Consumer complaint received 2025-02-04 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint against Equifax and Experian regarding the inaccurate and unlawful reporting of a collection account by XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have repeatedly disputed this account, yet both credit reporting agencies continue to verify the information without conducting a proper, unbiased investigation as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Furthermore, my credit reports with both agencies are outdated, hindering my ability to obtain credit. Due to the documented FCRA violations, CFPB lawsuits against these agencies, and the Equifax data breach impacting my information, I am requesting the complete removal of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account from my credit reports.

Specifically, I allege the following violations : Failure to Conduct Reasonable Investigations ( FCRA Section 611 ) : Equifax and Experian have failed to conduct reasonable reinvestigations of my disputes. Instead, they have summarily " verified '' the debt based solely on information provided by XXXX XXXX XXXX, without independently verifying the accuracy of that information. This violates my rights under FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), which requires a " reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate. '' The repeated verifications without proper investigation suggest a pattern and practice of disregarding consumer disputes, mirroring issues highlighted in CFPB lawsuits against both agencies.

Inaccurate Reporting and Data Furnishing ( FCRA Section 623 ) : I believe XXXX XXXX XXXX is furnishing inaccurate information, potentially including falsely reporting late payments and/or manipulating the date of last activity ( DOA ) to prolong the reporting period beyond the permissible seven-year timeframe under FCRA Section 605 ( a ) ( 4 ). Equifax and Experian 's reliance on this potentially inaccurate information further compounds the violation of my FCRA rights.

Failure to Maintain Reasonable Procedures ( FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ) : The repeated " verifications '' without proper investigation indicate a failure on the part of Equifax and Experian to maintain reasonable procedures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information they report, a direct contravention of FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 1 ).

Data Breach Implications : My information was compromised in the XXXX Equifax data breach. I received two separate settlements related to this breach, and the official Equifax data breach website still confirms my information was affected. While Equifax acknowledges this in their correspondence, they are simultaneously requiring me to verify my identity before investigating my dispute. This is contradictory and raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of their investigation process. How can Equifax claim to need identity verification due to a data breach while simultaneously claiming to have verified the account as accurate? This contradictory approach further underscores the lack of a good faith effort to comply with FCRA requirements. Experian also suffered a significant data breach in XXXX, which raises similar concerns about the security and accuracy of my personal information. 

Stale Credit Reports and Impact on Creditworthiness : My Experian credit report has not been updated since XX/XX/XXXX, and my Equifax report has not been updated since XX/XX/XXXX. This lack of updated information is severely impacting my ability to obtain credit. I am currently trying to purchase a vehicle, but lenders are unable to generate a credit score due to these stale reports. This directly hinders my ability to conduct normal financial activities and further demonstrates the negligence of these agencies.

CFPB Lawsuits : I am aware of the CFPB 's legal actions against Equifax and Experian for, among other things, failing to adequately investigate consumer disputes, failing to conduct investigations in a non-biased manner, and improperly reinvestigating accounts. My experience with these agencies directly reflects the issues raised in those lawsuits. I specifically reference the CFPBs allegations regarding improper reinvestigations and biased dispute processes as being directly applicable to my situation.

Suspected Illegal Kickbacks : Due to the persistent and egregious FCRA violations, coupled with the CFPB lawsuits and the Equifax data breach, I strongly suspect that Equifax and Experian are receiving illegal kickbacks or other incentives to allow XXXX XXXX XXXX to continue reporting this potentially inaccurate and illegally reported account. The continued reporting despite my documented disputes suggests a systemic problem and a potential disregard for legal compliance.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation