Consumer complaint received 2025-02-25 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally notify Equifax and Experian of your continued noncompliance with federal law regarding my identity theft dispute with XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX. Despite multiple submissions of my FTC Identity Theft Report and supporting documentation, you have failed to remove fraudulent accounts within the legally required 4-business-day timeframe under FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ).

As of today, it has been well beyond 4 business days since my FTC Identity Theft Report was submitted multiple times. Your agencies : Failed to block and remove fraudulent accounts as required by law. 
Refused to provide verification documentation, yet continue reporting the accounts. 
Updated the balance to {$0.00} and marked the account as transferred/sold but refused to delete it. 
Misrepresented the legal status of the account, violating consumer credit accuracy laws. 
Used deceptive and stalling tactics, providing contradictory and misleading responses. 

This letter serves as your final opportunity to comply before I escalate this matter to legal and regulatory authorities, including the CFPB, FTC, and my State Attorney General. 

LEGAL VIOLATIONS & IMPROPER ACTIONS COMMITTED BY EQUIFAX & EXPERIAN 1 Violation of FCRA 605B Failure to Block Identity Theft Accounts Within 4 Business Days ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) Legal Requirement : FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) requires credit bureaus to block fraudulent accounts within 4 business days upon receiving : A valid FTC Identity Theft Report Proof of identity ( Government ID, SSN, etc. ) A written request for fraud removal Violation : Equifax & Experian failed to remove fraudulent accounts within the 4-business-day legal timeframe. 
Despite submitting my FTC report multiple times, the accounts remain on my credit report. 
This failure to act constitutes an improper and illegal use of my consumer information. 

Legal Remedy : Each violation of FCRA 605B allows for statutory damages of {$1000.00} per violation under FCRA 616 & 617.

2 Violation of Fair Credit Billing Act ( FCBA ) Failure to Conduct Proper Dispute Investigation ( 15 U.S.C. 1666 ) Legal Requirement : Under 15 U.S.C. 1666, if a consumer disputes an account due to fraud, identity theft, or billing error, the creditor and reporting agencies must : Conduct a full investigation and provide documentation to support their findings. 
Respond to the dispute with all requested information within 30 days. 

Violation : Equifax & Experian failed to provide supporting documents proving the validity of the account. 
They are continuing to report the account without valid contractual evidence, violating FCBA requirements. 

Legal Remedy : The account must be deleted immediately for noncompliance. 

3 Violation of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act ( E-SIGN Act ) Failure to Provide Signed Contract ( 15 U.S.C. 7001 ) Legal Requirement : Under the E-SIGN Act ( 15 U.S.C. 7001 ), any financial agreement or contract must be accessible to the consumer in electronic or physical form upon request.

Violation : Equifax & Experian have failed to provide a signed contract proving I authorized the disputed account. 
If they can not produce a signed agreement, they can not legally report the account. 

Legal Remedy : If a contract is not provided within 4 business days, the account must be deleted immediately.

4 Violation of Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) Misrepresentation of Debt & Account Status ( 15 U.S.C. 1637 ( b ) ) Legal Requirement : Under TILA 1637 ( b ), lenders and credit reporting agencies must : Clearly report the accurate status of a debt.

Provide consumers with full disclosure of any financial obligations related to reported accounts.

Violation : Experian & Equifax continue to report an account as transferred/sold while also listing it as a charge-off, which is misleading and inaccurate. 
If the account was sold, it is illegal for the original lender ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) to report it. 

Legal Remedy : This account must be deleted as Equifax & Experian have misrepresented its status.

5 Violation of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Failure to Protect Personal Data ( 15 U.S.C. 6801 ) Legal Requirement : XXXX  requires credit bureaus to protect consumer financial information and ensure accurate reporting. 

Violation : As a victim of the Equifax Data Breach, I was already exposed to identity theft.

Despite knowing this, Equifax has failed to take appropriate measures to protect my data.

By continuing to report fraudulent accounts despite identity theft evidence, Equifax is complicit in financial harm.

FINAL DEMAND REMOVE THESE ACCOUNTS IN 4 BUSINESS DAYS I am giving Equifax & Experian exactly 4 business days from the date of this letter to : XXXX Immediately delete the fraudulent XXXX XXXX XXXX account. 
2 Provide written confirmation that the account has been removed.

3 If Equifax & Experian claim the account is verified, provide ALL of the following documents : Signed contract proving I authorized the account.

The name, contact information, and method of verification used.

Payment records or validation from the original creditor.

Chain of title proving ownership of the account.

4 Cease all further reporting of this fraudulent account.

5 Stop sending misleading dispute notifications. 

LEGAL ACTION IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY If Equifax & Experian fail to comply within 4 business days, I will take the following actions without further notice : File a Lawsuit Against Equifax & Experian in Small Claims or Federal Court File a formal complaint with the CFPB, FTC, and State Attorney General Report Equifax & Experian to the IRS for improper charge-off reporting Seek statutory damages of {$1000.00} per violation and compensation for harm to my creditworthiness.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation