Consumer complaint received 2025-06-19 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am a victim of identity theft. My personal information was fraudulently used to open multiple unauthorized accounts and initiate unauthorized credit inquiries, which now appear on my credit reports with TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. 

The continued reporting of these accounts without my authorization, signature, or permissible purpose constitutes ongoing identity theft under 18 U.S.C. 1028, as well as violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ).

For several months I have taken every lawful step to resolve this matter including filing an FTC Identity Theft Report, submitting multiple disputes, and providing written notice to the credit bureaus but the fraudulent entries remain. I now seek the CFPBs assistance to protect my rights. 

Timeline of Events Early XXXX Unknown criminals used my personal information to fraudulently open accounts and trigger unauthorized credit inquiries : XXXX/XXXX  Account # : XXXX XXXX  Account # : XXXX XXXX Account # : XXXX XXXX Account # : XXXX XXXX XXXX Account # : XXXX XX/XX/XXXX I first became aware of suspicious activity on my credit profile after receiving alerts from a credit monitoring service. 

XX/XX/XXXX I thoroughly reviewed my credit reports and confirmed these accounts and inquiries were fraudulent. I immediately filed an official FTC Identity Theft Report ( # XXXX ), attesting under penalty of perjury that I did not open, authorize, or sign for any of these accounts. 

XXXX XXXX I mailed formal dispute letters to TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax, demanding deletion of the fraudulent entries and citing multiple violations of FCRA and FDCPA. I also informed them that reporting these accounts without my consent or permissible purpose is itself identity theft. 

XX/XX/XXXX to Present Despite my legal disputes and identity theft report, the credit bureaus and furnishers have failed to delete the fraudulent accounts and inquiries. I have followed up repeatedly, yet the fraudulent information remains on my reports, damaging my credit and causing ongoing harm. 

Accounts and Inquiries in Dispute Fraudulent Accounts : XXXX Account # : XXXX Charge-Off ( {$0.00} XXXX XXXX  Account # : XXXX Charge-Off ( {$860.00} ) XXXX Account # : XXXX Collection ( {$330.00} ) XXXX Account # : XXXX Collection ( {$620.00} ) XXXX XXXX Account # : XXXX Charge-Off ( {$6400.00} ) Unauthorized Credit Inquiries : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX Legal Violations FCRA 1681e ( b ) : Failure to ensure maximum accuracy of reported information.

FCRA 1681i ( a ) : Failure to reinvestigate disputed, unauthorized accounts.

FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) : Knowingly furnishing inaccurate or fraudulent information. 

FCRA 1681b : Reporting and sharing data without permissible purpose.

18 U.S.C. 1028 : Identity theft unauthorized use of my personal identity.

FDCPA 1692g ( a ), 1692c ( a ) ( 1 ), 1692d ( 2 ), 1692k ( a ) : Attempting to collect debts I do not owe and reporting those debts without proper validation.

Personal Impact Over the past several months, the failure to delete these fraudulent accounts opened without my signature, consent, or permissible purpose has caused : Repeated denials of credit.

Higher interest rates on legitimate credit. 

Reputational harm and emotional XXXX. 

Disruption of my efforts to restore my financial standing after this identity theft crime. 


Despite taking every proper step as a victim of identity theft filing an FTC Identity Theft Report, submitting multiple disputes, and sending written notice to the credit bureaus these accounts remain. The continued reporting of accounts and inquiries opened without my authorization or signature amounts to ongoing identity theft and violates my rights under federal law. 

I respectfully ask the CFPB to act to enforce these rights and bring this matter to a fair and lawful resolution.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation