Consumer complaint received 2024-12-10 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), I am writing to lodge a complaint against Equifax for the ongoing and severe harm caused by its negligent handling of my personal and financial data. The actions of Equifax, along with the conduct of its representatives, have left me financially disenfranchised, mentally distressed, and stripped of basic dignity. I demand immediate resolution and assert my rights under the law to protect myself against further harm. 
XXXX. Breach of Personal Data and Reporting Unauthorized Accounts Equifaxs failure to safeguard my personal data has allowed unauthorized accountsspecifically accounts linked to XXXX and XXXX tarnish my credit file. This is a direct consequence of the data breach, which not only compromised my sensitive information but enabled the perpetuation of fraud against me. Despite my repeated disputes, Equifax has willfully refused to remove these accounts reporting unauthorized information, which amounts to reckless indifference toward the accuracy of my credit file. 
XXXX. Dehumanizing Treatment by Representatives Equifax representative XXXX conduct has been particularly egregious. Her dismissive and disparaging remarks made me feel demeaned and powerless, as if I were a slave to a system designed to deny me fairness and justice. Rather than addressing my concerns with professionalism and care, XXXX responses have belittled my grievances and contributed to my mental anguish. This treatment reflects a lack of respect for my rights as a consumer and human being. 
XXXX. Violations of Federal Laws and Consumer Protections Equifax has committed multiple violations of federal law, which have directly contributed to my financial harm and emotional distress : XXXX. Repeated Opt-Out Notices Disregarded Against My Will Equifax ignored my multiple opt-out notices submitted under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( e ). By failing to process these notices, Equifax violated federal laws governing the permissible use of consumer information. The right to opt out of prescreened or unauthorized offers is guaranteed to consumers, and XXXX deliberate inaction is a direct affront to these rights. 
Violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( e ) : Equifax has no lawful basis to retain or share my information after receiving explicit instructions through multiple opt-out requests. 
Neglect of Consumer Autonomy : By disregarding these opt-out notices, Equifax has effectively coerced me into a system that I expressly refused to participate in, stripping me of control over my personal and financial data. 
This ongoing violation of my will constitutes a severe infringement on my legal rights and has perpetuated the harm caused by unauthorized reporting. 
Equifax has displayed a clear and deliberate pattern of negligence, defiance of federal law, and blatant disregard for my consumer rights. Despite submitting a fully compliant FTC Identity Theft Report, along with all required documentationproof of address, social security, and government-issued IDEquifax has intentionally ignored its legal obligations under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( FCRA ), which mandates blocking disputed information resulting from identity theft. Their refusal to act not only contravenes federal law but also exhibits a shocking level of contempt for their responsibility to protect consumers. 
By selectively acknowledging disputes, such as addressing XXXX Bank while completely disregarding the same evidence for other unauthorized accounts, Equifax is engaging in discriminatory practices that undermine the very integrity of the consumer reporting process. This selective enforcement is not only unjust but demonstrates a willful violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i, which requires a fair and thorough investigation of all disputed accounts. 
Equifaxs misconduct has left unauthorized accounts on my credit report, including XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX.all of which I have rightfully disputed. This negligence has caused severe financial harm, jeopardizing my creditworthiness, and further exacerbating the mental and emotional anguish inflicted upon me. Their actionsor lack thereofrepresent an outright denial of my constitutional rights, as well as a systemic abuse of power aimed at controlling my consumer report against my will. 
XXXX behavior constitutes a breach of trust and a clear violation of consumer protection laws, including 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to ensure maximum accuracy, and 15 U.S.C. 1681n, which imposes liability for willful noncompliance with the FCRA. Their disregard for the law, combined with their selective and prejudiced handling of my disputes, demonstrates an egregious lack of accountability and undermines the consumer protection framework they are obligated to uphold. I have documentation that will expose Equifaxs intentional misconduct, including their selective acknowledgment of disputes while disregarding identical claims, proving their efforts to manipulate and control my consumer report with willful disregard for my rights. 
Equifaxs actionsor inactionwill not go unanswered. This pattern of abuse, negligence, and selective enforcement is both unlawful and unethical, and I demand the immediate removal of all unauthorized accounts and full accountability for their violations of federal law. Should Equifax continue to ignore its obligations, I will have no choice but to escalate this matter to arbitration or federal litigation to seek damages for the irreparable harm caused. 

b. Negligence and Breach of Duty Equifaxs mishandling of my data during the breach demonstrates gross negligence. By failing to protect my information, Equifax breached its duty of care, exposing me to fraud and financial exploitation. 
c. Breach of Fiduciary Duty As a credit reporting agency, Equifax has a fiduciary duty to act in good faith and safeguard the interests of consumers. Its actionsallowing the perpetuation of fraudulent accountsconstitute a willful breach of this duty.

d. Violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA ) By denying me equitable access to accurate credit reporting and imposing barriers to resolving disputes, Equifax has engaged in discriminatory practices that undermine my financial freedom.

e. Constitutional Protections Against Coercion Equifaxs refusal to correct these inaccuracies has denied me the opportunity to exercise my constitutional right to financial liberty. The burden of battling their deliberate inaction has left me enslaved to a false narrative that paints me as financially irresponsiblea grave injustice XXXX. Selective Reporting and Contradictory Actions Equifaxs reporting of accounts demonstrates blatant inconsistencies and raises serious concerns about its adherence to fairness and accuracy obligations. While they sent a check related to the XXXX account, all other and related accounts listed below were still reported as unauthorized : XXXX XXXX : Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : Account Numbers : XXXX, XXXX XXXX  XXXX : Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) : Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX Services : Account Number : XXXX Equifaxs selective handling of the XXXX Bank account demonstrates not only negligence but an intent to manipulate the reporting process to obscure its own failures. 




XXXX. Demand for Redress To rectify the harm caused by XXXX negligence, I demand the following : XXXX. Immediate removal of all unauthorized accounts from my credit report. 
XXXX. {$1000.00} per unauthorized account as compensation for financial harm, emotional distress, and mental anguish. 
XXXX. A formal apology acknowledging XXXX misconduct and detailing corrective measures to prevent further harm. 
XXXX. A commitment to ensure the accuracy of my credit file and comply with all federal and state laws governing credit reporting. 
XXXX. Case Law Supporting My Claims XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : This case established that failure to properly investigate disputes under the FCRA constitutes a breach of duty, leading to liability for damages caused by inaccuracies. XXXX refusal to remove fraudulent accounts parallels this failure. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, 578 U.S. 330 ( XXXX ) : This Supreme Court case emphasized the importance of accurate consumer reporting. XXXX continued reporting of false accounts directly contravenes this precedent, causing tangible harm to my financial standing. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) : This case reinforced the standard for willful noncompliance with the FCRA. XXXX negligence and refusal to address disputes amount to willful violations of their legal obligations. 
XXXX. Emotional and Financial Anguish Equifaxs actions have caused irreparable damage to my mental well-being. The endless disputes, derogatory treatment, and refusal to act have left me feeling helpless and violated. This ordeal has stripped me of my financial dignity, as my creditworthinessa cornerstone of financial freedomremains tarnished by fraudulent accounts. 
I have suffered sleepless nights, stress-induced health issues, and a loss of confidence in pursuing opportunities that rely on accurate credit reporting. The emotional toll of being treated as a victim of fraud while being denied justice is beyond measure. 
XXXX. Preparedness for Arbitration or Legal Action If Equifax does not resolve this matter promptly and equitably, I am fully prepared to pursue arbitration or legal action. I will present comprehensive evidence of the following : Unauthorized accounts reported by Equifax. 
Documentation of my disputes and Equifaxs inadequate responses.

Evidence of the financial and emotional harm caused by Equifaxs misconduct.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation