Consumer complaint received 2025-03-17 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: AZ

Complaint narrative:
The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) requires that consumer reporting agencies take steps to ensure consumer reports are accurate and to conduct investigations of information disputed by consumers. The FCRA provides people multiple ways to dispute inaccurate information on their consumer reports, including by contacting consumer reporting agencies directly. The FCRA also requires that consumer reporting agencies follow certain procedures before reinserting into consumer reports information that has previously been removed as the result of a dispute. 

The CFPB alleges that XXXX has violated the FCRAs requirements for handling consumer disputes in numerous ways. Specifically, the CFPB alleges that XXXX is harming consumers by : Conducting sham investigations that fail to properly address consumer disputes : When handling disputes, XXXX uses faulty intake procedures and does not accurately convey all relevant information about disputes to the original furnisher. XXXX routinely and uncritically accepts the original furnishers response to the disputed information, even when that response was improbable or illogical on its face, or when XXXX has other information available that suggests the furnisher is unreliable. At the conclusion of the investigation, XXXX sends consumers notices that fail to inform them of the investigation results, and instead provides information that is confusing, ambiguous, incorrect, or internally inconsistent. 
Improperly reinserting inaccurate information on consumer reports : XXXX has failed to implement basic matching tools that prevent or greatly reduce the likelihood of reinsertion by a new furnisher of a previously deleted tradeline. Instead, XXXX improperly reinserts inaccurate information into consumer reports because it fails to match newly reported information with records of previously deleted information. Consumers who have disputed the accuracy of an account and thought that their consumer report had been corrected, instead see the same inaccurate information reappear on their consumer report without explanation under the name of a new furnisher. 


XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Arizona XXXX Date of Birth : XX/XX/XXXX SS # : XXXX Equifax Information Services LLC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX Subject : Third DISPUTE OF INCOMPLETE AND INACCURATE INFORMATION & REQUEST FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT ( FCRA ) To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute inaccurate and incomplete information on my credit report as a victim of identity theft resulting from the 2017 Equifax Data Breach . Due to Equifaxs failure to safeguard my personal information, unauthorized accounts and inquiries have appeared on my credit report, severely impacting my financial stability and employment opportunities. 
The presence of thesXXXX fraudulent accounts constitutes an adverse action against me, as defined under 15 U.S.C. 1681a, Section 603 ( k ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ( ii ). Despite my previous dispute, these issues remain unresolved. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), I have the right to demand that all reported information be accurate, verified, and legally permissible. I am requesting immediate compliance with the FCRA, particularly the following provisions : 1. 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 Blocking Information Resulting from Identity Theft As a victim of identity theft, I am invoking my right under this section to request the removal of all fraudulent accounts and inquiries that may have resulted from the Equifax Data Breach . My personal and financial information was compromised, and any unauthorized activity linked to my identity must be deleted immediately.

2. 15 U.S.C. 1681i Reinvestigation of Disputed Information You are legally required to conduct a proper reinvestigation of the disputed items. Any account that can not be verified with original source documentation must be permanently deleted. Given Equifaxs history of data security failures, I demand heightened scrutiny and proper verification of all reported information.

3. 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) Maximum Possible Accuracy The continued presence of fraudulent accounts and unauthorized inquiries on my report constitutes a clear violation of this section. As established by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX credit reporting agencies must ensure factual accuracy and avoid misleading reporting. Any inaccurate or unverifiable information must be corrected or removed. 
4. 15 U.S.C. 1681n Civil Liability for Willful Noncompliance Given your failure to correct these inaccuracies after my first dispute, I am now seeking punitive damages as permitted under this provision. If this matter is not resolved immediately, I will pursue legal action to recover damages for your willful noncompliance. 
Requested Actions To rectify this matter, I demand the immediate removal of the fraudulent items/accounts listed below : Accounts 1. 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) Duty to Ensure Maximum Accuracy XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 

3. 1681i Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy- INCOMPLETE AND INACCURATE INFORMATION XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 

4. 1681i Procedure in Case of Disputed Accuracy- INCOMPLETE AND INACCURATE INFORMATION XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX XXXX. 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) Duty to Ensure Maximum Accuracy XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 

6. 15 U.S. CODE 1692G - VALIDATION OF DE BTS PORTFOLIO Account Number : XXXX Please remove it from my credit report. 


Legal Liability and Consequences for Non-Compliance If these fraudulent accounts and inaccurate information are not removed as required under the FCRA, I will take the following actions : File a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and my states Attorney Generals office.

Pursue legal action against the furnisher and credit reporting agencies under : 15 U.S.C. 1681n Willful noncompliance ( Statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation, plus punitive damages ).

15 U.S.C. 1692k FDCPA violations ( Actual damages, statutory damages up to {$1000.00}, plus attorney fees ).

Additionally, I am sending this letter via certified mail to ensure proper documentation of my request.

Final Demand I expect written confirmation within 30 days verifying that these fraudulent accounts have been permanently deleted from my credit file. Furthermore, I demand an updated copy of my credit report reflecting these removals and that you notify all parties who have inquired about my credit in the past six months.

I am also keeping a detailed record of your actions, including your Method of Verification ( MOV ). I do not consent to the use of E-OSCAR or any other automated verification system. I demand a thorough manual investigation of these accounts.

Failure to comply will result in immediate escalation, including legal and regulatory action. 
Sincerely,

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief