Consumer complaint received 2025-01-21 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
ATTENTION CFPB : SHAM INVESTIGATIONS Notice of Intent to Litigate Against Equifax for Violations of the FCRA, FDCPA, and False Claims Act To Whom It May Concern, This letter serves as my formal and final notice of intent to litigate against Equifax for its repeated, willful, and negligent violations of federal laws and consumer protection statutes, including but not limited to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Act, and the False Claims Act. 

Equifaxs actionsspecifically its false reporting and mishandling of the XXXX XXXX tradelineconstitute a deliberate breach of my rights as a consumer under these statutes. Despite my repeated demands for proper investigation and verification, Equifax has engaged in unauthorized disputes, sham investigations, and misrepresentations of the dispute process, causing significant harm to my credit file and financial standing. 

Violations and Statutory Protections 1. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) Violations 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) : Equifax failed to follow reasonable procedures to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of the information in my credit file. The XXXX XXXX tradeline has been repeatedly reported inaccurately, despite my disputes and evidence of its invalidity. 
15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Equifax failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of the disputed information as required by law. Instead, Equifax has re-added the tradeline without providing a valid method of verification ( MOV ).

15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) : Equifax failed to promptly delete or modify inaccurate or unverifiable information after a dispute. Despite removing the tradeline temporarily, it was reinstated without cause or evidence.

15 U.S.C. 1681n : Equifax is liable for willful noncompliance with FCRA requirements, entitling me to statutory damages of {$1000.00} per violation, punitive damages, and attorneys fees.

15 U.S.C. 1681o : Equifaxs negligent noncompliance has caused me actual harm, including financial losses and credit score damage. 
2. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) Violations 15 U.S.C. 1692e : Equifaxs reporting of the XXXX XXXX tradeline constitutes false, deceptive, and misleading representations. 
15 U.S.C. 1692f : Equifax has engaged in unfair and unconscionable practices by mishandling disputes and failing to verify or remove inaccurate information.

3. Federal Trade Commission Act ( FTC Act ) Section 5 ( a ), 15 U.S.C. 45 : Equifaxs actions amount to unfair and deceptive practices in commerce, as it has failed to provide transparency and accuracy in handling consumer disputes, thereby violating consumer protection standards established by the FTC.

4. False Claims Act Violations Equifax has knowingly and willfully provided false certifications of accuracy to third parties, including creditors and potential lenders, in violation of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729-3733. Reporting unverified information as accurate constitutes a fraudulent claim that undermines the integrity of the consumer credit system.

Specific Harms and Damages Unauthorized Disputes : Equifax has repeatedly initiated disputes on my credit file without my consent, misrepresenting the dispute process and causing unnecessary harm.

Score Loss and Misrepresentation : Over the past two years, I have experienced 15+ incidents of credit score fluctuations due to Equifaxs unauthorized disputes and misrepresentations, resulting in score losses ranging from 37 to 67 points.

Emotional and Financial Harm : The ongoing mishandling of my credit file has caused emotional distress, reputational damage, and financial harm, including lost opportunities for credit and higher interest rates.

Complaints to Regulatory Bodies : Over the past four months, I have submitted over 100 complaints and over 1,000 individual reports and claims to the CFPB, FTC, and BBB. These reports document Equifaxs willful noncompliance, sham investigations, and negligence in enforcing fair credit reporting practices. My complaints specifically address Equifaxs mishandling of disputes, failure to stop abusive and false reporting practices, and refusal to comply with long-standing laws. Despite this extensive documentation, Equifax has failed to take corrective action.

Demands To resolve this matter without litigation, I require the following : 1. Removal or Verification of the XXXX XXXX Tradeline Provide immediate removal of the tradeline unless Equifax can present valid MOV, including signed contracts and supporting documentation from XXXX XXXX. 
2. Detailed Investigation Records Submit all records of past and current investigations related to this tradeline, including correspondence with XXXX XXXX and Equifaxs internal documentation.

3. Proof of Compliance with Statutes Provide evidence of compliance with FCRA, FDCPA, and FTC requirements for all actions taken on my credit file, including the unauthorized disputes and reinvestigations. 
4. Compensation for Damages {$1000.00} per violation of FCRA provisions.

{$10000.00} for willful noncompliance with FCRA requirements.

{$5000.00} for negligent noncompliance with FCRA provisions.

{$6000.00} for harm caused by the 15+ incidents of credit score loss and unauthorized disputes.

Additional compensation for the time, resources, and emotional distress caused by Equifaxs actions, including : {$10000.00} for failure to resolve the 100+ complaints and 1,000+ reports filed with the CFPB, FTC, and BBB.

Total compensation : {$61000.00} to account for the aforementioned violations, damages, and statutory penalties.

Notice of Intent Failure to comply with these demands within 15 days of receipt of this letter will result in my initiation of legal proceedings to pursue full damages, injunctive relief, and any other remedies available under the law. Equifaxs deliberate and systemic misconduct, as demonstrated in this case and others, will not be tolerated. 

Sincerely, [ XXXX XXXX XXXX ] [ XXXX ]

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation