Consumer complaint received 2024-12-24 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: CO

Complaint narrative:
XX/XX/XXXX. I became aware that Equifax had my account information conflated with the account of another woman with the same first and last name, but a different middle name, different social security number, different birth date, and different address. The woman lives in the same state and seven digits of her social security number are the same as mine. I submitted a dispute to Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX. Nothing was done except that they contacted creditors to " verify '' that a person with that first name and that last name had an account with them. No action was taken on the social security number, address, or birth date. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed another dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX. Again I submitted an electronic copy of my social security card and driver 's license. Nothing was done except that they contacted creditors to " verify '' that a person with that first name and that last name had an account with them, and I noticed that three inactive accounts were removed from the other woman 's credit file. No action was taken on the social security number, address, or birth date. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I mailed a paper letter and packet to Equifax, containing copies of my social security card and driver 's license, protesting the confusion of identities, and asking for correction. There was no response at all. Perhaps the letter went astray. 

XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, containing copies of my social security card and driver 's license, since they were now showing the other woman 's credit file with my name listed as a " former name ''. They responded by removing my name from her credit file. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, containing copies of my social security card and driver 's license, since they were now showing the other woman 's current address as a " former address '' for me. Nothing was done except that they contacted creditors to " verify '' that a person with that first name and that last name had an account with them, and I noticed that six inactive accounts were removed from the other woman 's credit file. No action was taken on the social security number, address, or birth date. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, containing copies of my social security card and and my most recent 1099 from Social Security, disputing the social security number only. No response except an online note saying it had been " addressed ''. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, containing copies of my birth certificate and driver 's license, since they were now showing the other woman 's birth date as mine. They responded by correcting the birth date, but the credit file on which these changes were made was still the other woman 's credit file. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, containing copies of my driver 's license and most recent 1099 from Social Security, disputing only the address. The other woman 's address was removed from my file as a " former address ''. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax by mail, confirmation no. XXXX later supplied by them. The packet contained a letter protesting the confusion of identities, copies of my social security card, 1099, birth certificate, and driver 's license, and threatened legal action. I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, showing everything had been corrected. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax using their mail-in dispute form, confirmation no. XXXX, containing a copy of my social security 1099 again, because they were now showing the other woman 's phone number on my credit file. I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, and new credit report dated XX/XX/XXXX. showing that everything has been corrected. This was the first time Equifax actually supplied me with a correct credit report for ME, not showing the other woman 's information. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, with copies of my social security card, XXXX SS 1099, and page one of XX/XX/XXXX Equifax credit report, because they were now back to showing the other woman 's credit file under my name, updated with some new credit information for ME in addition to all of her accounts. They told me over the phone that they had corrected the social security number and consequently disentangled the two credit files, but when I tried to log in electronically to see the corrected file, their system would not let me in. I called and was told that this was because their system was still processing the changes. I requested a paper copy of my credit file. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I filed a dispute with Equifax, confirmation no. XXXX, requesting correction of the electronic log-in problem. Obviously, if I can not see the correct report online, any potential creditors will ALSO be shown the incorrect credit file. I have already been denied credit twice by potential creditors saying that I had " too many revolving accounts ''. I don't -- I have ONE -- but the other woman has 17 revolving accounts.

Equifax mailed out a corrected credit report. They escalated the technical problem which is not permitting me to log in and SEE the corrected report online. When the paper credit report arrived, the first page showed my name and this confirmation number, but the remainder of the report belonged to the other woman, with a few financial details of mine added. 

XX/XX/XXXX. I called Equifax to protest having been ILLEGALLY sent a copy of the other woman 's credit report, and to point out that I am still unable to log in and see my credit file online. XXXX XXXX went to considerable trouble to verify my identity, and requested that I send a letter containing explanation and documentation, so that they could sort out the mistake. She also said that she could not find this most recent confirmation number in her system. She backed up the conversation with notes in her screen. 

XX/XX/XXXX. A new dispute was created as a result of the phone call, confirmation no. XXXX. Letter sent with documentation XXXX requested ( social security card, 1099, birth certificate, driver 's licencse ).

I received a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, with copy of my correct credit report. The letter stated " Your MyEquifax account was shut down in order to resolve your issue. You can now create a new account. Here 's a current copy of your Equifax credit file. Please review. '' XX/XX/XXXX. I went online to look at my Equifax credit report, and to remove the credit freeze I had placed on it while all this was going on, so I could apply for credit. Because the " MyEquifax '' account had been shut down, I requested a credit report through XXXX. Whatever I will see through that site will be the same thing a potential creditor will see.

I discovered that the free " MyEquifax '' account service is no longer available -- Equifax now wishes one to pay XXXX XXXX to be able to monitor credit files. As XXXX provides free weekly access, I declined to sign up for a paid account with Equifax.

I was unable to see an electronic copy of my credit report BECAUSE when Equifax 's software attempted to verify my identity by asking questions from my credit file, the questions they asked were all associated with the other woman 's credit file. The Equifax software suggested calling them to resolve the access problem.

Since I have done this several times before and the problem was not resolved, I am submitting a complaint here instead.

Summary : every time I call Equifax about the problem, they are now able, using my social security number, to pull up my correct credit file and read it back to me. If asked, they will send me a correct paper copy of the credit file.

I can not see an electronic copy of the credit file, because it is still tangled up with the other woman 's credit file in their system. Her information is what is being provided to potential creditors. I have been denied credit already once this year ( XXXX ), in addition to the credit denials which occurred in XXXX. My credit files with XXXX and XXXX are correct. I have a fairly high credit score with those agencies, because I have been working on rebuilding my credit.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation