Consumer complaint received 2025-03-29 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
Pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act 15 USC 1681 section 602 ( a ), " There is a need to insure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumer 's right to privacy. '' As a Consumer, I have rights in relation to Equifax and Experian, which are consumer reporting agencies. My right to privacy protection is further reinforced by 15 USC 6801, which declares " It is the policy of the Congress that each financial institution has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality of those customers ' nonpublic personal information. '' The furnisher of information to credit agencies qualifies as a financial institution under this title.

Furthermore, 15 USC 1681 section 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) clearly states that " In general Subject to subsection ( c ), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other : in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. '' Neither the financial institution ( furnisher of information to credit agencies ) nor the consumer reporting agencies Equifax and Experian possess my consentwritten or otherwiseto furnish this information. I hereby revoke any and all forms of consent, whether verbal, non-verbal, written, implied, or otherwise, previously given to Equifax, Experian, and the furnisher of information to credit agencies.

15 USC 6802 ( b ) ( c ) mandates that " A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option. '' The furnisher of information to credit agencies failed to inform me of my right to exercise this nondisclosure option.

Additionally, 15 USC 1681C ( a ) ( 5 ) stipulates that " Except as authorized under subsection ( b ), no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information : Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the report by more than seven years. '' The account in question represents an adverse item they are reporting without my authorization, in violation of the law.

15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ( A ) ( 1 ) ( A ) states " A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate. '' Moreover, 15 U.S. Code 1681e requires that " Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 1681c of this title and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b of this title. '' Equifax and Experian have failed to maintain such reasonable procedures.

Finally, as per 12 CFR 1016.7, " A consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time. '' I hereby formally exercise my right to opt out of your reporting services.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation