Consumer complaint received 2025-08-16 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: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint because Equifax is reporting multiple inaccurate and harmful accounts on my credit file, which is causing serious damage to my financial stability. I have attempted to dispute these items directly with Equifax, yet they continue to remain, even though the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) requires accurate and verifiable reporting. 

Several student loan accounts with XXXX/DOFED, including those opened on XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX, are reporting late payments. These accounts were either placed into deferment or forbearance during certain periods, and the servicer should not have reported them as late. The reporting of these lates is not only misleading but also inaccurate because student loan servicers, particularly federal loan servicers like XXXX, were prohibited from reporting adverse information during federal relief programs and deferments. The inaccurate reporting of these lates is a violation of FCRA Section 607 ( b ), which requires data furnishers and credit bureaus to maintain maximum possible accuracy. 

In addition, retail accounts such as XXXX XXXX  ( opened XX/XX/XXXX with a balance of {$1400.00} ), XXXX  ( XXXX XX/XX/XXXX with a balance of {$900.00} ), XXXX XXXX ( opened XX/XX/XXXX with a balance of {$1600.00} ), XXXX XXXX ( opened XX/XX/XXXX with a balance of {$11000.00} ), and XXXX ( opened XX/XX/XXXX with a balance of {$0.00} ) are also showing late payments. I have never received proper validation or supporting records from either Equifax or the creditors to prove that these negative marks are being reported accurately. Without full validation, continued reporting of these accounts as delinquent constitutes both an FCRA violation and a violation of the FDCPA, as I am being held accountable for information that is not verified. 

Even more concerning is the collection account from XXXX XXXX, opened XX/XX/XXXX, showing a balance of {$7100.00}. I have no record of this account, no contract, and no notice of assignment from the original creditor. This means XXXX XXXX can not legally validate this debt, yet Equifax is allowing it to remain on my report. Reporting unverifiable debt is reckless and violates FCRA 609 ( a ), which grants me the right to full disclosure, and Section 623, which requires data furnishers to report accurately. 

Lastly, there is a hard inquiry from XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX. I never applied for credit with this company and did not authorize this inquiry. Allowing unauthorized inquiries to remain on my credit file damages my score and violates FCRA Section 604, which requires permissible purpose before a company can access my credit report. 

The repeated reporting of these late payments, collections, and inquiries without proper verification is severely harming me. My credit score has dropped, I have been denied credit opportunities, and I am under stress due to these false reports. I believe Equifax is failing in its duty to reasonably investigate my disputes under FCRA Section 611. I am requesting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau step in to enforce compliance and ensure that these inaccurate accounts and inquiries are either properly validated or permanently deleted from my Equifax credit file.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief