Consumer complaint received 2025-02-04 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: OR

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Dispute of Child Support Accounts Case Numbers XXXX and XXXX Dear Equifax Dispute Resolution Team, I am writing in response to your XXXX XXXX letter stating that my dispute regarding the reporting of my State of Oregon child support obligations ( Accounts XXXX and XXXX ) has been dismissed as frivolous and that the information was verified as accurate. I must express my serious concerns with this response, as it fails to address both the legal grounds of my dispute and the ongoing violation of consumer protection laws. 
As I have previously stated in my earlier dispute submissions, child support obligations should not be reported on my credit report under the law. Despite my providing case law and raising the matter with Equifax on multiple occasions, the child support accounts continue to appear on my report. This constitutes an improper and unlawful reporting of such debts, and I find it highly troubling that your investigation concluded that the information is verified as accurate, particularly given the legal precedents supporting my position. 
Legal Precedents : The cases I have cited provide compelling legal authority that child support obligations should not be reported to credit bureaus, and that Equifaxs actions may be in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and related consumer protection laws. Below are the relevant cases that further support my dispute : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  This case discussed the improper reporting of debts, including child support, on credit reports. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX This case addressed the legal restrictions on reporting child support-related collections on credit reports. 
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 This case reinforced restrictions on reporting debts tied to government entities, including child support, on credit reports.

Equifaxs stance that this information has been verified as accurate does not take into account these precedents.

Inadequate Verification Process : The response stating that the information was " verified '' does not address the fundamental issue : that the reporting of child support obligations is prohibited under consumer protection laws and regulations. The verification process conducted by Equifax appears to be inadequate, as it does not consider the legal restrictions that govern the reporting of such debts. Furthermore, as the courts have ruled, child support obligations do not qualify as a " credit transaction, '' and therefore, a collection agency has no permissible purpose to obtain or report such information to credit bureaus without specific legal authorization or written consent from the consumer. 
Conclusion : I Demand that Equifax immediately remove both child support accounts ( XXXX and XXXX ) from my credit report. I trust you will review my dispute thoroughly and comply with the legal protections surrounding such obligations. I am providing the case law and referencing the supporting documentation. 
Please provide me with a written response confirming the removal of these accounts from my credit report, as well as an explanation of the steps Equifax is taking to ensure compliance with the relevant legal requirements going forward. 
If you continue to report this inaccurate information, I will be forced to take further action, including but not limited to filing complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and considering legal action for damages resulting from this inaccurate reporting. 
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation