Consumer complaint received 2025-03-06 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: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this formal complaint against XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( XXXX ) and the Credit Reporting Agencies ( CRAs ) Experian, Equifax, and TransUnionfor unlawful debt collection practices, failure to properly validate and verify an alleged debt, illegal re-aging of the account, and improper, inaccurate, and unverifiable credit reporting. These actions have caused severe harm to my credit profile and my financial well-being as a mother and primary provider for my family of XXXX. 

Background & Timeline On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX first contacted me regarding an alleged debt they claimed to have purchased from XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I timely responded by sending XXXX a Debt Validation and Ownership Documentation Request ( attached ). In that request, I specifically asked for : Proof of ownership ( a valid Purchase Agreement showing the sale from XXXX XXXX to XXXX ) ; A full chain of title tracing all transfers of the debt ( including any sale to or from intermediaries like XXXX XXXX XXXX ). 

The original cardholder agreement governing the alleged account ; and Lawful documentation demonstrating XXXXs legal right to collect and report this debt. This is a MUST for Debt collectors in california, unlike original creditors. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX responded by providing a single monthly statement from XXXX XXXX and a letter stating that this was all XXXX XXXX had provided them. XXXX failed to provide : *A valid Purchase Agreement proving they lawfully purchased the debt with the terms of the rights to report to any third party. 
*A Bill of Sale tracing the complete chain of ownership, including any sale to XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX and any reacquisition by XXXX XXXXXXXX, if applicable. 
*The original Cardholder Agreement. 
*Documentation proving they are the lawful " creditor '' entitled to furnish or report this account. 

Despite XXXXs failure to validate ownership or legal standing, in XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX unlawfully reported this unverified and unvalidated account to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Additionally, they falsely re-aged the account, listing the " date opened '' as XX/XX/XXXX, even though the date of first delinquency ( DOFD ) was XX/XX/XXXX. This re-aging artificially extended the accounts reporting period in direct violation of the FCRA and established XXXX guidelines. 

Violations by XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX : 1. Failure to Validate Debt FDCPA Violation ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) ) XXXX failed to properly validate the debt, despite my timely request. Providing a mere billing statement does not satisfy legal requirements, particularly when full ownership and standing are questioned. Without a Purchase Agreement and chain of title, XXXX lacks standing to collect or report the debt at all. 

2. Inaccurate and Unlawful Credit Reporting FCRA Violations ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ) ) XXXX furnished this unvalidated account to the CRAs, even after a direct dispute. This violates their duty to conduct a thorough and reasonable investigation. Without proof of lawful ownership or standing, XXXX had no permissible basis to furnish this account. 

3. Illegal Re-Aging FCRA Violation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) XXXX unlawfully re-aged the account by falsely listing the Date Opened as XX/XX/XXXX instead of accurately reporting the true Date of First Delinquency ( DOFD ) as XX/XX/XXXX. This action artificially extends the time the debt can appear on my credit report and is a clear violation of the FCRA and CDIA standards. 

Violations by Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion ( CRAs ) : 1. Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy FCRA Violation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) The CRAs reported this account without independently verifying whether XXXX had documented legal ownership or the right to furnish the account. Once a consumer disputes the accuracy of a furnished account, especially when ownership and transfer rights are directly challenged, the CRAs have a statutory obligation to ensure the information is independently verified and accurate. Merely relying on the word of the furnisherespecially a known debt buyerdoes not satisfy this requirement when fundamental proof of ownership is absent. 

2. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Investigation After Direct Dispute FCRA Violation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) I filed formal disputes with each CRA, notifying them that XXXX had failed to validate the debt and that no Purchase Agreement or chain of title proving XXXX lawful right to furnish existed. The CRAs failed to conduct a thorough and reasonable investigation, rubber-stamping XXXXs unverified claims without demanding actual proof. This failure renders the reporting both inaccurate and unlawful. 

3. Illegal Re-Aging FCRA Violation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) ) The CRAs accepted and published the fraudulent " Date Opened '' reported by XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ), despite the correct DOFD being XX/XX/XXXX. The FCRA strictly limits the reporting period to 7 years from the DOFDnot from the date a debt buyer chooses to report it. By publishing this false date without verification, the CRAs actively participated in unlawful re-aging.

4. Reporting Without Permissible Purpose FCRA Violation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) Because XXXX failed to prove ownership and standing, they had no permissible purpose to report this account. By accepting and publishing the data without ensuring XXXX had lawful standing, the CRAs themselves violated the FCRA by publishing information they had no legal basis to report. 

Identity Theft and Unauthorized Reporting ( 18 U.S.C. 1028 ) By publishing an account tied to my identity without any verified proof that XXXX has lawful ownership, the CRAs and XXXX have effectively committed identity theft. They used my name, Social Security number, and credit file to create and publish an unverified account without my lawful consent or proof of a valid contractual obligation. This amounts to unauthorized use of my identity under federal law. 

California State Law Violations ( California Civil Code 1788.52 ) Under California law, debt buyers are required to possess and provide complete documentation proving ownership and right to collect before furnishing any data. XXXX has failed to provide this, rendering both their collection and reporting unlawful under state law.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief