Consumer complaint received 2025-04-30 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: PA

Complaint narrative:
Im filing this complaint against Equifax Information Services LLC for multiple willful violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Despite numerous attempts to resolve these issues, Equifax has failed to conduct a lawful investigation, mishandled my disputes, and actively obstructed my access to fair credit reporting. 

1. Investigation Marked Complete Then Misrepresented : Equifax marked my dispute as completed on XX/XX/XXXX, according to their own online portal. However, in response to my CFPB complaint, they falsely claimed on XX/XX/XXXX that they were still working on the dispute. This is a contradiction and a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ). If the investigation was truly complete on XX/XX/XXXX, then they had no right to delay further or mislead a federal agency. 

2. Inconsistent Handling of Documents / Discriminatory Processing : I submitted the same documents online and by certified mail, which were delivered on XX/XX/XXXX. Over the phone, Equifax accepted these documents to delete the inaccurate address but refused to use the exact same documents to remove the false name claiming I must mail them again. This inconsistent treatment of the same evidence is arbitrary and discriminatory, violating 1681i ( a ). 

3. Illegal Obstruction of Access to Dispute My File : After deleting the inaccurate address, Equifaxs system now says it can not verify me by phone, meaning I am locked out of submitting disputes through that channel. This violates 15 U.S.C. 1681g, which guarantees me access to my file, and 1681i, which gives me the right to dispute inaccuracies. 

4. Reporting Unverifiable and Unlawful Data : Equifax continues to report : Accounts tied to the deleted address A false name association, which is not and has never been my legal name Accounts from companies that do not operate in the state I reside in, such as XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX These accounts are unverifiable and must be deleted under 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ). 

5. False Legal Claims by Representatives : An Equifax representative falsely told me that the FCRA requires all documents to be submitted by mail and that submitting the same dispute again restarts the 30-day timeline. This is not true. The FCRA does not require mail-only disputes, and resubmitting the same documents does not restart the investigation clock. This misrepresentation caused additional delay and harm. 

My verified and legal address has been the same since XX/XX/XXXX, as shown on my Equifax report. I have not resided at any other address since that date and have never lived in another state during that time period. Therefore, it is impossible for me to have opened or maintained any accounts associated with addresses or furnishers outside Pennsylvania, such as those reported from XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXX. These accounts are clearly false or mixed-file entries and must be permanently deleted under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) and 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) due to their inaccuracy and unverifiability. 

Equifaxs own dispute response confirms they received and reviewed my documentation, including identification showing my correct legal name Despite this, they refused to correct the name on my file. Even after acknowledging my documents were on file, an Equifax representative still told me the inaccurate name could not be deleted unless I mailed the same documents again which I had already done. This is a willful violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ), which requires prompt correction or deletion of unverifiable or inaccurate information. Equifaxs refusal to act, despite admitting they had verified my identity and name, shows deliberate obstruction and bad faith handling of my dispute. 

Equifax also addressed a separate dispute letter to the inaccurate address, which further proves they have linked my verified credit file and identity to an address that is not mine. This was all pulled directly from their own system via dispute letters and results posted through myEquifax.com. Equifax is knowingly maintaining a mixed file by associating my name and current address with inaccurate addresses and accounts from another state. These errors are self-generated and self-confirmed by Equifaxs own correspondence. This is a direct and willful violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) and 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ), and must be corrected i

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief