Consumer complaint received 2025-05-27 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: MO

Complaint narrative:
Date : XX/XX/year> To : XXXXXXXX XXXX  Equifax XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX Subject : Formal Notice of Intent to XXXX XXXX XXXX for XXXX XXXX FCRA XXXX Dear Equifax Legal Department, I am writing to formally notify you of my intent to initiate legal proceedings against Equifax for violations of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), codified at 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 

On XX/XX/year>, I informed Equifax in writing that I am a victim of identity theft, and that my personal information was compromised in the Equifax data breach. Since the breach, unauthorized credit card and bank accounts have been opened in my name without my knowledge or consent. Specifically, I disputed the reporting of an XXXX XXXX account that appears on my credit file. I explicitly stated that the XXXX XXXX account is not mine, and I requested that Equifax take immediate action to block and remove this fraudulent account from my credit report pursuant to my rights under the FCRA. 

Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( a ), once a consumer provides appropriate proof of identity theft, including a police report or identity theft affidavit, the credit reporting agency is required to block the fraudulent information from the consumers credit file within XXXX business days of receiving the documentation. 

Furthermore, 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( b ) stipulates that if Equifax determines that the information should not be blocked, it must provide a written explanation within XXXX business days detailing the specific reasons for its decision, along with documented evidence supporting its conclusion. 

To date, Equifax has failed to block the fraudulent XXXX XXXX account from my credit report and has not provided any valid documented evidence explaining why the account remains. This failure constitutes a direct violation of the FCRA and my rights as a consumer. 

Please also be advised that I am attaching copies of the relevant FCRA provisions and federal guidelines regarding identity theft procedures. These materials were provided to me by the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and clearly outline your legal obligations in handling identity theft disputes. These documents make it clear that Equifax has failed to comply with the law. 

I must stress that the FCRA provides for statutory damages, actual damages, and punitive damages for willful noncompliance, as well as attorneys fees and costs. If you continue to report the unauthorized account and fail to comply with the statutory mandates set forth by federal law, I will have no choice but to file a lawsuit against Equifax seeking all remedies available under law. 

Let me be clear : once a valid identity theft report is received, the FCRA does not permit Equifax to continue reporting the disputed item while conducting an internal investigation. The law is unambiguous. We are a nation governed by law, and I expect Equifax to comply. 

If Equifax fails to immediately delete and block the fraudulent XXXX XXXX account, and fails to provide any legally sufficient documentation supporting your refusal to do so, I will proceed to file a civil action for each violation committed. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation