Consumer complaint received 2025-07-16 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB Officer, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding multiple violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) involving the reporting of inaccurate personal information, fraudulent accounts, unauthorized inquiries, and unverified negative items on my credit report. Despite attempts to resolve these issues directly with the credit reporting agencies and furnishers, they have failed to investigate or remove the false data. 
WRONG ADDRESSES ( Never Lived, No Connection ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : This address is completely incorrect. I have never resided here. 
Law : Under FCRA 1681e ( b ), credit reporting agencies must ensure maximum possible accuracy. 
Story : I was shocked to find this address attached to my report. I have no relationship to this location, and it raises concerns of identity mix-up or fraud. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : This is not my residence, and its presence is unauthorized. 
Law : FCRA requires that only accurate and verifiable information be reported. 
Story : I have had difficulty explaining this to lenders who wrongly assume I lived here. This harms my credibility. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : Never lived here. Potential data merge error.

Law : FCRA 1681i Duty to reinvestigate disputed information.

Story : This appeared without any explanation and is hurting my rental applications. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : Wrong address not associated with me. 
Law : FCRA violation if unverifiable data is not corrected. 
Story : I have received debt collection notices tied to this address which I have never occupied. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : This P.O. Box is not mine. Likely linked to someone else. 
Law : Under FCRA, inaccurate reporting must be corrected or removed.

Story : Causing suspicion among potential lenders that I am hiding or evading responsibilities. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : I have no connection to this location. 
Law : The presence of unverified addresses violates my consumer rights. 
Story : Repeated disputes have failed, and this still remains, damaging my credit file. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : Another wrong address that I never occupied. 
Law : FCRA mandates deletion of unverifiable data. 
Story : These repeated address errors show negligence or systemic flaws in data reporting. 
XXXX OXXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : Not my address.

Law : FCRA 1681e ( b ) ensures only accurate information should remain.

Story : The inclusion of this address has associated me with accounts I do not recognize. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Issue : Totally incorrect address. 
Law : Credit bureaus are obligated to investigate and delete false entries. 
Story : I am being held back from refinancing my auto loan due to these mistaken ties. 
ACCOUNTS REPORTING INCORRECTLY : XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX  | High Balance : {$26000.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Charged off account with questionable accuracy. 
Law : FCRA requires data furnishers to report truthful and up-to-date data. 
Story : I was not properly informed, and the reporting is causing major damage to my credit standing. I never received formal validation of this debt. 
XXXX XXXX| High Balance : {$22000.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Charge-off status reported prematurely. 
Law : Debt collection practices must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ).

Story : The vehicle was returned due to hardship, but communication broke down, and I was penalized further despite attempted resolutions. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX | High Balance : {$760.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Collection account with no validation provided.

Law : FDCPA 809 ( a ) Validation of debts required.

Story : I never received a notice or bill regarding this alleged debt before it hit my report. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX | High Balance : {$3900.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported as a collection without proper verification. 
Law : FCRA and FDCPA protect consumers from unverified debt reporting. 
Story : This was tied to a lease I never signed. I was out of state during this time and can provide proof. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX | High Balance : {$54.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Invalid and petty collection ; no prior notice. 
Law : FDCPA requires transparency and dispute handling.

Story : This was possibly a medical balance I had already settled, yet it is haunting my report. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX | High Balance : {$410.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Duplicate and invalid collection.

Law : Reporting duplicate debts violates FCRA and FDCPA.

Story : They failed to prove this debt when I disputed it, yet it remains. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX | High Balance : {$910.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Collection agency account I never acknowledged. 
Law : Debt validation under FDCPA not honored. 
Story : I sent a validation request, never got proof, but it continues to harm my credit. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  | High Balance : {$1000.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Same issue as above duplicate, unvalidated debt. 
Law : FCRA 611 and FDCPA 809 ( a ) support my right to dispute. 
Story : I feel harassed and targeted by repeat false entries from XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX| High Balance : {$230.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Unrecognized debt showing up without notice.

Law : FDCPA compliance not shown. 
Story : I never received notice of this debt, and I believe this is identity theft or misreporting. 
XXXX XXXX| High Balance : {$130.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Duplicate issue invalid and unauthorized collection. 
Law : FCRA mandates data correction. 
Story : Another harmful entry making my report appear riskier than reality. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX | High Balance : {$460.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Charged off unfairly during pandemic hardship. 
Law : CARES Act and FCRA provisions were not properly applied. 
Story : I informed the creditor of my hardship, yet they reported negatively without offering assistance. 
UNAUTHORIZED OR EXCESSIVE HARD INQUIRIES : Each of the below inquiries was either unauthorized, done without permissible purpose, or as part of dealer " shotgun '' applications without my informed consent violating FCRA 604 ( a ). 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Story : Many of these inquiries were made when I was shopping for a car and were done without explaining the consequences. Some were never authorized at all. These excessive pulls unfairly dropped my score and have made it harder to secure favorable loan terms. 
REQUEST FOR RELIEF I respectfully request the following : XXXX. Full investigation and deletion of the wrong addresses listed above. 
XXXX. Removal or correction of each account listed that is unverified, inaccurate, or falsely reported. 
XXXX. Removal of all unauthorized or excessive hard inquiries from my credit report. 
XXXX. Sanctions or enforcement actions against the furnishers and bureaus who failed to uphold FCRA and FDCPA obligations. 
These errors have caused me financial harm, emotional distress, denials of loans, and reputational damage. I am keeping copies of all documentation and will pursue legal action if necessary.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief