Consumer complaint received 2025-01-23 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: NM

Complaint narrative:
I am filing a formal complaint against the major credit reporting agencies ( " the Bureaus '' ) for the inaccurate and fraudulent information currently reported on my credit file. These accounts were opened without my knowledge or consent while I was outside the country, and the reporting creditors and Bureaus have failed to comply with their legal obligations under federal law.

Background Several fraudulent accounts and inquiries have been reported under my name and Social Security number. These accounts were opened without my authorization, and no documents or notifications were ever provided to me regarding these accounts or their reporting. This is a direct violation of federal consumer protection laws, including but not limited to : Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692g : Creditors are required to notify consumers in writing of the debt within five days of reporting the account. This obligation was ignored.

Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. : Credit bureaus must ensure maximum possible accuracy of reported information and investigate disputes within the required timeframes. 

XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), 15 U.S.C. 6801-6809 : Financial institutions and credit bureaus are required to safeguard consumer information, which was evidently not done.

Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, 18 U.S.C. 1028 : Protections against identity theft were disregarded.

FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( e ) : Credit bureaus must provide victims of identity theft with adequate resources and fraud alerts, which were not implemented.

Violations Cited 1. Failure to NotifyUnder 15 U.S.C. 1692g, creditors must provide written notification of the debt within five days of reporting it to the credit bureaus. This notification was not provided for any of the fraudulent accounts.

2. Failure to Ensure AccuracyUnder FCRA 607 ( b ), credit bureaus are mandated to ensure maximum possible accuracy in their reporting. Discrepancies in payment histories, open dates, and account statuses indicate a failure to comply with this requirement. 

3. Failure to InvestigateUnder FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), credit bureaus are required to investigate disputes within 30 days. My disputes remain unresolved despite exceeding this statutory timeline.

4. Failure to ReinvestigateUnder FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ), credit bureaus must reinvestigate if the resolution of a dispute is contested. My disputes have not been adequately addressed.

5. Failure to Protect Personal InformationUnder 15 U.S.C. 6801-6809, credit bureaus and financial institutions are obligated to safeguard my personal data. This obligation was breached, allowing fraudulent accounts to be created. 6. Identity Theft Protections Igno
redUnder 18 U.S.C. 1028, identity theft is a federal crime. The fraudulent accounts violate protections afforded by this law.

7. Failure to Provide Resources for Identity Theft VictimsUnder FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( e ), credit bureaus must provide victims of identity theft with resources, including fraud alerts. These steps were not taken in my case. 

Fraudulent Accounts and Inquiries Fraudulent Account : XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Issue : Charged-off account with discrepancies in payment status, open dates, and no proper notification provided. 

Laws Violated : 15 U.S.C. 1692g, 1681, FCRA 607 ( b ), 611 ( a ). 

Unauthorized Inquiries : The following hard inquiries were made without my knowledge or consent and must be removed : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Demands Immediate Removal and Blockage : Remove and block all fraudulent accounts, inquiries, and incorrect personal information from my credit reports. 

Written Confirmation : Provide a written response confirming the removal of the fraudulent accounts and inquiries, along with an updated copy of my credit report. 

Compliance with Identity Theft Protections : Implement fraud alerts and provide me with resources to address the identity theft as required under federal and state laws. 

Thorough Investigation : Conduct a detailed investigation into how these accounts and inquiries were recorded without my consent and provide the findings in writing. 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I trust that the CFPB will enforce the applicable laws and regulations to ensure the Bureaus rectify these egregious violations promptly. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief