Consumer complaint received 2025-03-25 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to follow up regarding my dispute submitted to Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX, and your subsequent response dated XX/XX/XXXX. Your response, which labeled my dispute as frivolous and refused to conduct a proper reinvestigation, is unacceptable and constitutes a clear violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ).

Violations Committed by Equifax : 1. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Reinvestigation ( FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ) Your refusal to investigate my dispute and label it as frivolous without providing any legal basis or supporting documentation directly violates FCRA requirements. 
The FCRA mandates that consumer reporting agencies conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when a consumer disputes the accuracy of information. Your response disregarded this obligation by dismissing my dispute outright without due diligence. 
2. Failure to Provide Verification Documentation ( FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ) ) Despite claiming that the disputed account was verified, you have not provided any documentation to substantiate your claims, including the original signed contract or evidence of the debt being accurately reported. 
This is a direct violation of federal law and undermines my rights under the FCRA.

3. Willful and Negligent Noncompliance ( FCRA 616 & 617 ) Your reckless refusal to properly address and investigate my dispute constitutes willful and negligent noncompliance, entitling me to statutory damages of {$1000.00} per violation. 
4. Failure to Maintain Accuracy Across All Reporting Agencies ( FCRA Requirement ) The information on my Equifax report conflicts with data from other reporting agencies, violating the accuracy requirements set forth by the FCRA. 
5. Violation of CFPB UDAAP Laws ( 12 U.S.C. 5531 ) Dismissing my dispute without investigation or justification constitutes unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices, which are explicitly prohibited under UDAAP regulations.

Legal Precedent and Supporting Evidence : Your response directly contradicts legal precedents established in Davis v. Equifax Information Services, LLC ( 2018 ) and Miller v. Equifax Information Services, LLC ( 2018 ), where the courts ruled that CRAs must conduct independent and thorough investigations and can not dismiss disputes without adequate justification. Furthermore, as outlined in the CFPBs recent order on XX/XX/XXXX, Equifax was fined {$15.00} XXXX for improper investigations and failure to ensure maximum possible accuracy of information, highlighting your ongoing noncompliance with federal regulations. 

Compensation Demands : Due to the violations listed above, I am demanding statutory damages of {$1000.00} per violation. If I do not receive a satisfactory response with compensation and confirmation that the disputed account has been permanently deleted within XXXX business days, I will escalate this matter by filing a lawsuit and reporting to the CFPB, FTC, and my state Attorney Generals Office. 

Your repeated refusal to conduct a thorough and lawful investigation, as well as your blatant disregard for providing the legally mandated documentation and verification methods, constitutes willful and reckless noncompliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 

Noncompliance and Stalling Tactics : Your recent response dated XX/XX/XXXX, dismissing my dispute as frivolous and refusing to conduct a reinvestigation is an unlawful stalling tactic and a direct violation of my consumer rights under the FCRA. Additionally, labeling my dispute as frivolous without a proper basis is misleading and constitutes deceptive business practices under CFPB UDAAP laws. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX account on my credit report. Despite my previous submissions of concrete evidence, including my FTC Identity Theft Report ( Report XXXX. XXXX ) and formal dispute letters, Equifax has failed to adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) requirements. 

Evidence Submitted : XXXX. Identity Theft Report : Submitted on XX/XX/XXXX, clearly stating that the XXXX XXXX XXXX account and XXXX XXXX account are results of identity theft. I provided all required documentation as stipulated under FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ).

2. Request for Verification Documentation : My formal dispute letter specifically requested : The method of verification used to confirm the disputed accounts.

Copies of all records used to verify the debt.

Documentation of the chain of title and ownership of the debt.

3. Legal Precedent and Supporting Evidence : The CFPBs recent enforcement action against Equifax ( XX/XX/XXXX ) fined the company {$15.00} XXXX for failing to conduct adequate investigations and for allowing inaccurate information to persist on credit reports. 

Violations Committed by Equifax : 1. Failure to Block Fraudulent Accounts ( FCRA 605B ) According to FCRA 605B, a credit reporting agency must block fraudulent accounts within 4 business days if the consumer submits : A valid identity theft report Proof of identity A written dispute requesting a fraud block Despite meeting all legal requirements, Equifax has not blocked the fraudulent XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX accounts. 
Demand : {$1000.00} for each violation for failure to block fraudulent accounts.

Failure to Maintain Accuracy and Consistency ( FCRA 623 ) My credit reports across different reporting agencies do not match, which violates the FCRAs mandate for maximum possible accuracy.

Demand : {$1000.00} per instance of inconsistency and inaccurate reporting. 

Willful and Negligent Noncompliance ( FCRA 616 & 617 ) Your continued refusal to correct, update, or delete these inaccurate accounts demonstrates a reckless disregard for my legal rights.

Demand : {$1000.00} per violation, plus additional punitive damages.

15 U.S. Code 1681c2 Block of Information Resulting from Identity Theft : This section mandates that consumer reporting agencies must block reporting any information that the consumer identifies as resulting from identity theft, provided the consumer submits appropriate proof.

2. 15 U.S. Code 1681i Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy : This section outlines the procedures that consumer reporting agencies must follow when a consumer disputes the accuracy of information in their file, including conducting a reasonable reinvestigation. 
3. 15 U.S. Code 1681s2 Responsibilities of Furnishers of Information to Consumer Reporting Agencies : This section details the duties of entities that provide information to consumer reporting agencies, emphasizing the obligation to provide accurate information and to correct inaccuracies. 


Furthermore, despite XXXX XXXX XXXX clear statement that they have ceased all collection activities and are not reporting the debt, Equifax continues to unlawfully report the XXXX XXXX XXXX account as a valid debt. This violates the FCRAs mandate that credit reporting agencies maintain maximum possible accuracy in consumer reports and remove inaccuracies upon My Formal Demand : 1. Immediate Deletion of the Inaccurate Account 2. Written Confirmation of Deletion and Compensation 3. Financial Compensation for FCRA Violations : {$1000.00} per violation 4. Cease Reporting of the Inaccurate Information Across All Reporting Agencies 5. Detailed Method of Verification and All Supporting Documentation

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation