Consumer complaint received 2024-04-04 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
Under the guidelines of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, it is stipulated in 15 USC 1681 section 602 ( a ) that consumer reporting agencies must carry out their duties with fairness, impartiality, and respect for consumer privacy. Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX are recognized as consumer reporting agencies, and I, as the consumer, have the fundamental right to safeguard my private information, as reinforced by 15 USC 6801, which mandates financial institutions to uphold customer privacy and safeguard their nonpublic personal information. XXXX XXXX, being a financial institution, falls under this mandate. As per 15 USC 1681 section 604 ( a ) ( 2 ), consumer reporting agencies can only furnish a consumer report with explicit written instructions from the consumer concerned. Neither XXXX XXXX nor the consumer reporting agencies ( Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX ) have my consent or written authorization to share this information. Any prior consent, whether verbal, non-verbal, written, or implied, is hereby revoked. Additionally, 15 USC 6802 ( b ) ( c ) requires financial institutions to inform consumers of their right to opt out of information disclosures to third parties. XXXX XXXX failed to inform me of this right, violating the law. Moreover, 15 USC 1681C ( a ) ( 5 ) prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including certain adverse information in consumer reports without proper authorization, which they have done without my permission. Furthermore, according to 15 U.S. Code 1681s2 ( A ) ( 1 ) and 15 U.S. Code 1681e, it is unlawful to furnish inaccurate information to consumer reporting agencies, and these agencies must maintain reasonable procedures to avoid violations. Lastly, as per 12 CFR 1016.7, consumers have the right to opt out of reporting services at any time, and I am choosing to exercise that right and opt out of the reporting services provided by these agencies. 

Futhermore, 15 U.S. Code 1681e - Compliance procedures, section ( a ), states 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. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section 1681b of this title. 15 U.S. Code 1681e - Compliance procedures, section ( b ), states that Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. XXXX XXXXXXXX by violating section 1681b for permissable purpose and 1861c for informatino contained on my consumer report, violates compliance procedures under this title.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief