Consumer complaint received 2025-07-07 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
XX/XX/XXXX Subject : ACDV Dispute of Inaccurate Credit Report Information and Request for Investigation and Deletion under FCRA, FDCPA, and Metro 2 Compliance Dear TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax, I am writing to formally dispute inaccurate information on my credit report, as reported by your agency, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq., and Metro 2 reporting standards. This letter is formatted in compliance with the Automated Credit Dispute Verification ( ACDV ) system to ensure accurate and verifiable processing of my dispute. I demand a thorough investigation, correction, or permanent deletion of the inaccurate entries, as well as compensation for damages caused by these reporting errors. I reserve all rights under UCC 1-308 without prejudice.

Disputed Accounts The following accounts contain inaccurate and unverifiable information : Account Number : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX TransUnion ) Account Type : Open Account Account Status : Derogatory Balance : {$1800.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Last Reported : XX/XX/XXXX Comments : Customer disputed account - reported by subscriber ; Account seriously past due date/account assigned to attorney, collection agency, or credit grantors internal collection department. 
Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( Experian ) Account Type : Collection Account Status : Derogatory Balance : {$1800.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Last Reported : XX/XX/XXXX Comments : Consumer disputes this account information ; Collection account. 
Specific Inaccuracies and Violations The following inaccuracies violate FCRA, FDCPA, and Metro 2 standards : Incorrect Date of First Delinquency ( DOFD ) : The reported DOFD is inaccurate, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ), which prohibits reporting delinquent accounts beyond seven years from the DOFD. The DOFD for these accounts is unverifiable and inconsistent across bureaus ( e.g., TransUnion reports XX/XX/XXXX, while Experian references XX/XX/XXXX for Date Last Active ). This discrepancy violates Metro 2 guidelines, which require consistent and accurate DOFD reporting ( Metro 2 Format, Base Segment, Field 25 ).

Case Law : Seamans v. Temple Univ., 744 F.3d 853 ( 3d Cir. 2014 ), establishes that inaccurate DOFD reporting constitutes a material violation of FCRA, warranting correction or deletion. 
Inaccurate Account Type and Status Codes : The accounts are misclassified ( e.g., Open Account vs. Collection across bureaus ), violating Metro 2 requirements for accurate account type designation ( Metro 2 Format, Base Segment, Field 10 ). The derogatory status and comments ( e.g., Collection/Chargeoff vs. Late 120 Days ) are misleading and fail to reflect the true account status, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), which mandates reasonable procedures to ensure maximum accuracy. 
Case Law : Dalton v. Capital Associated Indus., Inc. , 257 F.3d 409 ( 4th Cir. 2001 ), holds that misreporting account status is a violation of FCRAs accuracy requirements. 
Misleading and Unverifiable Comments : Comments such as Customer disputed account - reported by subscriber and Consumer disputes this account information are vague, misleading, and fail to provide verifiable context, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ). The FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692e, prohibits false or misleading representations in debt collection communications, including credit reporting.

Case Law : Saunders v. Branch Banking & Trust Co., 526 F.3d 142 ( 4th Cir. 2008 ), confirms that misleading credit report entries violate FCRA and FDCPA.

Failure to Conduct Reasonable Investigation : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ), furnishers are required to conduct a reasonable investigation of disputes, review all provided information, and correct or delete unverifiable data. The e-OSCAR systems automated processing often fails to meet this standard, as it relies on cursory reviews rather than substantive investigations. I demand proof of a reasonable investigation, including all documentation reviewed by the furnisher.

Case Law : Johnson v. MBNA Am. Bank, NA, 357 F.3d 426 ( 4th Cir. 2004 ), holds that furnishers must conduct meaningful investigations, not merely rely on automated systems like XXXX. 
Potential Wire Fraud via XXXX : The transmission of inaccurate or misleading data through XXXX constitutes a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1343 ( Wire Fraud ) if done with intent to deceive. The inconsistent and unverifiable data uploaded to my credit file suggests willful or reckless disregard for accuracy, exacerbating the harm caused.

Failure to Report Role Accurately : Metro 2 guidelines ( Base Segment, Field 11 ) require accurate reporting of the consumers role ( e.g., individual, joint, or co-signer ). The designation of Individual for these accounts is unverifiable and potentially inaccurate, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ).

Requested Actions Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ), I request the following : Immediate Investigation : Conduct a thorough investigation of the disputed accounts, including a review of all relevant documentation provided by the furnisher. Provide me with a detailed report of the investigation, including the furnishers response, as required under FCRA. 
Permanent Deletion : If the furnisher can not verify the accuracy of the reported information ( including DOFD, account type, status, and comments ), permanently delete these accounts from my credit file, as mandated by 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ).

Metro 2 Compliance : Ensure all reporting complies with Metro 2 standards, including accurate DOFD, account type, and status codes.

Compensation for Damages : I seek compensation for actual damages, including emotional distress and financial harm, caused by the inaccurate reporting, as authorized under 15 U.S.C. 1681n ( willful noncompliance ) and 1681o ( negligent noncompliance ).

Case Law : Stevenson v. TRW Inc., 987 F.2d 288 ( 5th Cir. 1993 ), supports awards for emotional distress caused by inaccurate credit reporting. 
Cease Electronic Misrepresentation : Cease any further transmission of misleading or inaccurate data via XXXX as it may constitute wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. 1343. XX/XX/XXXX Subject : Cease and Desist All Communication Account # [ Account Number, if known ] Dear [ Creditor/Debt Collector Name ], Under the authority of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1692 ), I demand that you immediately cease all communication with me, including but not limited to phone calls, emails, text messages, letters, and credit reporting activities, regarding the alleged account referenced above. 
Your failure to properly verify the alleged debt, as required by FCRA 1681i and FDCPA 1692g, constitutes harassment and non-compliance with federal law. Pursuant to FDCPA 1692c ( c ), I hereby revoke any prior consent for communication. Any further contact or reporting of unverified information to credit reporting agencies violates FCRA 1681s-2 ( b ) and will be considered willful non-compliance, subjecting you to liability under FCRA 1681n and FDCPA 1692k.

This letter serves as a formal dispute under the FCRA and an Automated Credit Dispute Verification ( ACDV ) request. You are required to : Cease all communication with me in any form. 
Remove any unverified or inaccurate information from my credit reports with all credit reporting agencies ( Equifax, Experian, TransUnion ). 
Provide proof of verification compliant with FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( XXXX ) if you claim the debt is valid. 
Failure to comply within XXXX days will result in complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), as well as potential legal action for statutory damages. 
This notice is sent in good faith and is OCRA-compliant ( Online Credit Repair Act principles ) to ensure fair and lawful treatment. Govern yourself accordingly. 
Sincerely,

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation