleading and damaging. This is a violation of the accuracy requirements under the FCRA, and without original creditor proof, it must be deleted. 

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) and 611 ( a ) Story : Reporting a charge-off with a zero balance is inaccurate and misrepresents my payment history. This creates the false impression that I had unresolved delinquency when no debt remains. This is an unfair and harmful error that must be corrected or removed. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 602A and 611 ( a ) Story : There is no balance on this account, yet it is labeled as charged-off. This mischaracterization harms my credit profile and violates my right to accurate reporting. Without full validation, including signed agreements and account histories, this entry must be deleted. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Late Payment Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) Maximum possible accuracy requirement Story : It is impossible for a {$0.00} balance account to have a valid late payment status. This is likely a data entry or reporting error, but it still harms my credit by inaccurately portraying my payment reliability. Immediate removal is required. 

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$9800.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 602A, 607 ( b ), and 611 ( a ) Story : This account is being reported as charged-off without verified documentation from the creditor. Without proof of delinquency and charge-off status, this is unverified information and must be deleted under federal law. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$930.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) and 611 ( a ) Story : This accounts charge-off status has not been validated. Without detailed records from the original creditor, the reporting is incomplete and inaccurate. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 602A and 607 ( b ) Story : With a zero balance, this account should not be marked as charged-off. The continued reporting of this inaccurate status is damaging to my creditworthiness and violates federal law. 

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$1400.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 602A, 607 ( b ), and 611 ( a ) Story : This account is listed as charged-off without verified documentation proving delinquency. Without original contracts, account statements, and a valid charge-off notice, this reporting is unverified and must be removed. 

CIG FINCL XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$29000.00} * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 602A and 611 ( a ) Story : This is a high-balance account with a charge-off status but no supporting verification. Such serious reporting requires full documentation. If you can not provide proof from the original creditor, it must be deleted. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) and 611 ( a ) Story : A zero balance account can not be accurately marked as charged-off. This is a misleading and damaging entry that violates my right to accurate reporting. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge Off Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) and 611 ( a ) Story : This accounts charge-off status is inaccurate given its zero balance. Without complete verification, it must be deleted from my file. 

Conclusion Equifax is required to complete a thorough reinvestigation within 30 days and provide me with the method of verification for each disputed item. If any of the accounts listed above can not be fully verified with original creditor documentation, they must be removed immediately. Failure to comply will result in me filing complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and my state Attorney General to enforce my rights under the FCRA.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation