Consumer complaint received 2025-03-06 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: MS

Complaint narrative:
XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Point Cove Walls, XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX GA XXXX Dear Equifax XXXX NOTICE OF DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE DELETION OF FRAUDULENT ACCOUNTS AND REMOVAL OF INACCURATE INFORMATION FROM CREDIT REPORT I am writing to formally demand immediate action regarding the fraudulent accounts listed below that have been reported on my Equifax XXXX file. I am a victim of identity theft, and the fraudulent activity I am now dealing with is a direct result of the XXXX Equifax data breach, in which my personal information was compromised and made available to cybercriminals. Since that breach, I have become a target of identity theft, and I have not authorized nor am I connected in any way to the following accounts or information. The continued reporting of this false and damaging information is a direct violation of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other federal statutes, and your failure to resolve this matter is unacceptable. 

This letter serves as an AFFIDAVIT OF DEMAND to have the fraudulent accounts and erroneous personal information removed from my credit report within XXXX ( XXXX ) business days, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 of the FCRA.

I. Demand for Immediate Action As a victim of identity theft, which I trace directly back to the Equifax XXXX breach, I demand that the following fraudulent accounts and incorrect information be immediately and permanently removed from my credit report : Fraudulent Accounts : XXXX COL PADU/ MEDICAL ( XXXX ) {$530.00} XXXX U.S.C XXXX ( Section XXXX ), you are obligated to block the reporting of any information resulting from identity theft, provided that I submit the required documentation - DELETE IMMEDIATELY XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) {$24000.00} 15 U.S.C 11681c-2 ( Section 605B ), you are obligated to block the reporting of any information resulting from identity theft, provided that I submit the required documentation - DELETE IMMEDIATELY XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) {$1300.00} 15 U.S.C 11681c-2 ( Section 605B ), you are obligated to block the reporting of any information resulting from identity theft, provided that I submit the required documentation - DELETE IMMEDIATELY LEAFY FINANCIAL LLC ( XXXX ) {$2200.00} 15 U.S.C 11681c-2 ( Section 605B ), you are obligated to block the reporting of any information resulting from identity theft, provided that I submit the required documentation - DELETE IMMEDIATELY All the above accounts represent fraudulent transactions resulting from the unlawful disclosure of my personal information without my consent due to the Equifax breach. This is a clear violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( 3 ), which defines such actions as identity theft. I have already reported these incidents to the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and you are required by law to act upon this notice of fraud without delay. 

XXXX. Failure to Comply with XXXX XXXX XXXX failure to address this matter with the urgency required by law has caused me significant emotional distress, as well as irreparable financial harm. As stated in 15 U.S.C. 1681i, your company is obligated to investigate and resolve disputes within 30 days, and provide written verification of your investigation within XXXX ( XXXX ) business days. Furthermore, the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) mandates that fraudulent or incorrect information be removed within XXXX ( XXXX ) business days of identification as fraudulent, per FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ). 

I demand that the fraudulent entries be removed within the statutory time frame, and that you confirm such actions have been completed, in writing, within XXXX ( XXXX ) business days. 

XXXX. Legal Violations and Consequences Failure to comply with my demands will result in legal action. This includes, but is not limited to, claims for : Defamation Negligent Enablement of Identity Fraud Violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) Financial Injury Penalty of Perjury 15 U.S.C. 1692g Failure to properly notify me 15 U.S.C. 1681b Permissible purposes of consumer reports 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( 3 ) Identity theft and unlawful disclosure I am prepared to pursue claims for {$5000.00} for each violation in damages, in addition to potential punitive damages, as allowed by law. This also includes any small claims actions I XXXX choose to file. I also reserve the right to escalate this issue to state and federal regulatory authorities, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), State Attorney Generals Offices, and the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ). 

IV. Documentation of Dispute I am submitting the following enclosures as evidence of my identity and the fraudulent activity : Identity Theft Report Proof of Identity ( e.g., government-issued ID, utility bill, etc. ) FTC XXXX Theft Report FCRA 605b Documentation Please ensure that all documentation related to this matter is handled promptly and thoroughly. I explicitly reject any automated or e-Oscar methods of verification. I expect a comprehensive manual investigation of this dispute and demand detailed documentation of your investigative process within XXXX ( XXXX ) business days of its completion. 

XXXX Conclusion I require that you provide written confirmation that these fraudulent accounts have been removed from my credit file within the next XXXX ( XXXX ) business days. Failure to do so will result in further action, including legal claims and public documentation of your failure to comply with consumer protection laws. 

Please take notice that I am fully prepared to escalate this matter through the appropriate legal channels. The public reputation of your organization is at risk, and I will not hesitate to pursue a press release or public action if necessary. 

CC : XXXX XXXX, Assistant XXXX of Enforcement, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Attorney XXXX XXXX Better Business Bureau XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( FDIC XXXX Comptroller of the Currency Federal Reserve System Federal Trade Commission ( FTC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX California XXXX XXXX, Division of Consumer Complaints FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) ( a ) XXXX. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a consumer reporting agency shall block the reporting of any information in the file of a consumer that the consumer identifies as information that resulted from an alleged identity theft, not later than XXXX business days after the date of receipt by such agency of ( XXXX ) appropriate proof of the identity of the consumer ; ( XXXX ) a copy of an identity theft report ; ( XXXX ) the identification of such information by the consumer; and ( XXXX ) a statement by the consumer that the information is not information relating to any transaction by the consumer. 

( b ) Notification. A consumer reporting agency shall promptly notify the furnisher of information identified by the consumer under subsection ( a ) of this section ( 1 ) that the information may be a result of identity theft ; ( 2 ) that an identity theft report has been filed ; ( 3 ) that a block has been

requested under this section; and ( 4 ) of the effective dates of the block. ( c ) Authority to decline or rescind. 

( 1 ) In general. A consumer reporting agency may decline to block, or may rescind any block, of information relating to a consumer under this section, if the consumer reporting agency reasonably determines that ( A ) the information was blocked in error or a block was requested by the consumer in error ; ( B ) the information was blocked, or a block was requested by the consumer, on the basis of a material misrepresentation of fact by the consumer relevant to the request to block ; or ( C ) the consumer obtained possession of goods, services, or money as a result of the blocked transaction or transactions. 

( 2 ) Notification to consumer. If a block of information is declined or rescinded under this subsection, the affected consumer shall be notified promptly, in the same manner as consumers are notified of the reinsertion of information under section 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) of this title.

( 3 ) Significance of block. For purposes of this subsection, if a consumer reporting agency rescinds a block, the presence of information in the file of a consumer prior to the blocking of such information is not evidence of whether the consumer knew or should have known that the consumer obtained possession of any goods, services, or money as a result of the block. 

( d ) Exception for resellers. 
( XXXX ) No reseller file. This section shall not apply to a consumer reporting agency, if the consumer reporting agency ( A ) is a reseller ; ( B ) is not, at the time of the request of the consumer under subsection ( a ) of this section, otherwise furnishing or reselling a consumer report concerning the information identified by the consumer ; and ( C ) informs the consumer, by any means, that the consumer XXXX report the identity theft to the XXXX to obtain consumer information regarding identity theft. 

( XXXX ) Reseller with file. The sole obligation of the consumer reporting agency under this section, with regard to any request of a consumer under this section, shall be to block the consumer report maintained by the consumer reporting agency from any subsequent use, if ( A ) the consumer, in accordance with the provisions of subsection ( a ) of this section, identifies, to a consumer reporting agency, information in the file of the consumer that resulted from identity theft ; and ( B ) the consumer reporting agency is a reseller of the identified information. 

( XXXX ) Notice. In carrying out its obligation under paragraph ( XXXX ), the reseller shall promptly provide a notice to the consumer of the decision to block the file. Such notice shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of each consumer reporting agency from which the consumer information was obtained for resale. 

( XXXX ) Exception for verification companies. The provisions of this section do not apply to a check services company, acting as such, which issues authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing negotiable instruments, electronic fund transfers, or similar methods of payments, except that, beginning XXXX business days after receipt of information described in paragraphs ( XXXX ) through ( XXXX ) of subsection ( a ) of this section, a check services company shall not report to a national consumer reporting agency described in section 1681a ( p ) of this title, any information identified in the subject identity theft report as resulting from identity theft.

( f ) Access to blocked information by law enforcement agencies. No provision of this section shall be construed as requiring a consumer reporting agency to prevent a XXXX, XXXX, or local law enforcement agency from accessing blocked information in a consumer file to which the agency could otherwise obtain access under this subchapter. 

I look forward to your prompt and complete response. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief