Consumer complaint received 2025-01-15 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
EQUIFAX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX Subject : Dispute of Inaccurate Reporting under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) I am writing to formally dispute the continued reporting of a charge account by XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX on my credit report. This account is inaccurate, and its reporting constitutes several violations of federal law, specifically under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ).

Details of the Disputed Account : Creditor Name XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Nature of Dispute : Unauthorized and inaccurate reporting of a charged-off account. 
Violations of Federal Law : 1. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. 1681 Rights Under FCRA : The FCRA ensures that consumers have the right to dispute inaccurate information on their credit reports, including charge-offs. If a creditor reports a charge-off, it must be accurate, verifiable, and fair. 
Violations : If a creditor or debt collector continues to report incorrect or unverifiable information about a charge-off account, they may be in violation of the FCRA. Consumers can dispute these inaccuracies and the credit bureau must investigate the claim within 30 days. 
2. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 15 U.S.C. 1692 Rights Under FDCPA : The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from engaging in abusive, deceptive, or unfair practices when attempting to collect a debt. This includes harassment, misrepresentation, and improper communication.

Violations : Reporting a charge-off account without proper notification or consent, or harassing the consumer by repeatedly reporting the charge-off, could be considered violations of the FDCPA. 
XXXX. Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) 15 U.S.C. 1601 Rights Under TILA : TILA requires lenders to provide clear and accurate information about the terms and costs of credit. If a charge-off account was not properly disclosed or the terms were misleading, it could be a violation of TILA.

Violations : Failure to disclose key terms or misrepresenting the status of an account ( e.g., incorrectly reporting a debt as charged off when its not ) can be a breach of TILA.

4. Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) Fraud and Violations Fraudulent Reporting : If a charge-off account involves fraudulent reporting to the IRS, such as reporting false income or deductions related to the charge-off, this could constitute tax fraud. 
IRS Form 1099-C ( Cancellation of Debt ) : Creditors are required to report forgiven debts of {$600.00} or more to the IRS using Form 1099-C. If the cancellation of debt is not reported correctly or is reported fraudulently, it may lead to IRS investigations and penalties.

Violations : Submitting false information to the IRS, such as misrepresenting a charge-off as income or failing to report a legitimate charge-off, is a violation of federal tax law and can result in significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. 
5. Consumer Protection Against Fraud Identity Theft and Fraudulent Accounts : If a charge-off account results from identity theft, consumers are protected under various laws. Reporting this to the FTC, credit bureaus, and possibly the IRS is essential.

IRS Identity Theft Protection : If identity theft leads to fraudulent tax filings or misuse of personal information for financial gain, consumers should report this to the IRS using Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit.

1. 15 U.S. Code 1692 ( c ) : I have not granted XXXX XXXX XXXX or any of its associated entities permission to communicate with me through my credit report. This unauthorized reporting is a direct violation of my rights under this statute. 
2. 15 U.S. Code 1692 ( c ) : I did not provide XXXX XXXX XXXX consent to report or share my information with XXXX or any other third party. Reporting my personal information without explicit consent is unlawful under this section.

3. 15 U.S. Code 1692 ( d ) ( 2 ) : The continued reporting of this account is causing significant harm to my reputation, including credit denials, housing application rejections, and financial distress. Such actions constitute harassment and are in violation of this statute. 
XXXX. 15 U.S. Code 1601 : The continued reporting of this charged-off account contravenes federal guidelines and infringes upon my consumer rights, as outlined in this section. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation