Consumer complaint received 2025-04-24 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: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint regarding the mishandling of my identity theft dispute by Experian, in direct violation of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 

I am a victim of identity theft, and fraudulent accounts have been reported on my credit file. I have taken all steps required under federal law to dispute this inaccurate and harmful information. I send a dispute to Experian at the beginning of XX/XX/year> and received a email response from them on XX/XX/year>. Specifically, I submitted to Experian : A police report from the XXXX Police Department clearly identifying me as the victim of identity theft. 
An Identity Theft Report from the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), as defined under 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( q ) ( 4 ), which includes a report filed with a law enforcement agency.

Despite submitting the required documentation, Experian refused to block the fraudulent accounts on my credit report, which is a violation of my rights under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, which states : A consumer reporting agency shall block the reporting of any information in the file of a consumer that the consumer identifies as information that resulted from an alleged identity theft, not later than XXXX business days after the date of receipt of ( A ) appropriate proof of the identity of the consumer ; ( B ) a copy of an identity theft report ; ( C ) the identification of such information by the consumer ; and ( D ) a statement by the consumer that the information is not information relating to any transaction by the consumer. 

I fulfilled all of these statutory requirements. However, Experian sent me the following statement in an email response : Based on our review of your request and the information available to us, we have determined that either : your request to block was made in error, or, your request to block information was based on a material misrepresentation, or, you knowingly obtained or should have known that you obtained possession of goods, services, or moneys as a result of XXXX or more of the transactions that you are seeking to block. 

These accusations are completely false and unfounded. I reiterate that I have never had any accounts with the creditors in question. I have been fully XXXX and receiving XXXX care in a XXXX facility for the past XXXX ( XXXX ) years, making it impossible for me to have opened or utilized any of the accounts under dispute. 

Further, Experian stated : We were unable to block the requested items using the document ( XXXX ) you submitted because there is no evidence that this online-generated report was received by a law enforcement agency. 

And : To continue with your block request, we are asking you to provide a valid identity theft report, which is defined as an official report filed with an appropriate federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, including the Federal Trade Commission or the XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

Again, I did provide both a valid police report from the XXXX Police Department and an official FTC Identity Theft Report. These documents clearly meet the FCRAs definition of an identity theft report under 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( q ) ( 4 ).

Experians refusal to honor my block request and their mischaracterization of my documentation as insufficient constitutes a failure to comply with their statutory obligations under the FCRA. Additionally, their false implication that I may have committed fraud or misrepresentation is distressing and defamatory.

I am respectfully requesting that the CFPB : Investigate Experians failure to comply with the FCRA ; Require Experian to immediately block and remove all fraudulent accounts identified in my dispute, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ; Prevent Experian and the relevant furnishers from re-reporting the fraudulent information, in accordance with 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( d ), which prohibits re-reporting once a block has been placed ; Ensure my rights as an identity theft victim are fully honored, and that Experian is held accountable for noncompliance.

I have attached all supporting documents, including my police report, FTC Identity Theft Report, and copies of correspondence with Experian. I am submitting this complaint in good faith and with full transparency, and I ask the CFPB to take action on my behalf to protect my rights and ensure proper compliance by Experian.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation