Consumer complaint received 2025-03-02 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 Dispute Department, This is a notice regarding your continued violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) in handling my dispute regarding the following accounts : XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account Number : XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted a dispute through the CFPB Complaint Portal demanding deletion of these accounts based on identity theft and lack of proper verification. Under FCRA Section 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ), I provided all necessary documentation to have these fraudulent accounts blocked, including : A police report documenting the fraud.

Proof of identity and address.

A written statement disputing the fraudulent accounts. 

Despite this, your XX/XX/XXXX, response failed to provide any documentation verifying these accounts or addressing the legal violations listed in my original dispute.

Violations of the FCRA : 1. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Investigation ( FCRA 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ) You failed to provide any supporting documentation to validate the accuracy of the disputed accounts.

You relied solely on the furnishers response instead of independently verifying the accounts. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) holds that if a furnisher can not verify the accuracy of disputed information, the credit bureau must delete the account.

2. Failure to Provide Supporting Evidence ( FCRA 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ) Your response stated that the XXXX XXXX XXXX account was verified but did not provide any supporting documents. 
You failed to state who verified the XXXX XXXX XXXX account or what documentation was reviewed.

3. Failure to Block Fraudulent Information ( FCRA Section 605B, 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) This section requires that a CRA block fraudulent information within four business days of receiving proof of identity, a police report, and a written dispute.

You failed to comply despite my submission of all required documents.

4. Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy ( FCRA 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) If an account can not be fully verified, it must be removed.

Reporting unverifiable accounts is a direct violation of this section.

5. Failure to Remove Unverifiable Information ( FCRA 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ) You are still reporting the XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX accounts without verifying ownership, validity, or payment history.

If Equifax can not provide documentation proving the legitimacy of these accounts, they must be removed immediately.

Failure to Provide Supporting Evidence ( FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) - ( 7 ), 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) - ( 7 ) ) Requirement : When a CRA verifies a disputed account, it must provide the consumer with all supporting documentation.

Violation : Equifax did not provide documentation supporting its decision to verify XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

Failure to Block Fraudulent Information ( FCRA 605B, 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) Requirement : CRAs must block fraudulent accounts within four business days of receiving : A police report Proof of identity A written dispute Violation : Equifax failed to remove both fraudulent accounts despite receiving all required documentation.

Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy ( FCRA 1681e ( b ) ) Requirement : CRAs must have reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy in consumer reports.

Violation : Equifax relied on unverified data from XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX. 
They failed to confirm account ownership and accuracy.

Engaging in Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ) ( 12 U.S.C. 5531 ) Requirement : The CFPB prohibits CRAs from engaging in unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices ( UDAAP ), including misleading consumers about their rights.

Violation : Equifax misrepresented that XXXX XXXX was verified but provided no supporting documents. 
They stalled the investigation, claiming the XXXX dispute was previously resolved. 

Re-Aging of Debt ( Improper Reporting Practices ) Requirement : CRAs can not re-age debt to make it appear more recent or extend its reporting time.

Violation : Equifax altered XXXX  Date of Last Activity or Date Opened, they are violating FCRA
Section 623 ( a ) ( 5 ).

Re-aging debt extends the time an account negatively impacts my credit report, which is illegal.

Failure to Properly Disclose Investigation Procedures ( FCRA 609, 15 U.S.C. 1681g ) Requirement : If a consumer disputes an account, CRAs must explain how they conducted the investigation.

Violation : Equifaxs response failed to specify how they investigated the accounts. 
They did not disclose what evidence XXXX or XXXX XXXX provided. 

Failure to Notify of Negative Reporting ( FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ) ) Requirement : Before reporting negative information, furnishers must notify consumers in writing within 30 days.

Violation : If XXXX or XXXX XXXX failed to notify you before reporting negative information, and Equifax did not verify this notification, both parties violated this section.

Failure to Provide the Method of Verification ( FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 7 ) ) Requirement : Consumers have the right to request a Method of Verification ( MOV ) explaining : Who verified the account What documents were used How the verification was conducted Violation : Equifax refused to disclose the MOV, making their verification process noncompliant.

Violation of Permissible Purpose for Reporting ( FCRA 1681b ) Requirement : A company must have a permissible purpose to report an account.

Violation : If XXXX  sold the debt to a collection agency, they no longer have a right to report it under their name.

Equifax must confirm the current owner of the debt or delete the account.

CFPB Enforcement Action ( Failure to Investigate Disputes ) Precedent : On XX/XX/XXXX, the CFPB took enforcement action against Equifax for : Failure to properly investigate disputes. Reinserting inaccurate information into reports.


Using flawed processes that resulted in inaccurate consumer data. Violation : Equifaxs failure to investigate my dispute matches the violations cited in the CFPBs recent case.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation