Consumer complaint received 2025-05-30 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: NV

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding violations of federal privacy and credit reporting laws by Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and a furnisher of information to those agencies ( hereinafter referred to as the Furnisher ), which I believe qualifies as a financial institution under the applicable statutes. 

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 ( a ), Congress stated : There is a need to ensure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumers right to privacy.

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are consumer reporting agencies within the meaning of the FCRA. I am the consumer, and I assert my statutory right to privacy.

Furthermore, under 15 U.S.C. 6801, Congress declared : Each financial institution has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality of those customers nonpublic personal information. 

The Furnisher is a financial institution under this law and is bound by this obligation.

Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ( 2 ) : A consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report only in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.

I have never provided written instructions or consent to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, or to the Furnisher, to furnish, report, or share my credit or personal information. Any previous consentwhether verbal, implied, written, or otherwiseis hereby fully revoked.

Under 15 U.S.C. 6802 ( b ) ( c ) : A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless the consumer is provided an explanation of the right to opt out and a reasonable means to do so. 

The Furnisher never provided me such notice, denying me the ability to exercise my opt-out right, which is a clear violation.

Additionally, 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) ( 5 ) provides : No consumer reporting agency may include in a consumer report any adverse item of information ( other than criminal convictions ) that antedates the report by more than seven years.

The account being reported by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion constitutes an adverse item, and it is being reported beyond the statutory seven-year limit, without my consentthis is unlawful.

Further, 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) states : A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate.

If the Furnisher is reporting outdated, inaccurate, or unauthorized data, it is in violation of this provision.

Additionally, 15 U.S.C. 1681e requires : Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 1681c and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b.

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are not maintaining reasonable procedures as required. They continue to report and distribute information without lawful authorization, in violation of the FCRA.

Lastly, per 12 CFR 1016.7, I hereby formally exercise my right to opt out of the reporting and disclosure of my personal and credit information by these agencies and the Furnisher.

Summary The continued reporting and sharing of my personal data by Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and the Furnisher is in direct violation of multiple provisions of the FCRA, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and related privacy rules. I respectfully request that the CFPB investigate these violations and take appropriate enforcement action to uphold my rights under federal law. 


-address are not matching up -address is XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX NV XXXX Subject : Formal Complaint Against Consumer Reporting Agencies for FCRA , IRS, and Privacy Act Violations To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this formal complaint against the consumer reporting agencies TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax for multiple violations of federal consumer protection laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), IRS regulations XXXX the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ( GLBA ), the Privacy Act of 1974, and Regulation Z of the Truth in Lending Act. These violations have resulted in inaccurate credit reporting, failure to correct known errors, and unauthorized data processing. 

XXXX. Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 ) These agencies have incorrectly reported a charged-off account on my credit file, in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ), which requires that all reported information be accurate and verifiable.

I formally disputed the account, and despite providing documentation, the agencies have refused to remove or correct the information, violating their obligations under 15 U.S.C. 1681i to conduct a proper reinvestigation.

2. Failure to Confirm Cancellation of Debt and IRS 1099-C Reporting ( 26 U.S.C. 6050P ) The agencies are reporting the account as a charged-off balance without confirming whether the original creditor has issued a 1099-C for debt cancellation, thus misleadingly representing the account as delinquent.

Per IRS regulations, canceled debts above {$600.00} must be reported via 1099-C. Reporting these accounts without confirmation of IRS compliance is both deceptive and harmful. 

3. Unauthorized Data Processing and Sharing ( GLBA and Privacy Act Violations ) Despite my formal request to opt out of data sharing, the agencies have continued to process and disclose my personal information to third parties.

This violates the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ( 15 U.S.C. 6802 ), which requires institutions to offer opt-out mechanisms and respect consumer privacy choices.

Under the Privacy Act of 1974 ( 5 U.S.C. 552a ), as a federally protected consumer, I am revoking any prior authorization for data processing and demand immediate cessation of all third-party disclosures.

4. Failure to Properly Handle Account Terminations and Refunds ( 12 CFR 1026.11 Regulation Z ) If any account listed under my credit report includes a credit balance in excess of {$1.00}, I formally request that the agencies initiate recovery or contact the creditor for proper refund procedures. 

Requested Actions by the CFPB : Investigate the inaccurate and misleading charge-off reporting on my credit file. 
Require that consumer reporting agencies verify and confirm whether a 1099-C was issued, and remove entries where no such tax form exists.

Enforce compliance with GLBA and Privacy Act opt-out provisions.

Ensure proper notification and refund of any credit balance due under Regulation Z ( 12 CFR 1026.11 ).

Given the scope of these violations, I urge the CFPB to take regulatory enforcement to ensure the consumer reporting agencies comply with federal law and restore accuracy to my credit file.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation