Consumer complaint received 2025-10-06 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
CFPB Complaint Credit Reporting / Identity Theft / Furnisher Reporting Consumer : [ Full Legal Name ], [ Current Address ], [ City, State ZIP ] DOB ( YYYY ) : [ YYYY ] Last 4 SSN : [ XXXX ] Primary Phone/Email : [ ]/ [ ] Companies Involved : Credit Reporting Agencies ( CRAs ) : TransUnion LLC ; Experian ; Equifax Information Services LLC Furnishers ( examples named in the 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 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 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

Complaint Categories ( select in CFPB form ) : Credit reporting Incorrect information on your report Credit reporting Problem with a credit reporting companys investigation Identity theft or fraud Attempt to fix identity theft problem Improper use of credit report Hard inquiries you did not authorize XXXX ) Summary of the Problem ( What happened ) In XX/XX/XXXX, multiple disputed tradelines were deleted by the CRAs. They were later reinserted without required furnisher recertification and 5-day written notice. This violates FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ), 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ).

The files contain material cross-bureau inconsistencies ( status, dates, limits/high credit, past-due, payment strings ) that lower scores and fail the maximum possible accuracy standard ( 607 ( b ) / 1681e ( b ) ) and reinvestigation duties ( 611 / 1681i ). 

Multiple accounts show contradictory late-payment histories, charge-off vs. collection misclassifications, and {$0.00} limits on revolving lines, which skews utilization and scoring.

Personal information is inaccurate/incomplete ( name/address variants, outdated identifiers ), despite prior requests to correctviolations of 607 ( b ) and 611.

Hard inquiries appear that were not authorized and lack proof of permissible purpose ( 604 ).

An FTC Identity Theft Report and police report have been provided previously ; CRAs did not block identity-theft items as required by 605B. 

2 ) Timeline ( Key dates ) Prior disputes submitted with ID, proof of address, highlighted pages, and identity-theft documentation. 

XX/XX/XXXX : CRAs deleted multiple disputed items. 

After XX/XX/XXXX : The same items were reinserted but no 5-day reinsertion notice was sent and no furnisher recertification was provided. 

XXXX XXXX credit reports show ongoing status/field conflicts, late-code mismatches, and unauthorized inquiries remaining. 

XXXX ) Specific Examples ( Illustrative, not exhaustive ) A ) Cross-Bureau Inconsistencies ( Accuracy & Reinvestigation ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Credit Card ) Partial acct XXXX Status : TU/EXP = Open/Current vs EQ = Paid/Current Date Opened : XXXX XX/XX/XXXX vs EXP/EQ XX/XX/XXXX High Credit/Credit Limit : inconsistent or suppressed at EQ Last Reported : TU/EXP XX/XX/XXXX vs XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX ( Charge-off ) Partial acct XXXX High Credit/Credit Limit : EXP shows {$0.00} while TU/EQ show real amounts Last Reported : TU/EXP XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Charge-off ) Partial acct XXXX High Credit : TU {$9800.00} vs EQ {$7000.00} ; Credit Limit {$0.00} on revolving line Narratives differ ( profit & loss write-off vs charge-off ) XXXX ( multiple accounts, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX ) Late severity codes differ ( TU 120, EXP 150/180, EQ 120 ) for the same months Classification differs ( EQ Collection vs TU/EXP Charge-off ) XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( two COs, e.g., XXXX, XXXX ) EXP shows a continuous XXXX ramp EQ intermixes OK with late codes in overlapping months EQ sometimes shows Credit Limit = {$0.00} while TU/EXP show real limits B ) Late-Payment / Status Reporting Defects OK months appear alongside Charge-off/Collection narratives for the same periods XXXX XXXX XXXX 

Gaps in monthly payment strings ; mismatched late codes across bureaus for the same month.

{$0.00} limits on historic revolving accounts inflate utilization and score impact.

Collection vs. Charge-off misclassification ( e.g., XXXX at XXXX ). 

C ) Improper Reinsertion ( Deleted in XX/XX/XXXX Reinserted without notice ) All previously deleted derogatory accounts were reinserted without : furnisher certification of accuracy, and 5-day written notice identifying the item and furnisher contact info. 
Violates 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ).

D ) Personal Information Errors ( Identity Theft / Mixed File ) Continued reporting of old/wrong addresses, name variations, or employment entries not belonging to me, despite prior written requests to restrict to current, correct identifiers only ( Metro 2 Code 112 ).

E ) Unauthorized Hard Inquiries ( Permissible Purpose ) Examples appearing on recent files ( non-exhaustive ) 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 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

I did not authorize these and request deletion or conversion to soft unless the CRA and furnisher produce signed authorization or valid e-signature with IP/device logs and 604 permissible purpose.

4 ) Laws/Standards Implicated 607 ( b ) ( Accuracy ) maximum possible accuracy not maintained.

611 / 1681i ( Reinvestigation ) incomplete reinvestigation ; missing Method of Verification ( MOV ).

611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) Improper reinsertion without furnisher recertification and 5-day written notice.

604 failures to demonstrate permissible purpose for hard inquiries.

605B failure to block identity-theft items after receiving FTC/Police reports .

Metro 2 field logic conflicts ( e.g., Codes 112, 121, 162, 202 ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief