Consumer complaint received 2025-05-16 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Old information reappears or never goes away
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to dispute inaccurate and potentially damaging information that remains on my credit report concerning one or more closed accounts. These accounts have been closed but are still being reported in a manner that negatively affects my credit profile and does not reflect their current status. 

The accounts in question include ( but may not be limited to ) : Creditor Name : [ Insert Name ] XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Closed : [ Insert Date ] XX/XX/year> These accounts are either being inaccurately reported as open, delinquent, or have been closed for an extended period exceeding reporting limits. This is in violation of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681i, which gives consumers the right to dispute information that is inaccurate, outdated, or unverifiable.

Furthermore, under FCRA 1681c ( a ), the credit reporting agencies are prohibited from including outdated negative information in consumer reports. Specifically : Adverse information ( such as late payments or charge-offs ) must not be reported more than 7 years from the original date of delinquency. 

Paid or closed accounts that do not contain negative information should not be reported as delinquent or active. 

filing this formal dispute against XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding the continued and damaging reporting of a paid and closed installment account on my credit report. This account was opened in good faith through their widely advertised credit builder program, which claims to help customers build credit, not harm it. Contrary to these advertised promises, this account has damaged my credit profile rather than improved it. XXXX XXXX heavily markets their product as a credit-building tool, promising consumers that participation will help improve their credit scores. This constitutes deceptive advertising under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. The result of my participation was the exact opposite of what was advertised : despite completing all payments and successfully closing the account, my credit report reflects a derogatory mark and a score drop. This misrepresentation of product outcomes is deceptive, misleading, and predatory, particularly for consumers seeking to establish or rebuild their credit Inaccurate and Harmful Credit Reporting Violation of FCRA ( 15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ) XXXX  XXXX  continues to report this account with a negative impact even though : The account is paid in full and closed in good standing There are no missed payments, delinquencies, or defaults Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, furnishers of information to credit bureaus must report complete and accurate information and must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ). Their failure to properly reflect the nature of the account ( closed satisfactorily, paid as agreed ) while it continues to harm my score may also amount to willful noncompliance under 15 U.S.C. 1681n, entitling me to damages. Unfair Damage to Credit Profile Violation of FDCPA ( 15 U.S. Code 1692e ) Should XXXX  or any affiliated agency report this account in a manner that misrepresents its status or the consumers obligation, it would also violate 1692e of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which prohibits the use of false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of any debt. The consumer ( myself ) relied on good faith marketing that promised score improvement

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief