Consumer complaint received 2025-03-13 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Texas XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Ohio XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Subject : Formal Dispute of Fraudulent Debt and Violation of FCRA To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute the fraudulent collection account that XXXX has placed on my credit report. This account is completely erroneous and does not belong to me. Furthermore, I demand its immediate removal in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and all applicable consumer protection laws. 

Fraudulent Debt & Unauthorized Address Use I have never had any association with XXXX XXXX XXXX and have never lived at XXXX XXXX XXXX. The fact that this account has been linked to me based on an address I have never resided at is a clear indicator of fraudulent activity. More importantly, it is unacceptable and highly questionable that XXXX, after initially associating this debt with an incorrect address, proceeded to send debt validation letters to my current and correct address, despite the fact that this debt never belonged to me. 

This raises serious concerns about how TekCollect obtained my updated address and whether such actions violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and XXXX XXXX consumer protection laws. The improper use of my personal information, including my new address, to pursue an illegitimate debt is highly suspicious and legally problematic. Under the FCRA, a debt collector must ensure that all information it reports is 100 % accurate and verifiable. Since this debt is demonstrably false, XXXX has no legal basis to report it on my credit file or contact me regarding it. 

Victim of Identity Theft I am a documented victim of identity theft and have been working diligently to reverse its effects since 2022. This fraudulent debt is yet another instance of unauthorized activity that has caused unnecessary hardship. The placement of an illegitimate collection account on my credit report has harmed my creditworthiness and caused undue stress. 

Demands for Immediate Resolution Pursuant to my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ), I demand the following : 1. Immediate removal of this fraudulent collection account from my credit report with all three major credit bureaus ( Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX ). 
2. A written confirmation that this account has been permanently deleted and will not be sold, transferred, or re-reported.

3. A thorough investigation into how XXXX obtained my updated address and used it to pursue a fraudulent debt. 
4. A complete breakdown of all records, documentation, and communication logs related to this account and my personal information.

Legal Violations & Monetary Relief Your actions constitute a clear violation of the FCRA, and I am well within my rights to seek legal remedies, including monetary relief for damages caused by this violation. If this matter is not resolved within 30 days of receipt of this letter, I will have no choice but to escalate the issue by filing formal complaints with : The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) The Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) The Texas Attorney Generals Office The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Additionally, I reserve the right to take legal action to recover damages caused by this fraudulent reporting.

This is my formal written dispute under the FCRA. Please be advised that failure to respond adequately will result in further action. I expect an immediate resolution and a formal written response confirming the permanent deletion of this fraudulent debt from my credit report. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation