Consumer complaint received 2025-11-13 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Investigation took more than 30 days
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Permissible Purpose : The law says no one can report information about me without a permissible purpose and my authorization. These accounts and inquiries have neither. There's no written agreement, no verifiable consent, nothing proving I authorized them. Continuing to report them is unlawful. 

On XX/XX/year>, I sent a formal dispute to Equifax about unauthorized and inaccurate information on my credit report. I wasn't just making a casual complaint - I sent them everything they needed, including my Police Report ( Case No. XXXX ), which is official documentation proving these accounts aren't mine.

That was over 30 days ago. More than enough time for them to investigate and fix this. But when I checked my credit report recently, nothing has changed. The unauthorized information is still there, still damaging my credit, still affecting my life.

This isn't just a delay or an oversight anymore. This is non-compliance with federal law. Equifax had a legal obligation to investigate my dispute and remove information they couldn't verify. They didn't do it.

I've done everything right. I followed their process, sent documentation, gave them the legal timeframe. They've done nothing. That's why I'm coming to the CFPB - because a credit bureau that won't follow the law needs to be held accountable.

LEGAL VIOLATIONS : I've researched the Fair Credit Reporting Act extensively, and I understand what Equifax was legally required to do. Here 's what they've violated : Section 604 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) - No Permissible Purpose : The law clearly states that a consumer 's credit file may only contain information obtained for a lawful permissible purpose. The inclusion of this account and related inquiries without authorization violates this section.

Section 607 ( b ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) - Maximum Possible Accuracy : Credit bureaus are required to maintain " maximum possible accuracy. '' Keeping unverified items on my file after I've disputed them with documentation doesn't meet that standard. They're misrepresenting my credit history and they know it.

Section 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) - Duty to Reinvestigate : When they received my dispute, they were required by law to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and delete anything they couldn't verify with proper documentation. It's been over 30 days. That's more than enough time. They either didn't investigate at all, or they did and couldn't verify it but left it on my report anyway. Either way, that's a violation.

Section 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) - The 4-Day Blocking Rule : This one is really clear. Once I submitted a valid police report documenting identity issues, Equifax was legally required to block and delete the disputed information within FOUR business days. Not 30 days. Not 60 days. Four business days.

It's been way longer than that, and the items are still on my report. That's a direct, documented violation of this section.

Section 1681a ( 4 ) - Privacy Protection : I have a right to privacy of my non-public personal information. Keeping unauthorized data in my file is an improper intrusion into my privacy and causes real harm to my financial reputation.

Metro 2 and CDIA Standards : Beyond the FCRA, all credit reporting is supposed to meet Metro 2 standards- meaning the data has to be complete, accurate, and current. These accounts and inquiries fail all those tests because there's no documentation supporting them and no permissible purpose for their inclusion.

THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON MY LIFE : This isn't just about numbers on a report. This is about my actual life being affected every single day by information that shouldn't be there : Because of this continued non-compliance, my credit score stays artificially low. I've been denied legitimate credit applications- cards I needed, loans I qualified for - all because of accounts that aren't even mine.

When I do get approved for something, I'm charged interest rates that are way higher than what I should be paying. That's real money coming out of my pocket every month because Equifax won't follow the law.

I've faced embarrassment applying for housing. I had to explain to landlords why my credit looks bad, knowing the whole time that it's because of fraudulent information that a credit bureau is illegally keeping on my file.

This situation has caused me genuine stress and frustration. I wake up thinking about it. I've spent hours dealing with this - hours I could have spent with my family or focusing on my work. It goes far beyond a " clerical error. '' This has real effects on my daily life and financial stability.

WHY I'M COMING TO THE CFPB : I've acted in good faith throughout this entire process. I filed my dispute properly. I sent documentation. I gave them the legal timeframe to investigate. I followed every rule.

Equifax has failed to do the same. They've ignored their legal obligations under the FCRA, and they're continuing to harm me by keeping inaccurate information on my report.

I'm now asking for the CFPB 's intervention because this is exactly why your agency exists- to protect consumers when credit bureaus refuse to follow federal law. I need you to ensure compliance and stop this ongoing harm.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief