Consumer complaint received 2025-02-06 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally dispute the inaccurate reporting of the account listed under XXXX XXXX XXXX on my credit file. Equifax has improperly handled my dispute and committed multiple violations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and 15 U.S. Code 1666b, which governs prompt crediting of payments and dispute resolution obligations.

Below are the details of my dispute and violations : Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX Violations Committed by Equifax : 1. Failure to Conduct a Proper Reinvestigation ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ) Equifax did not conduct a reasonable investigation of my dispute. The reinvestigation process must include obtaining proper documentation from the furnisher ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) to verify the accuracy of the disputed account. No such verification has been provided. 

Equifaxs response does not clarify how the verification was conducted and whether they obtained evidence directly from the furnisher ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ). A reinvestigation must involve verifying disputed information with actual documentation, not merely relying on the furnishers word.

2. Failure to Provide Verification Documentation ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) ) Equifax is required to provide evidence used to verify the disputed accounts accuracy. No documentation or verification was sent to me, making the continued reporting of this account unlawful.

3. Failure to Delete Inaccurate or Unverified Information ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ) The FCRA mandates that unverified or inaccurate items be removed from a credit report. Since Equifax has failed to provide evidence verifying the accuracy of this account within the required timeframe, it must be deleted immediately.

4. Failure to Resolve the Dispute Within 30 Days ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) The FCRA allows a maximum of 30 days to resolve disputes. My initial dispute was submitted over 30 days ago, and Equifax has yet to resolve this matter or provide sufficient evidence.

5. Improper Handling of Billing Disputes and Payments ( 15 U.S. Code 1666b ) This law requires creditors to properly investigate and handle disputes regarding billing and payment history. XXXX XXXX XXXX failed to follow these obligations, and Equifax compounded the issue by continuing to report inaccurate information without requiring proper documentation from the creditor.

6. Use of Misleading Statements ( 15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ) Equifax falsely claimed the account is not currently reporting despite evidence to the contrary. This constitutes a misleading and improper representation of the status of my credit file.

7. Engaging in Stalling Tactics to Avoid Compliance ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ) Equifax delayed addressing this dispute by providing inconsistent information and failing to comply with reinvestigation requirements. This hinders my right to an accurate and fair credit report.

False or Misleading Representations ( 15 U.S. Code 1692e ) Claiming the disputed account is not currently reporting when it clearly is constitutes a misleading representation of the status of the debt.

2. Failure to Provide Validation of Debt ( 15 U.S. Code 1692g ( b ) ) If Equifax or XXXX XXXX XXXX continued to report or collect on the debt without validating it, they are in violation of the FDCPA. 
3. Use of Unfair or Unconscionable Means ( 15 U.S. Code 1692f ) Continuing to report or verify inaccurate information without a proper investigation or verification is considered an unfair practice.

Uniform Commercial Code ( UCC ) Violations 1. Breach of Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing ( UCC 1-304 ) Equifax, by failing to properly investigate and resolve the dispute, has potentially breached their obligation of good faith and fair dealing in commercial transactions.

2. Improper Handling of Disputed Claims ( UCC 9-210 ) If XXXX XXXX XXXX , as a creditor, failed to provide an accounting or resolve disputes regarding the account, this could be a violation of the UCC.

Failure to Ensure Accuracy in Reporting The CFPB requires consumer reporting agencies ( CRAs ) like Equifax to ensure the accuracy of reported information. Continued reporting of disputed, inaccurate, or unverifiable accounts is a violation.

2. Failure to Respond to Consumer Complaints Equifaxs lack of a timely or adequate response to your dispute is a direct violation of CFPB guidelines.

Resolution Requested : I demand the following actions to resolve this matter : 1. Immediate removal of the disputed account from my credit file due to lack of verification within the legally mandated timeframe.

2. Written confirmation that the account has been deleted from my credit report.

3. A detailed explanation of Equifaxs reinvestigation process, including all steps taken and copies of any documentation used for verification.

In previous CFPB enforcement actions, Equifax was held accountable for failing to meet its obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). The CFPB press release highlighted Equifaxs failure to properly investigate disputes, inaccurately report consumer information, and delay addressing consumer complaints. This pattern of non-compliance is evident in my case, where Equifax partially addressed my identity theft dispute by removing hard inquiries but failed to remove fraudulent accounts. This is a direct violation of the FCRA, specifically 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, which requires the removal of fraudulent information upon submission of an identity theft report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation