Consumer complaint received 2024-09-05 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: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax 's mishandling of my credit report and XXXX XXXX 's inaccurate reporting, aka XXXX XXXX XXXX. I believe both parties violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) due to improper reinsertion of previously removed information and reporting outdated information that exceeds the legally permissible time limit. 

Background : On XX/XX/year> & XX/XX/year>, I filed a dispute with XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax 's concerning inaccurate and outdated information reported by XXXX XXXX, aka XXXX XXXX XXXX, on my credit report. After an investigation, the account was initially removed from my report. However, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax reinserted the account without proper justification or certification. Additionally, this account has been reported for over seven years, which exceeds the reporting period allowed by law under FCRA 605 ( a ). 

I received a letter from XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax stating that the account was reinserted because of my prior knowledge of the account. This reasoning is unacceptable and irrelevant. The fact that I acknowledge the account is listed on my credit report does not justify its reinsertion without certification of its accuracy or proper investigationespecially since it is past the seven-year reporting limit. 

Violations : I believe XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax and XXXX XXXX, aka XXXX XXXX XXXX, have violated several provisions of the FCRA : FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) : XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax failed to notify me within 5 business days of re-inserting the disputed account. The notice I received did not provide sufficient reasoning or evidence that the information was verified accurately. 
FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) ( i ) : XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax did not receive proper certification from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that the account information was accurate before reinserting it. Their justification that my prior knowledge of the account is enough to reinsert it is inadequate and does not meet legal standards. 
FCRA 605 ( a ) : The account has been reported for more than seven years, beyond the time limit allowed for reporting negative information. Regardless of whether the account is accurate or disputed, it should have been removed in compliance with this section of the FCRA. 
FCRA 623 ( b ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX failed to conduct a reasonable investigation or verify the disputed information before the re-insertion. The information remains inaccurate and outdated, yet it has been placed back on my credit report without resolution. 
Action Requested : I respectfully request that the CFPB investigate this matter and take appropriate action to ensure that : XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax comply with the FCRA by removing the inaccurate, disputed, and outdated information from my credit report. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax are held accountable for re-inserting the information without proper certification or investigation. 
The seven-year reporting limit under FCRA 605 ( a ) is enforced, and the outdated account is permanently removed from my report. 
Both I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax 's mishandling of my credit report and XXXX XXXX 's inaccurate reporting, aka XXXX XXXX XXXX. I believe both parties violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) due to the improper reinsertion of previously removed information and the reporting of outdated information that exceeds the legally permissible time limit. 

Background : On XX/XX/year> & XX/XX/year>, I filed a dispute with XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax 's concerning inaccurate and outdated information reported by XXXX XXXX, aka XXXX XXXX XXXX, on my credit report. After an investigation, the account was initially removed from my report. However, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax reinserted the account without proper justification or certification. Additionally, this account has been reported for over seven years, which exceeds the reporting period allowed by law under FCRA 605 ( a ). 

I received a letter from XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax stating that the account was reinserted because of my prior knowledge of the account. This reasoning is unacceptable and irrelevant. The fact that I acknowledge the account is listed on my credit report does not justify its reinsertion without certification of its accuracy or proper investigationespecially since it is past the seven-year reporting limit. 

Violations : I believe XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax, and XXXX XXXX, aka XXXX XXXX XXXX, have violated several provisions of the FCRA : FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) : XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax failed to notify me within 5 business days of re-inserting the disputed account. The notice I received did not provide sufficient reasoning or evidence that the information was verified accurately. 
FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) ( i ) : XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax did not receive proper certification from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that the account information was accurate before reinserting it. Their justification that my prior knowledge of the account is enough to reinsert it is inadequate and does not meet legal standards. 
FCRA 605 ( a ) : The account has been reported for more than seven years, beyond the time limit allowed for reporting negative information. Regardless of whether the account is accurate or disputed, it should have been removed in compliance with this section of the FCRA. 
FCRA 623 ( b ) : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX failed to conduct a reasonable investigation or verify the disputed information before the re-insertion. The information remains inaccurate and outdated, yet it has been placed back on my credit report without resolution. 
Action Requested : I respectfully request that the CFPB investigate this matter and take appropriate action to ensure that : XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax comply with the FCRA by removing the inaccurate, disputed, and outdated information from my credit report. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax are held accountable for re-inserting the information without proper certification or investigation. 
The seven-year reporting limit under FCRA 605 ( a ) is enforced, and the outdated account is permanently removed from my report. 
Both XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX are held accountable for violating the FCRA and any other relevant consumer protection laws. 
I have attached all relevant documentation, including correspondence between myself, [ Credit Bureau Name ], and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and copies of my credit report showing the reinserted account that exceeds the seven-year reporting limit. 

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I trust that you will conduct a thorough investigation to uphold my rights under the FCRA. XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX are held accountable for violating the FCRA and any other relevant consumer protection laws. 
I have attached all relevant documentation, including correspondence between myself, XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and Equifax, and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and copies of my credit report showing the reinserted account that exceeds the seven-year reporting limit. 

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I trust you will conduct a thorough investigation to uphold my rights under the FCRA.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation