Consumer complaint received 2025-10-09 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint to the CFPB regarding multiple inaccuracies and reporting violations on my consumer credit file that are negatively affecting my credit profile, rights, and overall financial reputation. Despite multiple disputes and reinvestigation requests, the credit bureaus and furnishers have failed to correct or verify the accuracy of the information under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). I am seeking immediate investigation and corrective action by the CFPB to ensure compliance with federal laws and to hold the responsible parties accountable for negligent reporting and failure to conduct proper verification of disputed items. 

ACCOUNT XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Balance Owed : {$0.00} This account is inaccurately reported with late payment notations despite a {$0.00} balance and no active delinquency. Under FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), the bureau must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when notified of disputed information. Reporting late payments without factual basis constitutes a violation of Section 607 ( b ) and the Fair Credit Billing Act. Continuing to report a XXXX-balance account as delinquent causes willful injury to my creditworthiness and misleads potential lenders, violating the principle of maximum possible accuracy. I demand deletion or full verification documentation under Section 611 ( a ) ( 2 ). The FCRA makes it clear that once an account is closed or paid, no new late payments can lawfully be added or maintained. The reporting of a XXXX-balance account as late is deceptive and undermines consumer trust. This action is a violation of Section 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) which prohibits furnishers from knowingly reporting inaccurate data. The data furnished about this account damages my credit utilization ratio and impacts my score unfairly. The bureau must provide the method of verification and identify who verified this inaccurate data under Section 611 ( a ) ( 7 ). Continuing to report this account inaccurately after multiple disputes shows reckless disregard for compliance. Such repeated inaccuracy suggests systemic negligence in reinvestigation procedures. Under Section 602 ( a ) ( 1 ), the purpose of the FCRA is to ensure fair and accurate reporting, which is not being followed here. The false notation of delinquency harms my credibility with financial institutions. It also violates Section 607 ( a ), which mandates the use of fair procedures to assure maximum accuracy. This false reporting should be deleted immediately as it lacks both evidence and permissible purpose. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Balance Owed : {$1700.00} This account is being misreported as a charge-off without proper verification of the debt or proof of ownership. Under FCRA Sections 602 ( a ) and 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), furnishers are prohibited from reporting information they know or have reason to believe is inaccurate. The continued presence of this unverified charge-off indicates a violation of Section 607 ( b ) and FDCPA Section 807 ( 8 ) which forbids false or misleading representations in consumer reporting. The account must be deleted unless XXXX XXXX  can provide verifiable proof of ownership, a signed contract, and complete payment history validation. The FCRA requires that all information be verified from the original source, not assumed through automated systems. The absence of physical verification or written documentation makes this account unverifiable under Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ). This reporting creates a misleading representation of my financial reliability. Charge-offs are severe notations that can only be lawfully reported if validated by the original creditor. Continued reporting without validation constitutes reckless noncompliance. Under Section 623 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ), furnishers must correct and update data if it is found to be inaccurate. This has not been done. The credit bureaus continued inclusion of this account shows willful disregard of consumer protection laws. The misreporting has caused tangible harm by lowering my credit score and affecting my access to fair credit opportunities. Section 602 ( a ) ( 4 ) of the FCRA protects consumers from unfair credit reporting practices, which are being violated here. The burden of proof lies with the furnisher and bureau, not the consumer. Without evidence, this charge-off must be deleted immediately. Continued misreporting after prior disputes will be documented and forwarded to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for investigation. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Balance Owed : {$1000.00} This charge-off is being reported inaccurately without evidence of proper validation. Under FCRA Section 611 ( a ), any disputed account must be reinvestigated, and unverifiable data must be deleted. Reporting this item without authentic documentation from the original creditor constitutes negligent noncompliance and violates Section 623 ( b ). This type of inaccurate data harms my credit file integrity, and under Section 602 ( a ) ( 6 ), the bureau must act to prevent continued damage caused by unverifiable entries. The absence of a signed agreement, billing statement, or payment record makes this account unverifiable under federal law. The reporting of such information without factual support violates Section 607 ( b ). The Fair Credit Billing Act also prohibits false or misleading account information. Reinvestigations that rely on electronic verification rather than source documentation are insufficient under Section 611 ( a ) ( 2 ). The account balance and charge-off status are inconsistent with my credit file records. This account may be the result of a data mismatch or duplicate entry, which constitutes a mixed file error. Section 602 ( b ) protects consumers from such reporting abuse. This inaccuracy affects my overall credit profile, reducing my creditworthiness unfairly. Under Section 616, continued negligent noncompliance entitles me to seek legal remedies for damages. I request that the bureau provide the source, verification date, and documentation supporting this account. Without proof, deletion is the only lawful remedy. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$480.00} This duplicate reporting of the same creditor with different balances is a clear violation of FCRA Section 607 ( b ) regarding accuracy and Section 611 ( a ) regarding reinvestigation requirements. Reporting duplicate or inconsistent accounts creates a misleading credit picture and damages consumer reliability under federal law. This must be corrected and deleted immediately, as continued reporting of conflicting data demonstrates systemic inaccuracy and lack of verification compliance. Duplicate entries violate the accuracy standard set forth under Section 602 ( a ) ( 1 ). The reporting of multiple conflicting balances from the same creditor misleads lenders and causes unfair scoring penalties. Each duplicate entry multiplies the negative effect of inaccurate data. This is reckless and negligent under Section 616. The bureau is obligated to compare furnisher data and remove inconsistencies before publication. Failure to do so demonstrates inadequate quality control procedures under Section 607 ( a ). This inaccurate reporting also violates Section 623 ( a ) ( 2 ), which requires furnishers to update or correct inaccurate data promptly. Reporting the same account twice as charge-offs creates a false narrative of repeated delinquency. The duplicity implies intentional neglect or automated error. I have previously disputed this and yet it persists, showing a pattern of noncompliance. I demand immediate deletion of this duplicate item and written confirmation of correction. If this error remains, I will escalate the complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and consider legal action under Section 616 and 617 for willful and negligent violations. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX  This inquiry duplicates the unauthorized XXXX  XXXX listing, showing the same creditor with multiple unverified pulls. This violates XXXX ( b ) as it reflects inaccurate and misleading data. I have no record of authorization for this inquiry. The bureau must remove this entry to comply with FCRA 611 ( a ). Keeping this record on my file continues to misrepresent my credit activity. 

XXXXXXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX I did not authorize any credit application or request with this entity. Under FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 2 ), a consumers report can not be accessed without a permissible purpose. The reporting of this inquiry is unlawful and must be deleted. No evidence of my consent has been provided. Continuing to report this after dispute violates 611 ( a ). I demand removal of this inquiry immediately to maintain accurate reporting. 

The repeated presence of unauthorized inquiries, false data, and inaccurate payment information represents an ongoing failure by the furnishers and bureaus to comply with federal law, including FCRA 602, 607, 611, 623, and FDCPA 807 ( 8 ), which prohibits false representation of credit information. These violations have caused reputational harm, emotional distress, and financial injury. I respectfully request that the CFPB conduct a full investigation into these reporting violations and require all parties to provide documented verification or removal of all inaccurate and unauthorized information immediately to restore the integrity of my consumer credit report and ensure compliance with the law.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief