Consumer complaint received 2025-07-16 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:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX, CA. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX * * Equifax Information Services LLC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX * * RE : FORMAL DISPUTE AND DEMAND FOR PERMANENT DELETION XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Consumer : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX * * Date of Birth : * XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  SSN XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX * * Disputed Account : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX  - {$2300.00} XXXX -- - # # DISPUTE OF UNVERIFIED DEBT COLLECTION ACCOUNT I am writing to formally dispute the above-referenced account appearing on my Equifax credit report and to demand its immediate and permanent deletion based on violations of federal consumer protection laws. This account lacks proper validation and verification as required by federal statute. 

XXXX XXXX ACCOUNT INFORMATION DISPUTED * * Creditor : * * XXXX XXXX XXXX * * Account Balance : * * {$2300.00} XXXX XXXX  LEGAL BASIS FOR DISPUTE AND DELETION # # # XXXX. FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT ( FDCPA ) VIOLATIONS * * 15 U.S.C. 1692g - VALIDATION OF DEBTS : * * Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors must provide validation of debts upon request. As a third-party debt collector, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to validate this debt with proper documentation. 

* * SPECIFIC VALIDATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER 15 U.S.C. 1692g : * * I hereby REQUEST and DEMAND that XXXX XXXX XXXX provide the following documentation to validate this alleged debt : XXXX. * * Complete Payment History * * from the original creditor showing : - All payments made on the account - All charges, fees, and interest applied - The exact amount owed at charge-off XXXX. * * Original Credit Agreement * * or contract between myself and the original creditor XXXX. * * Assignment Contract * * - The complete, unredacted contract between the original creditor and XXXX XXXX XXXX showing : - Legal assignment of the debt - Terms and conditions of the assignment - Consideration paid for the debt - Date of assignment XXXX. * * Forward Flow Agreement * * - The complete agreement between the original creditor and XXXX XXXX XXXX detailing : - The bulk purchase arrangement - Pricing structure for debt portfolios- Terms governing the transfer of accounts - Notification requirements to consumers XXXX. * * Chain of Title Documentation * * proving legal ownership of the debt XXXX. * * Verification * * that the debt is within the statute of limitations XXXX. * * Authorization * * to collect this debt in my state of residence * * 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( c ) - COMMUNICATION VIOLATIONS : * * This section prohibits debt collectors from communicating with third parties about the consumers debt, except in limited circumstances. If XXXX XXXX XXXX has reported this unvalidated debt to credit reporting agencies without proper validation, they have violated this provision by communicating about my alleged debt to unauthorized third parties. 

# # # XXXX. FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT ( FCRA ) VIOLATIONS * * 15 U.S.C. 1681o - NEGLIGENT NONCOMPLIANCE : * * Equifax has negligently failed to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of information in my credit report. Specifically : XXXX. * * Failure to Verify Accuracy : * * You have included information from a debt collector without requiring proper validation documentation XXXX. * * Failure to Maintain Reasonable Procedures : * * Your procedures do not ensure that debt collection accounts are properly validated before inclusion XXXX. * * Negligent Reporting : * * You have negligently allowed unverified debt collection information to appear on my credit report * * 15 U.S.C. 1681i - PROCEDURE IN CASE OF DISPUTED INFORMATION : * * Upon receipt of this dispute, you must : XXXX. Conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of the disputed information XXXX Review and consider all relevant information submitted by the consumer XXXX. Determine whether the disputed information can be verified as accurate and complete XXXX. Delete any information that can not be verified or is found to be inaccurate # # BURDEN OF PROOF AND VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS * XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : * * Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, XXXX XXXX XXXX bears the burden of validating this debt. They must provide : - Proof of legal ownership through complete assignment documentation - Evidence of the original debt through contracts and agreements - Detailed forward flow agreements showing the bulk purchase arrangement XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Under 15 U.S.C. 1681o, Equifax must maintain reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy. This includes : - Requiring adequate validation from debt collectors before reporting - Conducting thorough reinvestigation when disputes are filed - Deleting information that can not be properly verified # # SPECIFIC DEMANDS FOR COMPLIANCE # # # IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REQUIRED : XXXX. * * PERMANENT DELETION * * of the XXXX XXXX XXXX account from my credit report XXXX. * * VERIFICATION REQUEST * * - Demand that XXXX XXXX XXXX provide all validation documentation listed above XXXX. * * CONFIRMATION * * that the account has been permanently deleted and will not reappear XXXX. * * UPDATED CREDIT REPORT * * showing the deletion # # # LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR DELETION : XXXX. * * Lack of Validation : * * The debt has not been properly validated as required by 15 U.S.C. 1692g 1. * * Missing Documentation : * * No assignment contract or forward flow agreement has been provided XXXX. * * Procedural Violations : * * Reporting unvalidated debt violates 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( c ) 1. * * Negligent Reporting : * * Failure to verify accuracy violates 15 U.S.C. 1681o # # CONSUMER RIGHTS AND LEGAL REMEDIES * * UNDER THE FDCPA ( 15 U.S.C. 1692k ) : * * - Actual damages for harm caused by violations - Statutory damages up to {$1000.00} - Attorney fees and costs - Injunctive relief * * UNDER THE FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n & 1681o ) : * * - Actual damages including harm to credit rating - Statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation - Punitive damages for willful violations - Attorney fees and costs # # NOTICE OF INTENT TO PURSUE LEGAL REMEDIES This letter serves as formal notice that failure to comply with the above requirements may result in : - * * Federal court action * * under 15 U.S.C. 1681o for negligent non-compliance- * * Federal court action * * under 15 U.S.C. 1692k for FDCPA violations- * * State court action * * for defamation and violation of state consumer protection laws- * * Complaints to federal regulators * * including the CFPB, FTC, and state attorney general - * * Claims for actual damages * * including denied credit and higher interest rates- * * Statutory damages * * up to {$1000.00} per violation - * * Attorney fees and costs * * # # VALIDATION LETTER TO XXXX XXXX XXXX * * PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. 1692g - DEBT VALIDATION REQUEST : * * * * To : XXXX XXXX XXXX * * This is a formal request for validation of the alleged debt referenced above. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692g, you must provide the following documentation before any further collection activity : * * REQUIRED VALIDATION DOCUMENTATION : * * XXXX. * * Assignment Contract * * - Complete, unredacted contract showing legal assignment of this debt from the original creditor to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. * * Forward Flow Agreement * * - Complete agreement detailing the bulk purchase arrangement between the original creditor and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. * * Original Credit Agreement * * with the original creditor XXXX. * * Complete Account History * * from the original creditor XXXX. * * Proof of Legal Standing * * to collect this debt XXXX. * * Verification * * that the debt is within the statute of limitations XXXX. * * Authorization * * to collect in my state of residence * * NOTICE : * * Until you provide complete validation as required by law, you must cease all collection activity and remove this item from all credit reports. Failure to validate this debt constitutes a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1692g. 

# # RECORD PRESERVATION NOTICE You are hereby notified to preserve all documents, electronic records, communications, and data related to : - My credit file and this disputed account - All communications with XXXX XXXX XXXX - Your verification procedures and policies- All internal communications regarding this dispute # # REQUIRED RESPONSE You must provide a written response within * * 30 days * * of receipt of this letter that includes : XXXX. * * Permanent deletion * * of the XXXX XXXX XXXX account XXXX. * * Confirmation * * that the account will not reappear XXXX. * * Updated credit report * * showing the deletion XXXX. * * Notification letters * * to all entities that received my report in the past 6 months ( employment ) or 2 years ( credit ) XXXX. * * Documentation * * of your reinvestigation process # # CONSUMER CERTIFICATION I certify under penalty of perjury that the information in this letter is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I dispute the accuracy and completeness of the referenced account and demand its immediate and permanent deletion. 

# # CONCLUSION The XXXX XXXX XXXX account lacks proper validation as required by federal law. Your reporting of this unverified debt violates multiple federal consumer protection statutes. I demand immediate compliance with all applicable laws and permanent deletion of this account from my credit report. 

I expect your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your written response within 30 days. 

-- -- - * * Sincerely, * * XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief