Consumer complaint received 2025-11-07 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: IL

Complaint narrative:
This marks my fourth and final attempt to have the following items permanently removed from my credit file. It has been disheartening to see these same inaccurate and unverifiable accounts remain after multiple prior disputes, despite my continuous efforts to ensure that my credit history is accurate and lawfully maintained. I have submitted proper disputes and requested verification in good faith, yet no valid documentation or confirmation has ever been produced. As a result, I am now demanding permanent removal of these accounts under multiple provisions of federal law, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) .The first two items involve accounts from XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX identified as Account Numbers XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  both showing Balance Owed : {$0.00}. Despite being reported as charged-off, these accounts are inaccurately presented and lack any legitimate basis for continued inclusion in my file. Once a balance is reported as {$0.00}, it signifies that the debt has either been paid, settled, forgiven, or soldnone of which justify ongoing negative reporting. Under FCRA 611 ( a ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ], your bureau has a legal obligation to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when a consumer disputes any item on their report. The repeated recycling of unverifiable information shows that no such reasonable reinvestigation has occurred.

Additionally, FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ] requires furnishers of information to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data they report. When the data being furnished reflects a XXXX balance yet is still marked as a charge-off, that constitutes a direct violation of this provision. This is further supported by 15 U.S.C. 605B / 1681c-2, which provides consumers the right to block and remove any information that is the result of identity theft, error, or unverifiable data. These accounts, as currently listed, meet that standardthey are unverified, inaccurate, and damaging to my file despite showing no existing debt or collectible balance. 
The second item in dispute concerns a charged-off account reported by XXXX, account number XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX showing a Balance Owed : {$0.00}. It is entirely unreasonable and inaccurate to continue reporting this account as charged off when the balance has been recorded as XXXX. Under FCRA 611 ( a ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ], a consumer reporting agency must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation whenever a consumer disputes information. Continuing to report this account with an erroneous or contradictory status shows that your reinvestigation process has not been reasonable or compliant. Additionally, FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ] prohibits furnishers from reporting information knownor even suspectedto be inaccurate. Once a balance reaches XXXX, any negative charged-off notation becomes materially misleading and must be deleted. Further, 15 U.S.C. 605B / 1681c-2 grants me the right to block and remove any unverifiable or fraudulent information from my file ; this account now qualifies as such. 
Next is XXXX XXXX account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, showing a Balance Owed : {$2400.00} and reported as Charged Off. I have repeatedly requested proof of a Form 1099-C showing cancellation of this alleged debt, which is required by federal law for any discharged balance above {$600.00}. No such form has been provided. Reporting a charged-off debt without proof of a 1099-C is a violation of FCRA 607 ( b ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ], which requires that credit reporting agencies follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. Continuing to list this account without verification or lawful substantiation is not only inaccurate but misleading to future creditors and lenders. This account remains unverifiable, and therefore, under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ), it must be deleted immediately.

The next group of disputed items concerns collection accounts from XXXX XXXX, all of which remain unverified and appear to have been reported in violation of both the FDCPA and FCRA. The accounts are : XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Balance Owed : {$38.00} XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  Balance Owed : {$66.00} XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  Balance Owed : {$52.00} These accounts were allegedly placed in collections, yet I have never received any written notice of debt validation as required under FDCPA 809 [ 15 U.S.C. 1692g ]. The law clearly mandates that a collector must provide written notice of the debts amount, the name of the creditor, and verification upon request. I have not received any of these disclosures. Reporting such debts without validation directly violates FDCPA 807 [ 15 U.S.C. 1692e ], which prohibits any false, deceptive, or misleading representations in the collection of a debt.

Furthermore, under 15 U.S.C. 605B / 1681c-2, any unverifiable or inaccurate information must be blocked from reporting once disputed by the consumer. These collection accounts continue to damage my file despite having no lawful foundation, no validation, and no proof that I ever owed the alleged balances.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief