Consumer complaint received 2025-05-28 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Formal Follow-Up and Escalation Notice : Continued Unresolved Dispute of Inaccurate Credit Reporting ( CFPB Complaint ID XXXX ) Second Attempt for Resolution To Whom It May Concern at Equifax, This letter serves as a formal and urgent follow-up to my previously submitted complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB XXXX XXXX identified by Complaint ID XXXX. Despite the initial filing of this complaint and your subsequent response, I am deeply concerned and compelled to reiterate that the inaccuracies I previously detailed continue to plague my credit report. This constitutes my second earnest attempt to secure a satisfactory resolution to these critical discrepancies, which are causing ongoing and demonstrable harm to my financial standing and overall well-being. 

Detailed Summary of Previous Complaint and Equifaxs Inadequate Response : To ensure clarity and provide a comprehensive context for this follow-up, I will briefly reiterate the core elements of my initial complaint and subsequently address the deficiencies in Equifaxs response. My original complaint outlined several key issues concerning the inaccurate reporting of specific accounts on my credit report. These inaccuracies primarily revolved around accounts that were explicitly included in my bankruptcy proceedings and others for which fundamental legal violations occurred during their inception and subsequent handling. 

Equifaxs response to my initial complaint indicated that the disputed accounts were purportedly verified as belonging to me and that certain data fields had been updated. While I acknowledge the confirmation of account ownership ( which was never in dispute ), your response fundamentally failed to address the crux of my concerns. Specifically, Equifaxs communication completely neglected to address the critical issue of these accounts being legally discharged through my bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the XXXX XXXX of Florida ( Case Number : XXXX, discharged on XX/XX/year> ). Furthermore, your response provided no indication that a thorough investigation was conducted into the alleged violations of federal law that I explicitly outlined in my initial submission. The mere verification of account existence with the furnishers is wholly insufficient when the underlying legality and reportability of these accounts are being challenged based on bankruptcy law and consumer protection statutes. 

Comprehensive Elaboration of Outstanding Issues and Supporting Details : The following sections provide a more detailed and comprehensive explanation of the unresolved issues that demand immediate attention and corrective action : 1. Accounts Inaccurately Reporting Post-Bankruptcy : It is imperative to reiterate that the following accounts were definitively included in my XXXX XXXX bankruptcy filing, which was formally discharged on XX/XX/year>, by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the XXXX XXXX of Florida ( Case Number : XXXX ). Under federal bankruptcy law, these debts are legally discharged and should not be negatively impacting my credit report in any manner. The continued reporting of these accounts with outstanding balances is a direct violation of the protections afforded to me under bankruptcy law. These accounts should, at a minimum, be reported as " included in bankruptcy '' with a zero balance, or preferably, removed entirely from my credit report to accurately reflect their legal status. 
XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( CLOSED ), Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( CLOSED ), Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( CLOSED ), Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, Account Number : XXXX XXXX I possess and can readily provide further documentation, including excerpts from my bankruptcy discharge order, that unequivocally confirms the inclusion and discharge of these specific debts. The continued negative reporting of these accounts demonstrates a clear disregard for legal precedent and causes significant and unwarranted damage to my creditworthiness.

2. Persistent Violations of Federal Law : My initial complaint meticulously outlined specific violations of federal consumer protection laws related to several of these inaccurately reported accounts. Equifaxs response completely ignored these critical legal assertions, which further underscores the inadequacy of your investigation. I will reiterate and elaborate on these violations : 15 U.S. Code 1635 ( Right of Rescission ) : This section of the Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) grants consumers a three-day right to rescind certain credit transactions. In the cases of the XXXX XXXX XXXX  and XXXX XXXX XXXX accounts, I contend that I was never provided with the legally mandated disclosures outlining my right to rescind the transactions. This failure to provide essential disclosures renders these transactions invalid from their inception. The continued reporting of debts arising from these potentially invalid transactions is therefore unlawful and must be rectified. I request that Equifax investigate whether the required rescission disclosures were properly provided to me for these specific accounts. If evidence of these disclosures can not be produced, these accounts should be immediately removed from my credit report.

15 U.S. Code 1692g ( Validation of Debts ) : The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) provides consumers with the right to request validation of a debt. Despite submitting written requests for validation to the debt XXXX associated with the XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX, XXXX accounts, I have not received proper and sufficient validation of these alleged debts. The FDCPA explicitly states that if a debt collector fails to provide validation within the statutory timeframe, the debt must cease collection activities. As these debts remain unvalidated in accordance with federal law, their continued appearance on my credit report is a direct violation of the FDCPA. I demand that Equifax investigate whether proper debt validation was provided for these accounts in response to my requests. If such validation was not provided or is insufficient under the FDCPA, these accounts must be immediately removed from my credit report.

3. Demonstrated Failure to Conduct a Proper and Thorough Investigation : Equifaxs response to my initial complaint strongly suggests a superficial and inadequate investigation. Simply verifying the existence of the accounts with the furnishers does not constitute a thorough investigation, particularly when substantive legal and procedural challenges are raised. My complaint specifically highlighted the legal ramifications of my bankruptcy discharge and the apparent violations of federal consumer protection laws. Equifaxs failure to address these legal arguments or provide any evidence of an investigation into these claims is unacceptable. A proper investigation would involve more than a mere confirmation of data ; it would necessitate an assessment of the legal validity and reportability of the debts in light of the provided bankruptcy information and the alleged violations of TILA and FDCPA. I require a detailed explanation of the investigative steps taken by Equifax, including confirmation of how my bankruptcy discharge and the alleged legal violations were specifically addressed and evaluated. 

Demand for Immediate and Specific Corrective Actions : Given the continued inaccuracies and the insufficient response to my initial complaint, I demand the following specific actions be taken without further delay : Conduct a Comprehensive and Legally Sound Investigation : This investigation must go beyond simply verifying account information with the furnishers. It must include a thorough assessment of the legal status of the accounts in relation to my bankruptcy discharge, as well as a diligent inquiry into whether the required disclosures were provided for the XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX accounts ( as mandated by 15 U.S. Code 1635 ) and whether proper debt validation was provided for the XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX, XXXX accounts ( as mandated by 15 U.S. Code 1692g ).

Immediate Correction of My Credit Report : Based on the findings of a thorough investigation and the legal arguments presented, I demand the immediate removal of the aforementioned accounts from my credit report. At a minimum, if removal is not immediately undertaken, these accounts must be accurately updated to reflect their inclusion in bankruptcy with a reported balance of XXXX. This correction is legally mandated and essential for the accuracy of my credit profile. 
Provision of Written Confirmation and Detailed Explanation : I require written confirmation of the removal or update of these accounts within thirty ( 30 ) calendar days of the date of this letter. This confirmation must clearly state the specific actions taken regarding each disputed account. Furthermore, I demand a detailed written explanation of the investigation process undertaken by Equifax, including the specific steps taken to address my claims regarding the bankruptcy discharge and the alleged violations of federal law. This explanation must include the findings of your investigation and the rationale behind your conclusions. 
Formal Notice of Further Action and Potential Legal Recourse : Please be advised that if the aforementioned inaccuracies are not fully corrected and I do not receive the requested written confirmation and detailed explanation within the stipulated timeframe of thirty ( 30 ) calendar days, I will have no alternative but to escalate this matter further. This escalation will include, but may not be limited to, filing additional and more detailed complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) outlining the continued unresolved issues and Equifaxs failure to adequately address my concerns. Furthermore, I will seriously consider pursuing all available legal avenues to protect my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other applicable federal and state laws. The continued inaccurate reporting of these debts is causing ongoing financial harm and reputational damage, and I am prepared to take all necessary steps to rectify this situation.

I trust that Equifax will give this matter the immediate and serious attention it warrants and take swift action to correct these inaccuracies. I expect a prompt and thorough resolution that fully addresses the legal and factual issues outlined in this letter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation