Consumer complaint received 2025-05-21 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Investigation took more than 30 days
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Subject : INTENT TO SUE XXXX XXXX XXXX, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion ( Multiple Failures To Respond With 30 Days ) FCRA Violations Account # XXXX To Transunion/Equifax/Experian I am writing this formal letter of dispute and legal notification to inform you of my intent to pursue legal action for willful and repeated violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) under 15 U.S.C. 1681. This pertains specifically to the account listed as XXXX XXXX XXXX, Account # XXXX, which continues to appear on my credit reports with severe, documented inaccuracies and has been mishandled during the dispute process by all three major credit reporting agencies ( CRAs ) : Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. 

Let this letter serve as a final demand to remove this account immediately and permanently from my credit reports. This account can not be cured, corrected, or updated due to multiple failed reinvestigations, inaccurate verifications, and blatant disregard for federally mandated timelines. I am within my legal right under the FCRA to seek damages up to {$20000.00}, as permitted in the State of Texas.

Below is a complete breakdown of my dispute history for full transparency and to clearly illustrate the pattern of misconduct and failure to comply with the law.

Dispute 1 : XX/XX/XXXX Response Violations + Data Inconsistencies Date Submitted : * TransUnion & Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX Date of Response : * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX ( 33 days later ) * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX ( 35 days later ) * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX ( 45 days later ) Key Discrepancies Identified : * Last Activity : * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX * On-Time Payment History : * Experian : 48 % * Equifax : 78 % * TransUnion : No payment history at all FCRA Violations : * All three CRAs exceeded the 30-day investigation limit mandated under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ).

* All three verified the account as accurate without correcting conflicting data, sending generic responses, and failing to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation as required by 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 4 ). 

Dispute 2 : XX/XX/XXXX Repeated Inconsistencies, Response Violations Date Submitted : * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX Date of Response : * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX ( 37 days later ) * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX ( 34 days later ) * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX ( 46 days later ) Key Discrepancies Identified : * Last Activity : * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX * XX/XX/XXXX Days Late : * TransUnion : XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XXXX * Payment History : * TransUnion : No payment history * Equifax : 69 % XXXX * Experian : 44 % on-time FCRA Violations : * Once again, all three bureaus failed to meet the 30-day dispute resolution deadline per 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ).

* Verified inaccurate data without resolving clear contradictions across the three reports, which constitutes negligence and a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ). 

Dispute XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX Still More Inconsistencies, Ignored Timeline Date Submitted : XX/XX/XXXX Date Received : * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX Date of Response : * TransUnion : No response as of XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX days and counting ) * Equifax XXXX Responded XX/XX/XXXX ( Sending the same dispute via multiple platforms does not make it frivolous According to the FCRA ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ) ( 3 ) ). 
* Experian : Still no response as of XX/XX/XXXX Key Discrepancies Identified : * Last Activity : * TransUnion : XX/XX/XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XX/XX/XXXX * XX/XX/XXXX30/60/90 Days Late : * TransUnion : XXXX * Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * Experian : XXXX * Payment History : * TransUnion : None * Equifax : 54 % XXXX Experian : 33 % FCRA Violations : * TransUnion and Experian completely failed to respond within 30 days an explicit violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ).

* Equifax responded late ( 35 days ), only after being pressured with another CFPB complaint.

* Equifax also wrongfully labeled the dispute as frivolous due to it being submitted by both certified mail and electronically which is not a legal basis for dismissal under the FCRA. 

Dispute 4 : XX/XX/XXXX Final Dispute for Failure to Respond Within 30 Days This dispute was filed with the CFPB on XX/XX/XXXX, to document all previous failures by all three CRAs to properly investigate and respond within the legally required 30-day window on three separate occasions.

Despite being given numerous opportunities and full documentation ( including proof of identity and address ), Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion have each demonstrated a pattern of negligence, willful non-compliance, and blatant disregard for federal consumer protection laws.

Detailed Statement of Dispute History Regarding All Three Credit Bureaus : On XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted a formal dispute through the XXXX portal regarding numerous discrepancies found in the reporting of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account # XXXX across the three major credit bureaus. My dispute was based on inconsistencies such as different last activity dates : Experian reported XX/XX/XXXX ; Equifax reported XX/XX/XXXX ; and TransUnion reported XX/XX/XXXX. Additionally, each bureau showed conflicting information regarding payment historyExperian reflected 48 % of payments made on time, Equifax reported 78 %, while TransUnion failed to display any payment history at all. I respectfully requested that all three credit bureaus reinvestigate this matter and either correct, update, or remove this account from my credit file. According to the XXXX portal, Experian received my dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, yet did not respond until XX/XX/XXXX, which significantly exceeds the 30-day response window mandated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Experian ultimately sent a generic message stating they had contacted the data furnishers and that the remaining disputed information was verified as accurate. Equifax received this same dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, and responded on XX/XX/XXXX, XXXXagain, beyond the 30-day FCRA timeframe. They too claimed the information was verified as accurate. TransUnion received the dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, and responded on XX/XX/XXXX, also violating the 30-day window. Attached to these disputes were detailed highlights of the reporting inconsistencies as well as a copy of my state-issued ID and a utility bill as proof of address. Despite these documents and evidence, all three credit bureaus ignored their legal obligation to respond within the FCRA 's time limit and continued reporting this inaccurate account on my credit report. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I obtained an updated copy of my credit report via Credit Hero Score and noticed additional inaccuracies being reported regarding the same XXXX XXXX account. I submitted a second dispute through the XXXX portal, pointing out further discrepancies. For instance, TransUnion reported last activity as XX/XX/XXXX ; Equifax showed XX/XX/XXXX ; and Experian still reported XX/XX/XXXX. In terms of payment delinquency, TransUnion reported XXXX for 30/60/90-day lates, Equifax reported XX/XX/XXXX, and Experian reported XXXX XXXX Once again, payment history varied wildly : TransUnion provided no history, Equifax reported 69 % on-time payments, and Experian only 44 %. TransUnion received this second dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, but did not respond until XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX exceeding the FCRAs XXXX deadline. Equifax received it on XX/XX/XXXX, and responded on XX/XX/XXXX, also beyond the time limit. Experian received this dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, but did not respond until XX/XX/XXXX. All three agencies once again demonstrated blatant disregard for federal law by failing to verify the information within the required timeframe. The FCRA clearly states that if disputed information can not be verified within 30 days, it must be deleted. That did not happen. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXXalmost a year laterI reviewed my Credit Hero Score report again and discovered that the same inaccuracies continued to be reported. I filed a third dispute through the XXXX XXXX regarding XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX due to continued and repeated inconsistencies. This time, TransUnion reported last activity as XX/XX/XXXX ; Equifax listed it as XX/XX/XXXX ; and Experian still showed XX/XX/XXXX. TransUnion again listed XXXX for delinquencies, while Equifax reported XX/XX/XXXX and Experian XXXX XXXX TransUnion reported no payment history, Equifax showed 54 % on-time payments, and Experian reflected 33 %. Other discrepancies included inconsistent data on months reviewed, high balances, and term counts. According to CFPB.gov records, I submitted this dispute on XX/XX/XXXX. TransUnion received it on XX/XX/XXXX, and as of today, XX/XX/XXXX, has still not respondedagain violating the 30-day rule. Equifax received the dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, and responded on XX/XX/XXXX, once more outside the 30-day window. Notably, Equifax then claimed my dispute was flagged as frivolous because it had also been submitted via certified maila reason unsupported by any clause within the FCRA, making it both null and void and legally questionable. Experian received the same XX/XX/XXXX, dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, and to this day, XX/XX/XXXX, has yet to respond, clearly violating the FCRA again. 

Due to this continued noncompliance, I submitted a fourth dispute on XX/XX/XXXX, again through the CFPB, citing Failure to Respond Within 30 Days for all three credit bureaus. This filing serves as my formal notice of intent to pursue legal action. 
I demand that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account # XXXX be permanently removed from all three of my consumer credit reports. This account can not be cured, fixed, or corrected because all three credit bureaus have repeatedly failed to verify the disputed and inaccurate information within the legally mandated 30-day windowon three separate occasions. These violations are not only unethical but are in direct violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Legal Demand for Immediate Removal This account has now been disputed multiple times, each with irrefutable evidence of : * Conflicting and unverifiable data * Repeated failures to meet 30-day response deadlines * Inaccurate and inconsistent reporting across all 3 bureaus * Improper labeling of disputes as frivolous without legal grounds * Generic form-letter responses without proper reinvestigation Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) : If an item can not be verified within the 30-day period, it must be deleted from the consumers file. This standard was violated not once, but multiple times. The Law Is Clear.

Damages and Intent to Sue In accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1681n and 1681o, I am eligible to sue for statutory and actual damages due to : * Negligent non-compliance * Willful non-compliance * Emotional distress, credit harm, and denials for credit lines resulting from your inaccurate reporting As permitted in the State of Texas, I hereby state my intent to sue for up to {$20000.00} in damages unless this account is fully and permanently removed from all of my credit reports within 10 business days of receipt of this notice.

Relief Requested 1. Immediate and permanent deletion of XXXX XXXX XXXX Account # XXXX from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion 2. Written confirmation from all three CRAs of the deletion XXXX. Cease all future reporting of this account XXXX Financials inaccurate reporting, combined with the credit bureaus failure to conduct a timely and proper investigation within the 30-day window required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), has caused significant harm to my life. This negligence has affected my ability to access credit, caused financial setbacks, and resulted in undue stress and frustration. The prolonged presence of these inaccuracies on my credit report has directly impacted important aspects of my personal and financial well-being.

I have kept all documentation, including dispute confirmations, CFPB case IDs, certified mail receipts, screenshots of conflicting report data, and timestamps of late responses.

This will serve as final notice before the initiation of legal proceedings. 

I would like to remind you that in XXXX and early XXXX, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) took enforcement actions against major credit bureaus, including Experian and Equifax, for failing to properly investigate consumer disputesviolating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). The CFPB sued Experian in XX/XX/XXXX for conducting sham investigations, and ordered Equifax to pay {$15.00} XXXX for improper reinvestigation practices. 

Given these recent actions, I respectfully request that my dispute be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated in accordance with FCRA Section 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ). Please ensure full compliance with federal consumer protection laws during the reinvestigation process.

Please be advised that this is not a negotiation. This letter serves as my final demand for full compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). If the inaccurate information is not removed and my dispute is not properly resolved within 15 days of receipt of this notice, I will proceed to file a claim in Texas Justice Court for {$20000.00}, the maximum amount permitted under Texas law. I will also report this continued noncompliance to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and any other relevant regulatory bodies.

Attached are the following documents for your review : - A copy of my passport for identification verification - Copies of my utility bill and lease agreement as proof of address - Twelve copies of proof of all prior disputes ( highlighted ), including dates from all three credit bureaus, demonstrating that they exceeded the 30-day timeframe to verify disputed information on three separate occasions -A copy of the letter from XXXX and Associates attempting to collect on the same debt on behalf of XXXX XXXX - XXXX XXXX document from Equifax indicating that my dispute was deemed frivolous, despite it being an accurate dispute Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Texas XXXX XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief