Consumer complaint received 2024-12-31 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Washington, D.C. XXXX Subject : Follow-Up Complaint Against Equifax Regarding Credit Report Errors Dear CFPB, I am writing this second letter to follow up on a prior complaint I submitted regarding Equifax and its handling of inaccurate accounts on my credit report. My initial complaint explicitly requested the immediate removal or deletion of all negative accounts that have been repeatedly disputed. And have returned verified and accurate. This very moment Equafax initiated two diputes and have falsly and fraudulently reported statements such as " This account is being disputes by the consumer " doing this is reporting more inaccurate information on my credit report because I have already disputed this these accounts and it has returned acurate and verified, NO this nonsence must stop and it must stop right now Iwrote a COMPLAINT to the CFPB ABOUT THE CRA VIOLATING MY CONSUMER RIGHTS AND TO DEMAND THEY DELETE THESE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE VIOLATING MY CONSUMER RIGHTS ALREADY MORE THEN ONE DISPUTE THIS OR THESE ACCOUNTS HAVE ALREADY RETURNED VERIFIED AND ACCURATE AND NOW EQUAFAX IS COMMITING FRUAD ON MY REPORT BY REPORTING ON MY REPORT A INACURATE STATEMENT THAT I AM CURRENTLY DISPUTING THE ACCOUNTS AGAIN THAT IS A LIE! THIS IS NOT A DISPUTE IT IS A COMPLAINT! Equifax has had ample time, as provided by the law, to reinvestigate these disputes. This current correspondence is not a dispute but a formal complaint, as Equifax has clearly violated my rights as a consumer. 

Instead of addressing my complaint, Equifax responded by initiating disputes on the accounts in question. This is not the purpose of a complaint, and such a response is both inappropriate and dismissive of my original concerns. Their actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for their obligations under the law, specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 

As a result of Equifax 's failure to accurately report or properly investigate my disputes, I have been denied credit sixteen times over the past year. This is unacceptable and a direct consequence of Equifax 's continued negligence. The law is explicit : credit reports must be accurate, and if a reinvestigation does not resolve inaccuracies, the erroneous accounts must be removed from the report. 

I have already disputed these accounts with the credit agency Im writing a complaint against equafax because I fully intend on suing this reporting agency because it continues to violate my rights as a consumer should it not delete these items that have already been disputed this is not and I repeat that this is not a dispute letter equafax is already in violation and I don't want these accounts that have already been verified by this criminal greedy company equafax reporting these accounts that have already violated my rights! 


Equifax 's conduct mirrors that of organized criminal behavior, as it disregards clear legal standards set forth to protect consumers.In the state of California and under federal law, my rights as a consumer have been violated. I demand that Equifax immediately remove the accounts in question. The time for reinvestigation has already passed, and further delays or inaction will result in legal action against Equifax for its non-compliance. 

For your reference, I have included the following laws and their associated penalties : XXXX. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) - Section 611 - This section mandates that credit reporting agencies conduct a proper investigation of disputed information within 30 days. If the information can not be verified, it must be deleted or corrected. 
- Penalties for non-compliance include damages, attorneys fees, and punitive damages under 15 U.S.C. 1681n.

2. California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act ( CCRAA ) - The CCRAA requires consumer reporting agencies to ensure the accuracy of their reports and provide consumers with remedies for violations. 
- Penalties include statutory damages, attorney 's fees, and potential civil liability. 


Yes, the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) contains a provision that addresses this issue. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ), if a credit reporting agency fails to verify the accuracy of disputed information during a reinvestigation, the information must be corrected or deleted. Equafax has done neither corrected nor deleated the account disputes several times returning verified and accurate every time. Now Equafax must delete or get sued. The specific language of the law states : 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) - Treatment of Inaccurate or Unverifiable Information " ( A ) In general If, after any reinvestigation under paragraph ( 1 ) of any information disputed by a consumer, an item of the information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or can not be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall ( i ) promptly delete that item of information from the file of the consumer, or modify that item of information, as appropriate, based on the results of the reinvestigation; and ( ii ) promptly notify the furnisher of that information that the information has been modified or deleted from the file of the consumer. '' And its this point where the CRA 's try to spin things ; This is a complaint to the CFPB I made this specifically to report that Equafax had violated my rights as a consumer. 
Equafax is reporting inaccurate accounts on my credit report that the creditors that I am asking to purchase things that I need to live and servive. 
I am being denied credit as a result. 

I have disputed several times already accounts that are incomplete, inaccurate, and unverifiable. 

These dispute keep returning verified and accurate. 
A reinvestigation should have already have happened after a second dispute was launched on the same account but that did not happen either. 
Well what about the third time a dispute had been launched, no, no investigation, no reinvestigation, nothing. 

So now I file a complaint with the CFPB about equafax and how they disregarded my disputing an account over and over and over again but no matter what verified and accurate. 

Equafax sees this as if it's a dispute launches an investigation into these accounts on my report and places a fraudulent and inaccurate statement on my report stating that the consumer had launched the investigation when that is not a true statement. 

I am writing a complaint to the CFPB and in THAT COMPLAINT I am demanding for a deletion of the accounts that are inaccurate being reported as verified and accurate to my creditors. 

I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT DISPUTING. 

I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT REINVESTIGATION.

YOUVE ALREADY CAUSED ME HARM. 

I HAVE THE RECIEPTS IN THE FORM OF DENIAL LETTERS. 

YOU MUST DELETE BECAUSE THE LAW YOU ARE NOT ABOVE SAYS SO CLEARLY. 

THIS IS NOT FUNNY AND IT IS NOT A JOKE. 
THIS IS MY LIFE THAT YOUR MESSING WITH. 

These accounts where marked verified and accurate but never modified and that is why they must be deleted! 



The requirement for credit reporting agencies to ensure accurate reporting is found in the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), codified in 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ). The specific language of the law is as follows : 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) - Accuracy of Report " Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report, it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. '' This provision requires credit reporting agencies to implement and maintain procedures to ensure that the information they provide in consumer reports is as accurate as possible. 

If a consumer disputes inaccurate information, additional protections under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) mandate that the agency investigate and correct the information.

In summary : If the information is found to be inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable after a reinvestigation, it must be deleted If the agency re-verifies the information but it is still inaccurate, this could constitute a violation of the FCRA.

****** There are two accounts equafax has pulled into a dispute that is incorrectly marked that costumer has disputed this account. That is a dishonest statement for i have already disputed the two accounts and both have returned as varified and accurate. At that time equafax had violated my rights and as a result of that violation i demand that the accounts be deleted from my report. Equafax may not redispute these accounts at my request because i sent a complaint into the CFPB and not a dispute. 

Again I'm writing a complaint against the agency Equafax for violating my rights and demanding that they remove these accounts that have already been disputed already returned varified and accurate but are not accurate. 

That violated my consumer rights. 
They must not reinvestigate but delete these accounts. 
If they do not delete these accounts I will sue, and then sue again!

You may use this provision to argue that the agency is obligated to remove the inaccurate information if it can not properly verify its accuracy. 



I expect the CFPB to hold Equifax accountable for their violations and ensure that my credit report is corrected immediately. If Equifax continues to disregard my rights, I will pursue legal action to enforce compliance with the law. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX Equifax Violations Consumer Protection Laws in California Failure to Provide Accurate Credit Reports : Equifax has been cited for reporting outdated or incorrect information, violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act 's requirement for accuracy in consumer reports. 
Source : Fair Credit Reporting Act Overview Failure to Investigate Disputes : Equifax has failed to properly investigate disputes raised by consumers, as required by both the Fair Credit Reporting Act and California 's Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act. 
Source : Fair Credit Reporting Act Overview Privacy Violations : Mishandling of personal information and failure to adequately protect consumer data are recurring issues, violating both the CCPA and the FCRA. 
Source : Common Violations of the FCRA These violations highlight Equifax 's shortcomings in complying with both federal and state consumer protection laws. 




... ... ... ... Relevant Laws Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) Violations : Failure to Correct Inaccurate Information : Credit reporting agencies must investigate disputed information and correct or delete inaccurate or unverifiable items within 30 days. 

Failure to Provide Notice of Negative Information : Creditors are obligated to notify consumers when reporting negative information to credit reporting agencies. 

Improper Dispute Procedures : Agencies must ensure disputes are processed properly and fairly, including verifying disputed data with furnishers or removing unverifiable items. 
Source : Most Common Violations of the FCRA California Consumer Privacy Act ( CCPA ) : Violating Consumer Privacy Rights : Companies must provide clear notice about the data they collect, how it will be used, and obtain proper consent. Failure to do so can result in significant penalties. 

Consumer Rights to Data Control : The CCPA grants Californians the right to access, delete, and opt-out of the sale of their personal data. Violations include failing to honor these requests or not providing consumers with accessible methods to exercise their rights. 
Source : California Consumer Privacy Act Overview This section provides a concise summary of key laws that protect consumers and hold credit reporting agencies accountable. 


The Importance of Consumer Protection Laws Consumer protection laws are critical to safeguarding individuals ' rights and promoting accountability in business practices, especially in the financial sector. Credit reporting agencies ( CRAs ) have a pivotal role in managing and sharing credit information, making adherence to these laws essential. Failures in compliance by CRAs can lead to devastating consequences for consumers, including financial hardship and reputational harm. 

The Purpose of Consumer Protection Laws These laws aim to : Ensure Fair Treatment : Protecting consumers from discriminatory or unjust practices in their interactions with businesses. 

Promote Transparency : Enforcing the provision of accurate and complete information, empowering consumers to make sound decisions. 

Prevent Fraud : Establishing strict guidelines to combat deceptive or predatory practices. 

Protect Privacy : Securing personal data and ensuring its responsible use and management. 


By addressing these objectives, consumer protection laws create a more equitable environment for individuals in their financial dealings. 







The Broader Importance of Credit Reporting Agencies Credit reporting agencies are integral to the financial ecosystem. They not only facilitate individual credit decisions but also support larger economic functions : Economic Stability : By providing lenders with detailed credit histories, CRAs help mitigate risks of lending, contributing to financial system stability. 
Consumer Empowerment : Reliable credit reporting allows consumers to access loans, mortgages, and other financial products tailored to their creditworthiness.

Influence on Policy and Lending Trends : The aggregated data from CRAs often informs regulatory policies and industry lending standards. 
Real-World Failures of Credit Reporting Agencies The failures of credit reporting agencies have led to widespread consequences. Consider the following examples : Inaccurate Reporting : A XXXX study found that 34 % of consumers discovered at least one error in their credit report that could negatively affect their credit score. Such inaccuracies can prevent individuals from securing loans or result in higher interest rates. 
Negligent Investigations : According to a CFPB report, over 50 % of consumers who filed disputes with CRAs felt that their issues were inadequately addressed, leaving critical errors unresolved. 
Privacy Breaches : The XXXX Equifax data breach exposed the personal information of over XXXX XXXX individuals, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses, leading to widespread identity theft and fraud. 
Addressing the Failures : Potential Solutions To mitigate these challenges and ensure CRAs fulfill their responsibilities, the following measures can be considered : Enhanced Data Accuracy : CRAs should implement stricter data verification processes before reporting information. 
Regular audits and data validation checks can reduce the prevalence of errors. 
Stronger Consumer Dispute Mechanisms : Agencies must streamline the dispute process, ensuring faster and more transparent resolutions. 
Collaboration with third-party mediators could provide impartial assessments of disputes. 
Regulatory Oversight : Errors in credit reports are alarmingly common. A Federal Trade Commission study found that XXXX in XXXX consumers had an error on their report that could affect their credit score. 
Consequences include denied credit applications, inflated interest rates, and missed opportunities for financial growth. 
Negligent Investigations Many consumers report dissatisfaction with how CRAs handle disputes. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), over 50 % of complaints are inadequately resolved, leaving errors uncorrected. 
These unresolved issues perpetuate financial harm and undermine trust. 

Public education campaigns should inform individuals of their rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 
Providing consumers with tools for regular credit monitoring can help them detect and correct errors early. 
By implementing these measures, credit reporting agencies can regain public trust.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation