Consumer complaint received 2025-09-04 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB Officer, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding inaccurate, misleading, and harmful reporting practices on my credit file that are violating my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq. ). These false and unverifiable entries are causing me severe financial and emotional harm.

Disputed Accounts with Detailed Story : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment This account has been incorrectly reported as having late payments. I have consistently made all payments on time, with confirmations in my personal records. These erroneous late payment entries have caused my credit score to drop, resulting in higher interest rates on loans and difficulty securing new lines of credit. This constitutes a violation of FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) and represents negligent reporting that has caused direct financial harm. I demand immediate correction and removal of these false late payments. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$69.00} Charge Off This XXXX  account has been inaccurately reported as a charge-off. I had disputed this debt and have records demonstrating my attempt to resolve any discrepancies. Reporting this account as a charge-off has led to repeated denials for personal and business credit and caused undue stress and XXXX. Such conduct violates FDCPA Sections 807 and 809, which prohibit unfair, deceptive, or misleading reporting. Immediate removal of this incorrect charge-off is requested. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$3500.00} Charge Off XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$5200.00} Charge Off These XXXX XXXX  and XXXX XXXX accounts are reported as charge-offs without proper verification or validation. I have payment history and correspondence that prove partial payments and account disputes were ongoing. These inaccurate charge-offs have prevented me from qualifying for mortgages, auto loans, and other essential credit products. This conduct is misleading, deceptive, and violates FCRA Section 623 ( b ) and FDCPA Section 809. I request full deletion of these items and written confirmation of the action taken. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$880.00} Charge Off Despite making all required payments, this account is reported as a charge-off. This erroneous reporting has harmed my credit score and led to financial stress. Such misreporting violates FCRA Sections 607 ( b ) and 623 and must be immediately corrected. I request written verification of the investigation results. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment This account incorrectly reports a late payment. I have consistently made timely payments, and this error has resulted in financial harm, including higher interest rates and denial of credit opportunities. FCRA Section 611 ( a ) requires accurate reporting, which has been violated in this case. Immediate correction and verification are demanded. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$1300.00} Charge Off This account was reported as a charge-off without proper debt validation. I have records and statements showing my dispute and payment history. The false reporting has negatively impacted my ability to secure loans, affected my credit score, and caused significant emotional distress. Reporting without verification violates FDCPA Sections 807 and 809. Immediate removal and written confirmation are requested. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$3600.00} Late Payment This account falsely reports late payments. All payments were made timely, with confirmations in my personal banking records. The inaccurate reporting has caused repeated denials of credit applications, forced me to pay higher interest rates, and created substantial stress. I demand immediate correction and investigation in accordance with FCRA Section 611 ( a ). 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$350.00} Late Payment XXXX XXXX inaccurately reports late payments. All my payments were made timely, with confirmations via statements and automated payment records. The erroneous reporting caused a drop in my credit score by XXXX points, resulting in a denial of a personal loan and increased insurance premiums. Such reporting constitutes a violation of FCRA Section 611 ( a ), which mandates accuracy in credit reporting. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$5500.00} Charge Off This is a duplicate reporting of the above account as a charge-off. This misrepresentation caused confusion among lenders, led to repeated credit denials, and demonstrates negligence in reporting. The duplicate entry violates FCRA Sections 607 ( b ) and 623 ( b ). I request immediate deletion and written confirmation of action taken. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$280.00} Charge Off XXXX  XXXX incorrectly reported this account as a charge-off. I had communicated with them regarding a dispute on the balance, and no proper validation was ever conducted. This inaccurate reporting prevented me from qualifying for multiple credit cards in XXXX and caused undue stress. Reporting unverified debts violates FDCPA Sections 807 & 809. I demand immediate removal and verification. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment This account falsely reports a late payment. I have documentation showing on-time payments, including bank statements and email confirmations. The false late payment has negatively affected my creditworthiness, causing higher interest rates on loans and repeated denials. FCRA Section 611 ( a ) requires accurate reporting. Immediate correction is requested. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$750.00} Late Payment This account reports late payments inaccurately. I had made all payments on time and even contacted customer service to ensure accuracy. Despite my efforts, the negative reporting persists, causing financial harm and stress. I demand immediate correction and verification per FCRA guidelines. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment This account incorrectly lists late payments. I have records proving all payments were timely. The false reporting has impacted my ability to qualify for small business loans and increased the cost of credit. Immediate correction is required. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment Despite timely payments, this account is reported as late. The repeated negative entries have caused stress and financial inconvenience, demonstrating negligence by the creditor. Immediate investigation and correction are demanded. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$4900.00} Charge Off This account was reported as a charge-off without proper validation. I have email correspondence and statements proving partial payments. The false charge-off led to denial of an auto loan in XXXX and caused undue stress and reputational harm. Reporting unverified debts violates FDCPA Sections 807 & 809. Immediate removal is demanded. 
XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment This account falsely reports late payments despite timely payment history. The incorrect reporting has caused repeated denials of credit and financial hardship. FCRA Section 611 ( a ) mandates accuracy ; immediate correction is demanded. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$1100.00} Collection This account is reported as a collection without proper validation. I dispute its accuracy and request immediate investigation. Misreporting collections violates FDCPA Sections 807 & 809 and FCRA Sections 607 ( b ) and 611 ( a ). 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Charge Off This account is inaccurately reported as a charge-off. I have always maintained payments according to my account agreement. Despite this, XXXX reported a charge-off without proper validation. This false reporting has negatively impacted my credit score, resulting in denial of personal loans and increased interest rates on existing credit. Reporting unverified charge-offs violates FCRA Section 623 ( b ) and FDCPA Sections 807 & 809. Immediate removal is demanded. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$500.00} Collection XXXX XXXX  has reported this debt as a collection without providing proper validation. I dispute the accuracy of this account and have documentation showing partial payment arrangements and communications. The collection reporting has prevented me from qualifying for essential loans and caused undue stress and reputational harm. Reporting unverified collections violates FCRA Sections 607 ( b ), 611 ( a ), and FDCPA Sections 807 & 809. Immediate removal is requested. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$1300.00} Collection XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$810.00} Collection XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$1200.00} Collection * * These XXXX  accounts are inaccurately reported as collections. I have documentation showing that I disputed the debts and had attempted to arrange payment plans or had already settled portions of the balances. The erroneous reporting has directly affected my creditworthiness, leading to higher interest rates and repeated credit application denials. Such reporting violates FCRA Section 611 ( a ) and FDCPA Sections 807 & 809. I demand immediate investigation and deletion of these accounts. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$2800.00} Collection * * This account is reported as a collection despite ongoing dispute and partial payment attempts. The inaccurate reporting has caused financial harm, including loan denials and emotional distress. Immediate correction is requested under FCRA and FDCPA provisions. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Collection This account is reported as a collection despite a XXXX balance and ongoing dispute. The inaccurate reporting has harmed my credit score, caused loan denials, and created unnecessary financial stress. Immediate investigation and correction are demanded.

Hard Inquiries Unauthorized or Incorrect XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX These hard inquiries appear on my credit report without proper authorization or justification. Unauthorized inquiries can lower credit scores and negatively impact my ability to obtain credit. Under FCRA Section 604 ( a ), each hard inquiry must be authorized by the consumer. I demand immediate removal of all unauthorized or inaccurate inquiries.

Personal Impact and Harm Because of these inaccurate and misleading accounts : I have been denied credit and housing opportunities, even when I otherwise qualified. 
I am forced to pay higher interest rates due to artificially deflated credit scores.

My family has experienced emotional distress because I am unable to secure stable financing for essential needs like a home and vehicle.

I have wasted significant time and resources repeatedly disputing the same unverifiable accounts.

The repeated reporting of false and unverifiable information is not only negligent but also willful
noncompliance with federal law. Credit bureaus and furnishers can not continue to damage consumers without accountability.

Requested Resolution I respectfully request the CFPB to : 1. Investigate these creditors and debt collectors for violations of the FCRA and FDCPA.

2. Compel the deletion of all inaccurate, unverifiable, or misleading accounts from my credit reports.

3. Ensure that furnishers provide documented proof of all debts before reporting them to credit bureaus.

4. Hold the responsible furnishers and collectors accountable for their unlawful practices.

Conclusion I am exercising my rights under federal law to demand accuracy, fairness, and accountability in credit reporting. The continued presence of these inaccurate accounts is unjust, harmful, and unlawful. I request immediate action by the CFPB to correct these issues.

Thank you for your time and assistance in protecting consumers like myself.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief