Consumer complaint received 2025-09-27 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
Issue Category Credit reporting Incorrect/unauthorized information on my credit report ; identity theft ; failure to investigate and correct errors ; unauthorized hard inquiry. 

Companies Involved Consumer reporting agencies : TransUnion, Experian, Equifax, XXXX Collection/furnisher : XXXX ( original creditor listed as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Inquiry/furnisher : XXXX XXXX  ( auto dealer ) Summary of the Problem I am a victim of identity theft and have experienced difficulty accessing my credit file with certain bureaus. On XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted an FTC Identity Theft Report ( Ref. # XXXX ) and notified the credit bureaus. Despite this notice, identity-theft-related information has not been blocked within four ( 4 ) business days as required by FCRA 605B. I have also requested updates to my personal identifiers ( correct name/address only ; removal of non-matching identifiers ), but inaccurate or inconsistent data remains. 

Disputed Tradeline ( Collection ) XXXX  ( Original Creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Balance : {$3200.00} ( reported by both TransUnion and Experian ) Opened : TransUnion shows XX/XX/XXXX ; Experian shows XX/XX/XXXX Last reported : TransUnion XX/XX/XXXX ; Experian XX/XX/XXXX Comments/coding : XXXX  shows Account information disputed by consumer, meets FCRA requirements XXXX XXXX shows Customer disputed account reported by subscriber. 

Date last active : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX Issues : Cross-bureau inconsistencies in open date, last activity, last reported date, and dispute comments. I have requested a complete Method of Verification ( MOV ) and creditor-held documentation ( assignment/sale chain, signed service agreement, itemized billing ledger, and required notices ). If the debt can not be tied to my verified identity, it must be blocked/deleted under 605B. 

Disputed Inquiry XXXX XXXX ( Auto Dealers, Used ) TransUnion XX/XX/XXXX I did not authorize this hard inquiry and did not apply for credit with this entity. I requested deletion or conversion to a soft inquiry and, if not removed, a full MOV including permissible-purpose code ( 604 ), end-user/member code, and signed authorization ( or valid e-signature with timestamp and IP/device logs ).

Statutes Implicated ( non-exhaustive ) 607 ( b ) Failure to assure maximum possible accuracy ( conflicting fields/coding ).

609 ( a ) ( 1 ) Failure to provide source information relied upon.

611 Incomplete reinvestigation ; failure to provide complete MOV.

611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) Risk of reinsertion without furnisher certification and 5-day notice.

605A Fraud-alert handling.

605B Failure to block identity-theft items within four business days.

Metro 2 Coding inconsistencies ( e.g., conflicting dates/comments ). 

Timeline Highlights XX/XX/XXXX : Unrecognized hard inquiry by XXXX XXXX at TransUnion. 

XX/XX/XXXX : FTC Identity Theft Report filed ( Ref. # XXXX ) and bureaus notified. 

XX/XX/XXXX : XXXX  collection first reported ( dates differ by bureau ). 

XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX  ) and XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX ) : Most recent reporting on XXXX with inconsistent coding. 

Ongoing : Requests to update personal information and to block identity-theft items have not been fully honored.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation