Consumer complaint received 2025-08-06 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: SC

Complaint narrative:
Dear Equifax Dispute Department, I am formally submitting this letter to dispute and request reinvestigation of several inaccurate, outdated, or unverifiable items that appear on my Equifax credit report. As a consumer protected under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C 1681i, I have the right to a fair, accurate, and verifiable credit report.

Below are specific items that I dispute and request immediate action upon. 

1. Account : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : Account shows charge-off with {$0.00} balance misleading Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) ; 1681i Story : This XXXX  account reflects a charge-off status even though the current balance is {$0.00}. Reporting a charge-off with no outstanding balance is misleading and harmful, as it suggests unresolved debt when, in reality, the obligation has been satisfied. 

Under FCRA 607 ( b ), Equifax is required to report only information that is accurate and not misleading. Please provide official verification from the original creditor with a closing statement, or otherwise delete the charge-off status entirely. 

2. Account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : High-balance charge-off without supporting documentation Law : FCRA 1681i ; 611 Story : This account from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  reports a charge-off of {$11000.00}. I do not have any clear recollection or documentation of owing or settling this amount. I dispute this entry in full and request that Equifax conduct a thorough reinvestigation. 

Under FCRA 1681i, you are legally obligated to verify the accuracy of disputed information. I request that you obtain and provide the original creditor agreement, billing history, and proof of the debt. If this documentation can not be produced, this account must be permanently removed. 

3. Account : XXXX XXXX * * * Issue : Inaccurate late payments on a {$0.00} balance Law : FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ; 607 ( b ) Story : This XXXX XXXX account has a {$0.00} balance but still shows late payments, even after the account was resolved and closed. I did not receive any notice of delinquency, and the reported late marks appear to be in error or unverifiable. 

Please provide detailed billing records or creditor correspondence. If this can not be verified, I am requesting removal of the late payments associated with this account immediately. 

4. Account : XXXX XXXX Issue : Late payment during period of financial hardship no support received Law : FCRA 611 ; ECOA Equal Credit Opportunity Story : This account reflects late payments that occurred during a time of financial hardship. I attempted to seek hardship assistance from the creditor but received no structured help. Reporting late payments during a documented hardship without any assistance violates principles of fair lending and reporting. 

As per ECOA and FCRA 611, I am entitled to dispute such reporting. I request that you provide original statements and any documentation that substantiates the creditor 's claim, or delete the late payment marks entirely. 

5. Inquiries Unauthorized or Unverified XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  appears twice ) Issue : Multiple unauthorized hard inquiries that were not initiated by me Law : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) Permissible Purpose Story : I did not authorize any of the above companies to access my credit file, nor did I initiate any credit applications with them. The duplicate entries from XXXX and XXXX are especially suspicious and harmful. 

Under FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ), hard inquiries require clear consumer authorization or a permissible purpose. I am demanding that you provide signed authorization records from each of the listed companies or remove these inquiries immediately.

Request for Reinvestigation : In accordance with the FCRA, I request that Equifax initiate a thorough reinvestigation of all the disputed items above. If any of the accounts or inquiries can not be fully verified with original documentation from the creditor or business, they must be removed from my report within 30 days of receiving this dispute.

Please confirm the completion of the reinvestigation by mail or email and provide me with a free updated credit report showing the corrected information.

Thank you for your time and compliance. I expect Equifax to fulfill its legal obligation to maintain accurate and fair consumer reporting. If this matter is not resolved within the 30-day timeframe, I will be filing complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX CFPB ) and the Federal Trade Commission XXXX FTC ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation