Consumer complaint received 2025-08-12 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: SC

Complaint narrative:
Formal Rebuttal Identity Theft and Improper Account Attribution XX/XX/year> XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX To : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXXXXXX CC : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX. XXXX XXXX Washington XXXX DC XXXX Re : Formal Rebuttal Identity Theft, Proof of XXXX, and Improper Account Attribution Account Ending : XXXX Dispute Reference Number : XXXX To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this formal rebuttal regarding your XX/XX/year> letter in which you declined to remove the above-referenced account from my credit profile, despite my having provided both proof of XXXX  during the account opening and payment periods and a valid FTC Identity Theft Report. 

Your letter states that because payments were made on the account from a XXXX XXXX Bank account, I have " accepted liability. '' This conclusion is legally and factually flawed for the following reasons : XXXX. Proof of XXXX  Invalidates Any Claimed Authorization I have supplied official XXXX XXXX XXXX documentation confirming that I was incarcerated during the period in which this account was opened and used. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 605B and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 805 ( b ), a consumer who provides an identity theft report is entitled to have fraudulent information blocked from their credit file. My inability to physically open or manage accounts during my XXXX  means I could not have authorized this account or any payments associated with it. 
XXXX. Payments from an Unrelated Bank Account Do Not Establish Liability Your assertion that payments made from a XXXX XXXX Bank account prove acceptance of liability is not supported by law. Identity thieves often make payments on fraudulent accounts to avoid detection or extend credit usagethis is a documented and common tactic recognized by the FTC and CFPB. I have not held or had access to any XXXX XXXX account during the disputed period. If you believe otherwise, provide documentation with full account holder name, address, and account-opening details to prove any connection. Under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ), you are required to provide a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy of disputed information.

3. Violation of FCRA 605B Failure to Block Fraudulent Information The law requires you to block reporting of information alleged to be the result of identity theft within 4 business days after receiving : ( 1 ) proof of identity ; ( 2 ) a copy of an identity theft report ; ( 3 ) identification of the disputed information ; and ( 4 ) a statement that the information is not related to any transaction made by me. I have provided all four elements. Your continued reporting of this account violates federal law and exposes you to civil liability under FCRA 616 and 617.

4. Ongoing Harm and Housing Impact Your refusal to remove this fraudulent account is preventing me from obtaining a mortgage to purchase a permanent home. I am currently living in temporary arrangements, which is causing significant personal and financial hardship. Continued reporting of this false debt is not only unlawful but directly interfering with my ability to secure stable housing. 
Demand for Resolution : 1. Immediate removal of the account ending in XXXX from all credit reporting agencies. 
XXXX. Written confirmation from XXXX XXXX that the account has been permanently deleted from my credit profile. 
XXXX. Full procedural documentation of your investigation, as required by FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ). 

If this matter is not resolved by XX/XX/year>, I will pursue all available remedies including filing formal complaints with the CFPB, the FTC, and my state attorney general, as well as initiating legal action for damages under the FCRA. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation