Consumer complaint received 2025-03-01 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
Re : Formal Dispute of Fraudulent Information Under FCRA Sections 605B and 611 To Whom It May Concern, I am formally disputing the presence of fraudulent accounts and inaccurate personal information on my credit report and demand immediate compliance with your obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Specifically, this dispute is made under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( FCRA Section 605B ), which requires the blocking of information resulting from identity theft, and 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( FCRA Section 611 ), which mandates that credit reporting agencies investigate and correct inaccurate or unverifiable information.

Under FCRA Section 605B, once an identity theft report has been submitted, you are legally required to block the fraudulent information within four business days. Additionally, under FCRA Section 611, credit reporting agencies may not retain inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information in a consumers file. Refusing to remove fraudulent information without a reasonable basis is unlawful and has been ruled as willful noncompliance in several federal cases.

Fraudulent Accounts to Be Removed Immediately : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( Identity Theft ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( Identity Theft ) Fraudulent Address to Be Removed Immediately : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX This address is not, nor has it ever been, associated with me. The continued presence of incorrect personal information exacerbates the harm caused by these fraudulent accounts.

Legal Violations and Supporting Case Law : Your continued failure to remove fraudulent information despite receiving proper notice violates multiple FCRA provisions : Failure to Block Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) The court ruled that failure to properly block fraudulent accounts after receiving an identity theft report is a violation of Section 605B.

Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Investigation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) The court held that credit reporting agencies must conduct a reasonable investigation when a dispute is filed, including verifying disputed accounts with actual evidence rather than relying solely on automated responses from creditors.

Willful and Negligent Noncompliance ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n & 1681o ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) The court found that willful failure to correct errors after receiving proper notice exposes credit bureaus to civil liability, including actual and punitive damages.

Unlawful Denial of Fraud Disputes : FCRA regulations do not permit Equifax to reject an identity theft dispute solely based on a creditors verification. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) has repeatedly sanctioned credit bureaus for failing to honor identity theft reports properly.

The Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) has explicitly stated that a consumers valid Identity Theft Report is sufficient to trigger the blocking requirements under Section 605B. Denying my dispute without legally permissible grounds will be viewed as bad faith noncompliance, warranting further action.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief