Consumer complaint received 2025-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Problem with personal statement of dispute
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, GA XXXX TransUnion LLC, XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX, PA XXXX To Whom It May Concern, I am formally disputing the bankruptcy entry being reported on my consumer credit file. After reviewing my credit report, I found a bankruptcy that is inaccurate, unverifiable, and being reported in violation of federal law. 

1. Failure to Maintain Accuracy and Maximum Possible Accuracy ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) requires that credit reporting agencies follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. The bankruptcy listed on my credit report does not meet this standard because : Bankruptcy courts do not report bankruptcies to the credit bureaus. Instead, third-party data aggregators such as XXXX and XXXX provide unverified information. 

There is no original creditor or trustee verifying the accuracy of the reported bankruptcy under 1681i ( a ).

The information can not be considered complete or accurate if it is derived from unverifiable secondary sources. 


2. Non-Permissible Purpose ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) If a credit bureau is reporting this alleged bankruptcy without direct verification from the furnisher ( i.e., the actual bankruptcy court ), then it is reporting information without a permissible purpose.

3. Metro 2 Compliance Violations The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) requires that all data furnished comply with Metro 2 reporting standards. According to Metro 2 : Bankruptcies must be reported with accurate and complete information including discharge status, dates, and associated account details. 

Reporting partial, unverified, or inconsistent data is a compliance violation. 

Since bankruptcy courts do not furnish directly to CRAs, the accuracy of this entry is questionable and fails Metro 2 standards.

4. CFPB & Case Law Protections The CFPB requires CRAs to conduct reasonable investigations when a consumer disputes information ( 12 CFR Part 1022 ). Simply parroting information from a third party without independent verification violates both the FCRA and established case law, including : Cushman v. Trans Union Corp., 115 F.3d 220 ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : CRAs can not rely solely on furnishers ; they must conduct an independent investigation. 

Richardson v. Equifax, 2004 WL 2139161 ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) : Reinsertion or continued reporting without proper verification violates the FCRA. 



-- - Demand for Action I demand the immediate deletion of the bankruptcy entry from my credit file unless you can provide : 1. The name and contact information of the furnisher who provided the bankruptcy information and not a third-party provider. 


XXXX. Proof that the furnisher has a permissible purpose under XXXX XXXX. XXXX. 


XXXX. Documentation showing that the bankruptcy was verified directly with the bankruptcy court ( not XXXX, XXXX, or any third-party vendor ). 



If you can not provide the above, you are required under XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( A ) to delete the disputed information from my credit report immediately. 

Failure to comply will result in formal complaints being filed with the CFPB, the FTC, and my states Attorney General. I will also pursue my private right of action under the FCRA and applicable consumer protection laws.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation