Consumer complaint received 2024-03-06 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Pursuant to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Equifax, XXXX and XXXX were required to block the reporting of any information in my file that I have identified as information that resulted from identity theft, not later than XXXX business days of your receipt. More specifically : XXXX. Block of information resulting from identity theft ( a ) Block Except as otherwise provided in this section, a consumer reporting agency shall block the reporting of any information in the file of a consumer that the consumer identifies as information that resulted from an alleged identity theft, not later than XXXX business days after the date of receipt by such agency of ( XXXX ) appropriate proof of the identity of the consumer ; ( XXXX ) a copy of an identity theft report ; ( XXXX ) the identification of such information by the consumer; and ( XXXX ) a statement by the consumer that the information is not information relating to a any transaction by the consumer. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I served a written dispute regarding fraudulent information on my credit reports to XXXX, Equifax and XXXX and requested a block of the information. Each aforementioned consumer reporting agency failed to investigate or correct the information in a timely manner. Pursuant to the above statute, each consumer reporting agency was required to block the information on or before XX/XX/XXXX, taking into consideration the XXXX XXXX holiday on XX/XX/XXXX. 

XXXX - XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I initiated a phone call to XXXX to determine the status of my claim filed on XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX explained that XXXX declined to block the information based on in-house criteria that she could not share with me. XXXX also failed to act within XXXX business days regarding my block request in violation of FCRA XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX  ). 

Notwithstanding the fact that I provided XXXX separate proper identity theft reports to XXXX pursuant to XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( q ) ( XXXX ), XXXX has failed to block the inaccurate information and continues publishing the inaccurate information in violation of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ). XXXX continues to publish and disseminate such inaccurate information to other third parties, persons, entities and credit grantors in violation of the FCRA. 

EQUIFAX - XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I initiated a phone call to Equifax to determine the status of my claim # XXXX filed on XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX explained that Equifax received my claim on XX/XX/XXXX and that all hard inquiries would be removed and that the other disputed accounts will be removed within XXXX hours. Equifax also failed to act within XXXX business days regarding my block request in violation of FCRA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

Notwithstanding the fact that I provided XXXX separate proper identity theft reports to XXXX pursuant to XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( q ) ( XXXX ), as well as a copy of my Passport, Social Security XXXX and utility bill, and an Equifax representative stated that the disputed accounts would be removed within XXXX hours, Equifax has failed to block the inaccurate information and continues publishing the inaccurate information in violation of FCRA XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Equifax continues to publish and disseminate such inaccurate information to other third parties, persons, entities and credit grantors in violation of FCRA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

XXXX - XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I initiated a phone call to XXXX to determine the status of my claim filed on XX/XX/XXXX. I was told that XXXX did not receive it. I explained to the representative that Equifax did in fact receive my dispute by first-class mail on XX/XX/XXXX. SEE EXHIBIT XXXX. I was advised to call back in a few days. XXXX also failed to act within XXXX business days regarding my block request in violation of FCRA XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I inquired online as to the status of my XXXX dispute. Notwithstanding the fact that I provided XXXX separate proper identity theft reports to XXXX pursuant to XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), as well as a copy of my Passport, Social Security XXXX and utility bill for identification, XXXX has failed to block the inaccurate information and continues publishing the inaccurate information in violation of FCRA XXXX ( XXXX U.S.C. XXXX ). Equifax continues to publish and disseminate such inaccurate information to other third parties, persons, entities and credit grantors in violation of FCRA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Again, I am enclosing a copy of my Passport, my Social Security XXXX and a recent utility bill as proof of my identity. SEE EXHIBITS XXXX. I am also enclosing a copy of my divorce decree as proof that I have resumed my maiden name XXXX as of XX/XX/XXXX and ceased using the name XXXX. SEE EXHIBIT XXXX. 

I am also enclosing, again, XXXX separate identity theft reports as well as a data breach notice from XXXX. 

As clearly shown in the XXXX XXXX police report, case number XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX I was a victim of identity theft when my wallet, drivers license and credit cards were stolen. SEE EXHIBIT XXXX. My credit cards were subsequently used to make purchases. 

Then on XX/XX/XXXX, I was a victim of identity theft when a female impersonating me shoplifted items from a XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, Maryland. I received a summons to appear in court to answer charges of XXXX XXXX. Upon investigation, I learned that the identity thief actually possessed a copy of my drivers license and provided my social security number to authorities when she was arrested. After reviewing the surveillance videos with law enforcement, it was clear that this woman had stolen my identity. I was able to get the case number XXXX filed by the XXXX XXXX XXXX Police Department expunged due to the theft of my identity. SEE EXHIBIT XXXX. 

On or about XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX announced that an unauthorized party stole data associated with certain user accounts in XX/XX/XXXX. SEE EXHIBIT XXXX. It was then that I learned that my personal information was made available to third-parties by my ex-husband and actually being sold on the world wide web. The number of times criminals used my personal information to commit identity fraud and open fraudulent credit accounts and apply for loans and other benefits is too many to count. Even though I have taken all of the security precautions after having my identity stolen multiple times, thieves continue to use or sell my data, which affects me to this day. 

Again, this information appears on my credit report as a direct result of identity theft. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Please take XXXX action by blocking and deleting the above information on my credit report resulting from identity theft within the next XXXX business days or I will have no other choice but to file the enclosed civil lawsuit on or after XX/XX/XXXX, seeking damages and reasonable attorneys fees for your continued violation of my rights under the FCRA. SEE EXHIBIT XXXX Sincerely, XXXX. 
Exhibit XXXX XXXX proof of mailing to Experian Exhibit XXXX Passport, SS XXXX, utility bill. 
Exhibit XXXX divorce decree. 
Exhibit XXXX XXXX police report. 
Exhibit XXXX XXXX XXXX, MD police report. 
Exhibit XXXX XXXX data Breach notice. 
Exhibit XXXX draft of lawsuit XXXX v. XXXX, et al.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation