Consumer complaint received 2025-07-29 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB, I am submitting this complaint to bring to your attention several serious and ongoing violations of my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) by credit reporting agencies and furnishers listed below. 
My credit report contains multiple errors, including : WRONG ADDRESSES XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Issue : Inaccurate address ; not part of my verified residential history. 
Law : Under FCRA 609 and 611, I have the right to challenge and remove unverifiable data. 
Story : I never lived at or used this address for credit applications. This error suggests either a mixed file or fraudulent activity. 
ACCOUNTS WITH ERRORS XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : False late payments ; affects my payment history.

Law : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 2 ) requires furnishers to update and correct information. 
Story : I experienced a brief period of hardship and reached out for payment support, but the creditor continued reporting me as delinquent even after partial payment was accepted. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Misreporting of timely payments as late. 
Law : FCRA 1681s-2 prohibits reporting information with knowledge of error. 
Story : I paid within the agreed timeframes. Due to internal errors at XXXX, the record reflects false delinquencies. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : False late payment entries despite autopay agreement.

Law : FCRA 611 ( a ) ensures reinvestigation of disputed data.

Story : This account was on autopay. Due to a processing failure by the creditor, I was wrongly marked late, damaging my payment history. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Late payments during an active hardship deferment. 
Law : FCRA and CARES Act protections prohibit late reporting during approved deferral periods. 
Story : I entered into a XXXX financial hardship plan. Despite this, the account was marked late without regard for agreed protections. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Payment inaccurately reported as late post-dispute.

Law : FCRA 611 ( a ) requires full and fair reinvestigation of disputes. 
Story : I submitted a dispute for payment posting delays and XXXX XXXX acknowledged a system issue but never corrected my report. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : Collection reported without verification or communication.

Law : FDCPA 809 ( b ) and FCRA 611 require validation and accuracy.

Story : I was never notified of this debt, never received validation, and it may result from identity theft or debt re-selling. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : Charge-off without proper resolution of dispute.

Law : FCRA 623 ( b ) ( 1 ) mandates disputes be investigated and updated.

Story : I disputed charges after unauthorized transactions. The creditor closed and charged off the account without resolving my dispute. 
XXXX XXXX  XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Account charged off while in hardship appeal.

Law : Under FCRA, a charge-off must reflect actual default, not disputed balances. 
Story : I filed an appeal and hardship case, but XXXX XXXX disregarded it and charged off the balance unjustly. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Disputed balance turned into a charge-off. 
Law : FCRA 623 obligates accurate updates during disputes.

Story : This debt was under negotiation. Despite my timely payments, they charged off the balance without warning. 
( Additional entries such as Affirm, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  and more will continue in full detail in the next section with full issues, law references, and expanded stories. ) Requested Resolution : 1. Remove all incorrect addresses from my credit profile.

2. Investigate and delete all erroneous, duplicate, and unverified account information.

3. Remove or reclassify all unauthorized inquiries as soft inquiries.

4. Require furnishers and CRAs to provide documented proof of my authorization or validation.

5. Enforce proper penalties and corrective action under FCRA & FDCPA. 
These inaccuracies have cost me housing opportunities, credit approvals, and created emotional distress. I am requesting the CFPB to assist in holding these entities accountable for violating my rights as a consumer.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief