Consumer complaint received 2025-09-23 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: OH

Complaint narrative:
From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX : XXXX | Email : XXXX Date : XX/XX/year> Via Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested Re : Identity Theft Blocking & Deletion Demand under FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) FTC Report XXXX XXXX ; Immediate removal of fraudulent collection and inquiries within 4 days To the Compliance Department , I am a victim of identity theft. I have filed an FTC Identity Theft Report ( No. XXXX ) attesting under penalty of perjury to the facts of this crime. Pursuant to FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ), I demand that you block and delete the identity-theft-related items listed below within four ( 4 ) days of your receipt of this letter. See also FCRA 1681i, 1681e ( b ), 1681g, 1681c-1 and FACTA provisions governing reinvestigations, accuracy, disclosures, and fraud alerts. 

Fraudulent items to delete/block Collection account : XXXX XXXX XXXX reported balance {$650.00} ; identity-theft activity began XX/XX/year> and was discovered XX/XX/year>. 
Hard inquiries ( unauthorized ) : XXXX XXXX  ( and duplicate/variant entry XXXX XXXX  ), XXXX XXXX XXXX 

These entries resulted from identity theft connected to widely publicized data-security incidents affecting consumer information, including Equifax, TransUnion, Experian, XXXX, and XXXX. I never authorized the above account or inquiries. 

Your legal obligations and my demands Under FCRA 605B, upon receiving ( 1 ) my Identity Theft Report and ( 2 ) my identification, you must block reporting of information that resulted from identity theft no later than 4 business days after receiving my request. Under FCRA 1681i, you must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and delete information that can not be verified. Under FCRA 1681e ( b ), you must maintain maximum possible accuracy and cease reporting information you know or should know is inaccurate or the result of identity theft. Under FCRA 1681c-1, you must place an initial fraud alert if I request it. 

Accordingly, I demand the following within 4 days of receipt : 1. Deletion/Block of the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and the unauthorized inquiries ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX and any duplicates/variants ). 
XXXX. Written confirmation of each deletion/block and updated reports mailed to me. 
XXXX. The names/contact details of all furnishers you contacted and your reinvestigation results ( FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ). 
XXXX. Suppression of re-insertion unless all FCRA re-insertion requirements are met, including furnisher certification and written notice to me ( 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ). 

If these identity-theft items are not removed within the required timeframe, I will pursue all available remedies, including complaints to the CFPB, FTC, and Ohio Attorney General, and statutory damages, costs, and attorneys fees under the FCRA. This letter serves as formal notice ; continued reporting after notice of identity theft may constitute willful noncompliance. 

Enclosures ( copies ) FTC Identity Theft Report # XXXX and my signed statement Government ID and proof of address ( utility bill ) Highlighted copies of credit report pages showing the disputed items I expect written confirmation of deletion within 4 days. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX Without Prejudice, UCC 1-308 Furnisher dispute & cease-collection letters ( send to each company below ) Send a separate copy to each : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( XXXX  ), XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Mail certified. 

From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX : XXXX | Email : XXXX Date : XX/XX/year> Via Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested Re : Identity theft cease collection, delete tradeline/inquiry ; FCRA 623 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ), FDCPA 809 ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ) ( if applicable ) ; 4-day deletion demand To the Compliance Department , I am a victim of identity theft. Enclosed is my FTC Identity Theft Report # XXXX and identification. I did not open or authorize any account, transaction, or credit application with your organization that appears on my credit reports. 
If you are a collector ( e.g., XXXX XXXX XXXX ) : under FDCPA 809, cease collection until you provide full validation ; reporting a debt you know is the result of identity theft violates FCRA 623 and FDCPA. 
If you are a creditor/furnisher ( e.g., XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX  XXXX : under FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 6 ) and 623 ( b ) you must block, delete, and stop furnishing identity-theft-related information upon receipt of my Identity Theft Report and notification. 

Demands ( due within 4 days of receipt ) : 1. Delete any tradeline and withdraw any credit-pull/inquiry you placed that was not authorized.

2. Provide a written confirmation of deletion and a copy of any application/contract bearing my signature ( if you claim authorization ).

3. Cease collection and sale/transfer of any alleged debt ; do not contact me except by mail regarding this specific investigation.

Failure to comply will result in complaints to the CFPB, FTC, and the Ohio Attorney General, and I will seek statutory damages and fees under the FCRA and FDCPA. 

I would like to have this account removed immediately because it is a clear violation of the H.I.P.P.A. Law Sincerely, XXXX XXXX Without Prejudice, UCC 1-308 Enclosures : FTC Identity Theft Report # XXXX ; ID and proof of address.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation