Consumer complaint received 2025-11-13 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:
On XX/XX/year>, Equifax correctly deleted unauthorized accounts ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX ; XXXX XXXX XXXX, Account Number : XXXX ; XXXX XXXX, Account Number : XXXX ) from my credit file after I disputed them and provided a Police Report ( Case No. XXXX ) proving they were fraudulent. I received written confirmation that the accounts had been removed, and my credit score improved as a result. 

I thought this matter was finally resolved. I started rebuilding my credit and moving forward with my financial goals. 

Then, on a later date, I checked my credit report and discovered the same accounts had been put back on my file with no warning, no explanation, and no notification from the bureau. 

When I contacted Equifax, I was told the accounts were verified before reinsertion. But heres the problem : the Fair Credit Reporting Act doesnt require verification for reinsertion it requires certification, which is a completely different legal standard. 

Heres what Equifax was legally required to do before reinserting these accounts : Under FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ), they needed : Written certification from the data furnisher proving the information is complete and accurate Written notice to me within 5 business days of the reinsertion Actual documentary evidence supporting the accounts validity They did none of these things.

I never received written certification from the furnishers. I never received notice within 5 days I only found out because I happened to check my report myself. Theres no documentary evidence proving these accounts are valid because theyre not mine. 

This isnt just a procedural mistake. Section 611 ( d ) of the FCRA makes it crystal clear : when deleted information is reinserted, the bureau must notify the consumer in writing within 5 business days. That notification never came. By not notifying me, Equifax violated federal law and stripped me of my right to immediately challenge an improper reinsertion.

The impact has been devastating : After the original deletion, my credit score improved and I was finally able to move forward. I qualified for better rates and had opportunities opening up.

Then these accounts came back, and everything reversed : I was denied a credit card I applied for My auto insurance premium increased at renewal because they pulled my credit again A lender I was working with suddenly changed my loan terms to much higher interest rates Im back to being treated like a credit risk for accounts that arent even mine Beyond the financial damage, this has caused serious emotional stress. When the accounts were deleted the first time, I felt relief. I thought it was over. Seeing them reappear felt like all that work and stress was for nothing.

Ive lost faith in Equifaxs dispute process. They did the right thing by deleting these accounts originally, but then they put them back without following any of the legal safeguards Congress created to protect consumers.

This is a clear violation of FCRA Sections 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) and 611 ( d ), and its causing me ongoing harm every day these accounts remain on my report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation