Consumer complaint received 2025-03-12 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: NC

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Formal Complaint Against TransUnion for Multiple FCRA and FDCPA Violations I am writing to formally file a complaint against the three major credit reporting agenciesTransUnion, Equifax, and Experiandue to their repeated violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Despite my ongoing efforts to dispute inaccuracies on my credit report, these agencies have failed to conduct proper investigations, provide supporting documentation, or ensure the fair and accurate reporting of my credit information. 
Complaint Background I have disputed multiple accounts with TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, requesting validation and verification of their accuracy. However, instead of conducting a thorough reinvestigation, these agencies have responded with generic possible AI responses claiming that they have already investigated the accounts and are not required to investigate further. Additionally, they have referenced public records in their responses, which I find deeply concerning, as these records do not provide concrete validation of the alleged debts. 
Furthermore, I am highly concerned about their ability to protect consumer information, given the massive data breaches that have occurred in recent years, exposing sensitive consumer data. The risks of inaccurate reporting increase significantly when consumer information has been compromised. Notable breaches include : Equifax Data Breach ( XXXX ) : Compromised personal information of over XXXX XXXX consumers. 
Experian Data Breach ( XXXX ) : Affected millions of customers due to a third-party compromise. 
TransUnion Data Breach ( XXXX ) : Leaked sensitive consumer data, putting consumers at heightened risk for fraud and identity theft. 
Given these security failures, it is unacceptable that these bureaus refuse to reinvestigate disputed accounts thoroughly, especially when my personal information may have been exposed. 

FCRA and FDCPA Violations Committed by TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian The following FCRA and FDCPA provisions have been violated : 1. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Reinvestigation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) Despite my formal disputes, these bureaus have failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of the disputed accounts. Instead, they rely solely on responses from creditors without providing me with any substantiating evidence or documentation. 
2. Failure to Provide Documentation of the Verification Process ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) - ( 7 ) ) Under the FCRA, credit bureaus must provide a description of the verification process and documentation used. Instead, they have offered vague explanations, referring me to the creditors without providing clear evidence.

3. Failure to Delete Unverified or Inaccurate Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ) If the credit bureaus can not verify disputed information with proper documentation, they are required to delete or correct the information. Their continued reporting of unverifiable information violates this obligation.

4. Lack of Reasonable Procedures to Ensure Accuracy ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) Instead of following strict procedures to ensure accuracy, the credit bureaus continue to report erroneous information. Simply relying on the creditors word without reviewing verifiable documentation is insufficient under the FCRA.

5. Improper Deferral of Responsibility to the Creditor ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 2 ) ) The FCRA mandates that the responsibility for verifying credit information lies with the credit bureaus, not just the creditors. Their practice of deferring the dispute back to the creditor without ensuring independent verification violates their legal obligations.

6. Denial of Access to My File ( 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( a ) ( 1 ) ) I have requested access to the documentation used to verify the disputed accounts. However, the credit bureaus have refused to provide me with these records, restricting my ability to confirm the accuracy of the reported information. 
7. Public Records and Reporting Accuracy ( 15 U.S.C. 1681k ( a ) ) The credit bureaus claim to rely on public records for verification. However, public records alone are not a sufficient basis for confirming a consumers debt obligations. The bureaus have failed to ensure that the public records they reference are accurate and up-to-date.

8. Unfair Treatment of Consumers Due to Paid Contracts with Creditors ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ) ) Credit bureaus profit from agreements with creditors and furnishers, yet they fail to conduct fair reinvestigations. Their refusal to fairly investigate my disputes indicates a conflict of interest that prioritizes their financial relationships over consumer rights.

9. Failure to Investigate Following a Data Breach ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) Given the major security breaches exposing consumer data, the credit bureaus should take extra precautions to ensure that fraudulent accounts are not reported inaccurately. Their failure to address these concerns violates their duty under the FCRA. 
10. Failure of Creditors to Provide Signed Contracts Proving Debt Ownership ( Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) ) Under the FDCPA, when a consumer disputes a debt, the collection agency is required to provide validation, including proof that they have the legal right to collect. Many creditors fail to produce a signed contract or legally binding agreement demonstrating they have ownership of the debt. Instead, the credit bureaus continue reporting unverified debts, violating both the FDCPA and the FCRA.

Action Requested I am requesting that the CFPB take the following actions : 1. Conduct a full investigation into the failure of TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian to conduct proper reinvestigations of disputed credit accounts.

2. Require the credit bureaus to provide documentation proving that my disputed accounts were legitimately verified.

3. Mandate the removal of all unverifiable accounts from my credit report, as required under the FCRA.

4. Impose fines and penalties on TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian for their repeated FCRA violations and failure to protect consumer data.

5. Hold the credit bureaus accountable for their reliance on public records as a means of verifying debt, ensuring that consumers receive proper documentation from the original creditors. 
Disputed Accounts to 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

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief