Consumer complaint received 2025-11-11 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: SC

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/year>, Equifax correctly deleted an unauthorized account ( XXXX, XXXX ) from my credit file after I disputed it and provided a FTC Report ( Case No. XXXX ) proving it was fraudulent. I received written confirmation that the account had been removed, and my credit score improved as a result. 
I thought this matter was finally resolved. I started rebuilding my credit and moving forward with my financial goals. 

Then, on XX/XX/year>, I checked my credit report and discovered the same account had been put back on my file- with no warning, no explanation, and no notification from the bureau. 
When I contacted Equifax, I was told the account was " verified '' before reinsertion. But here 's the problem : the Fair Credit Reporting Act doesn't require " verification '' for reinsertion - it requires " certification, '' which is a completely different legal standard. 

Here 's what Equifax was legally required to do before reinserting this account : Under FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ), they needed : Written certification from the data furnisher proving the information is complete and accurate Written notice to me within 5 business days of the reinsertion Actual documentary evidence supporting the account 's validity They did none of these things. 
I never received written certification from the furnisher. I never received notice within 5 days - I only found out because I happened to check my report myself. There's no documentary evidence proving this account is valid because it's not mine. 

This isn't just a procedural mistake. Section 611 ( d ) of the FCRA makes it crystal clear : when deleted information is reinserted, the bureau MUST notify the consumer in writing within 5 business days. That notification never came. By not notifying me, Equifax violated federal law and stripped me of my right to immediately challenge an improper reinsertion. 

The impact has been devastating : After the original deletion, my credit score improved and I was finally able to move forward. I qualified for better rates and had opportunities opening up. 

Then this account came back, and everything reversed : I was denied a credit card I applied for My auto insurance premium increased at renewal because they pulled my credit again A lender I was working with suddenly changed my loan terms to much higher interest rates I'm back to being treated like a credit risk for an account that isn't even mine Beyond the financial damage, this has caused serious emotional stress. When the account was deleted the first time, I felt relief. I thought it was over. Seeing it reappear felt like all that work and stress was for nothing. 

I've lost faith in Equifax 's dispute process. They did the right thing by deleting this account originally, but then they put it back without following any of the legal safeguards Congress created to protect consumers. 

This is a clear violation of FCRA Sections 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) and 611 ( d ), and it's causing me ongoing harm every day this account remains on my report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation