Consumer complaint received 2025-03-23 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: KY

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Formal Dispute of Inaccurate Credit Information Dear Equifax, I am writing to formally respond to the last dispute through CFBP to dispute inaccurate information that is currently being reported on my credit report. I also realize I keep getting the same response and the rest of the items I am requesting is being ignored. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), I am entitled to an accurate and precise reporting of my credit information, and I believe my rights under this act have been violated. 
Details of Dispute All Account in previous dispute # XXXX Disputed Information : All Despite requesting an investigation as required by the FCRA, it appears that inconsistencies and mismatches in the data points have not been properly addressed. I am therefore requesting that all closed accounts be removed from my report as I did not provide permissible permission for reporting when the debt was said to be incurred, and I was not informed on how to opt-out of sharing my personal information. This has resulted in significant harm to my creditworthiness. 
Applicable Laws and Requests Violation of FCRA rights : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( c ) XXXX ( Block Information Due to Identity Theft ) Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) requirements : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( b ) XXXX XXXX XXXX a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( B ) ( XXXX ) provide description of information you are using to investigate my consumer dispute and this must be done in XXXX days of my request. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX i XXXX reinvestigation. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX reporting without my consent I request the following documentation within 15 days this is a request for proper validation under XXXX guidelines : Original purchase agreement, terms, and conditions Proof of ownership of the debt Date of first delinquency with the original creditor Assignment contract showing the assignment to you from the original creditor Debt collector bond proving the legal right to collect debt in the state of XXXX XXXX XXXX  Original creditor Last payment Last Date of Payment Additionally, please provide a detailed description of the procedures and methods of verification used in your investigation, along with all documents retrieved during this process that prove the accuracy of the reported information. 
Conclusion The failure to protect my information has led to significant damage to my reputation and has impacted my ability to obtain lines of credit, resulting in high-interest rates and affecting my capacity to support my family 's needs. I urge you to address this matter promptly to avoid further legal action. 
Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical issue. 

This letter is to formally advise you that I believe your company has violated several of my consumer rights. Specifically, you failed to validate a debt at my request, which is a FDCPA violation and you continued to report a disputed debt, another FCRA violation. Not only have you ignored my prior requests for validation of debt but you continue to report this debt causing damage to my character. This letter will AGAIN request that you follow the FDCPA and please provide the following validation of debt request : -Proof of your right to own/collect this alleged debt-Balance claimed including all fees, interest and penalties-Contract bearing my personal signature As you may be aware, " Estoppel by Silence '' legally means that you had a duty to speak but failed to do so therefore, that must mean you agree with me that this debt is false. I will use the XXXX in my defense. I expect to receive the proof requested above within XXXX  days of this letter. Should you again ignore my request for validation of debt I reserve the right to sue your company for violations of my consumer rights as specified under both the FDCPA and the FCRA. I may also seek damages from you if warranted. 
This is for all accounts you stated where already verified. I stil have not received : Purchase agreement XXXX XXXX XXXX G XXXX XXXX Insurance claim XXXX with original creditor Last Payment missed on debt Assignment Contract with wet signature Proof of ownership of debt XXXX of proof Description of procedure Method of verification All documents received during investigation that proves it is reporting accurately Securitization Date of first delinquency with original creditor Debt collection bond proving right to collect in Kentucky XXXX XXXX Code XXXX - Acquisition of location information Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall ( XXXX ) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer ; ( XXXX ) not state that such consumer owes any debt ; ( XXXX ) not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete and that such person now has correct or complete location information ; ( XXXX ) not communicate by post card ; ( XXXX ) not use any language or symbol on any envelope or in the contents of any communication effected by the mails or telegram that indicates that the debt collector is in the debt collection business or that the communication relates to the collection of a debt ; and ( XXXX ) after the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with regard to the subject debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorneys name and address, not communicate with any person other than that attorney, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to communication from the debt collector. 
XXXX XXXX Code XXXX - Communication in connection with debt collection ( a ) COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONSUMER GENERALLY Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt ( XXXX ) at any unusual time or place or a time or place known or which should be known to be inconvenient to the consumer. In the absence of knowledge of circumstances to the contrary, a debt collector shall assume that the convenient time for communicating with a consumer is after XXXX oclock antemeridian and before XXXX oclock postmeridian, local time at the consumers location ; ( XXXX ) if the debt collector knows the consumer is represented by an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorneys name and address, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt collector or unless the attorney consents to direct communication with the consumer; or ( XXXX ) at the consumers place of employment if the debt collector knows or has reason to know that the consumers employer prohibits the consumer from receiving such communication. 
( b ) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES Except as provided in section XXXX of this title, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than the consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector. 
( c ) CEASING COMMUNICATION If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, except ( XXXX ) to advise the consumer that the debt collectors further efforts are being terminated ; ( XXXX ) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such debt collector or creditor; or ( XXXX ) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy. 
If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be complete upon receipt. 
( d ) CONSUMER DEFINED For the purpose of this section, the term consumer includes the consumers spouse, parent ( if the consumer is a minor ), guardian, executor, or administrator. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - Harassment or abuse A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section : ( XXXX ) The use or threat of use of violence or other criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person. 
( XXXX ) The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader. 
( XXXX ) The publication of a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts, except to a consumer reporting agency or to persons meeting the requirements of section XXXX ( f ) or XXXX ( XXXX ) [ XXXX ] of this title. 
( XXXX ) The advertisement for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the debt. 
( XXXX ) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number. 
( XXXX ) Except as provided in section XXXX of this title, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the callers identity. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - False or misleading representations A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section : ( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that the debt collector is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States or any State, including the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof. 
( XXXX ) The false representation of ( A ) the character, amount, or legal status of any debt; or ( B ) any services rendered or compensation which may be lawfully received by any debt collector for the collection of a debt. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that any individual is an attorney or that any communication is from an attorney. 
( XXXX ) The representation or implication that nonpayment of any debt will result in the arrest or imprisonment of any person or the seizure, garnishment, attachment, or sale of any property or wages of any person unless such action is lawful and the debt collector or creditor intends to take such action. 
( XXXX ) The threat to take any action that can not legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that a sale, referral, or other transfer of any interest in a debt shall cause the consumer to ( A ) lose any claim or defense to payment of the debt; or ( B ) become subject to any practice prohibited by this subchapter. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that the consumer committed any crime or other conduct in order to disgrace the consumer. 
( XXXX ) Communicating or threatening to communicate to any person credit information which is known or which should be known to be false, including the failure to communicate that a disputed debt is disputed. 
( XXXX ) The use or distribution of any written communication which simulates or is falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued, or approved by any court, official, or agency of the United States or any State, or which creates a false impression as to its source, authorization, or approval. 
( XXXX ) The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer. 
( XXXX ) The failure to disclose in the initial written communication with the consumer and, in addition, if the initial communication with the consumer is oral, in that initial oral communication, that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose, and the failure to disclose in subsequent communications that the communication is from a debt collector, except that this paragraph shall not apply to a formal pleading made in connection with a legal action. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that accounts have been turned over to innocent purchasers for value. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that documents are legal process. 
( XXXX ) The use of any business, company, or organization name other than the true name of the debt collectors business, company, or organization. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that documents are not legal process forms or do not require action by the consumer. 
( XXXX ) The false representation or implication that a debt collector operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency as defined by section XXXX ( f ) of this title. 
XXXX XXXX Code XXXX - Civil liability ( a ) AMOUNT OF DAMAGES Except as otherwise provided by this section, any debt collector who fails to comply with any provision of this subchapter with respect to any person is liable to such person in an amount equal to the sum of ( XXXX ) any actual damage sustained by such person as a result of such failure ; ( XXXX ) ( A ) in the case of any action by an individual, such additional damages as the court may allow, but not exceeding {$1000.00} ; or ( B ) in the case of a class action, ( i ) such amount for each named plaintiff as could be recovered under subparagraph ( A ), and ( ii ) such amount as the court may allow for all other class members, without regard to a minimum individual recovery, not to exceed the lesser of {$500000.00} or XXXX per centum of the net worth of the debt collector ; and ( XXXX ) in the case of any successful action to enforce the foregoing liability, the costs of the action, together with a reasonable attorneys fee as determined by the court. On a finding by the court that an action under this section was brought in bad faith and for the purpose of harassment, the court may award to the defendant attorneys fees reasonable in relation to the work expended and costs. 
( b ) FACTORS CONSIDERED BY COURT In determining the amount of liability in any action under subsection ( a ), the court shall consider, among other relevant factors ( XXXX ) in any individual action under subsection ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( A ), the frequency and persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of such noncompliance, and the extent to which such noncompliance was intentional ; or ( XXXX ) in any class action under subsection ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( B ), the frequency and persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of such noncompliance, the resources of the debt collector, the number of persons adversely affected, and the extent to which the debt collectors noncompliance was intentional. 
( c ) INTENT A debt collector may not be held liable in any action brought under this subchapter if the debt collector shows by a preponderance of evidence that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error. 
( d ) JURISDICTION An action to enforce any liability created by this subchapter may be brought in any appropriate United States district court without regard to the amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, within XXXX year from the date on which the violation occurs. 
( XXXX ) ADVISORY OPINIONS OF BUREAU No provision of this section imposing any liability shall apply to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any advisory opinion of the Bureau, notwithstanding that after such act or omission has occurred, such opinion is amended, rescinded, or determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason. 
XXXX XXXX Code XXXX - Administrative enforcement ( a ) FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION The Federal Trade Commission shall be authorized to enforce compliance with this subchapter, except to the extent that enforcement of the requirements imposed under this subchapter is specifically committed to another Government agency under any of paragraphs ( XXXX ) through ( XXXX ) of subsection ( b ), subject to subtitle B of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of XXXX [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq. ]. For purpose of the exercise by the Federal Trade Commission of its functions and powers under the Federal Trade Commission Act ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq. ), a violation of this subchapter shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of that Act. All of the functions and powers of the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act are available to the Federal Trade Commission to enforce compliance by any person with this subchapter, irrespective of whether that person is engaged in commerce or meets any other jurisdictional tests under the Federal Trade Commission Act, including the power to enforce the provisions of this subchapter, in the same manner as if the violation had been a violation of a Federal Trade Commission trade regulation rule. 
( b ) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF LAW Subject to subtitle B of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of XXXX, compliance with any requirements imposed under this subchapter shall be enforced under ( XXXX ) section XXXX of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX ], by the appropriate Federal banking agency, as defined in section XXXX ( q ) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( q ) ), with respect to ( A ) national banks, Federal savings associations, and Federal branches and Federal agencies of foreign banks ; ( B ) member banks of the Federal Reserve System ( other than national banks ), branches and agencies of foreign banks ( other than Federal branches, Federal agencies, and insured State branches of foreign banks ), commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign banks, and organizations operating under section XXXX or XXXX of the Federal Reserve Act [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq., XXXX et seq. ] ; and ( C ) banks and State savings associations insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ( other than members of the Federal Reserve System ), and insured State branches of foreign banks ; ( XXXX ) the Federal Credit Union Act [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq. ], by the Administrator of the National Credit Union Administration with respect to any Federal credit union ; ( XXXX ) subtitle IV of title XXXX, by the Secretary of Transportation, with respect to all carriers subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board ; ( XXXX ) part A of subtitle XXXX of title XXXX, by the Secretary of Transportation with respect to any air carrier or any foreign air carrier subject to that part ; ( XXXX ) the Packers and Stockyards Act, XXXX [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq. ] ( except as provided in section XXXX of that Act [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX, XXXX ] ), by the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to any activities subject to that Act ; and ( XXXX ) subtitle XXXX of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of XXXX [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX et seq. ], by the Bureau, with respect to any person subject to this subchapter. 
The terms used in paragraph ( XXXX ) that are not defined in this subchapter or otherwise defined in section XXXX ( XXXX ) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( XXXX ) ) shall have the meaning given to them in section XXXX ( b ) of the International Banking Act of XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ). 
( c ) AGENCY POWERS For the purpose of the exercise by any agency referred to in subsection ( b ) of its powers under any Act referred to in that subsection, a violation of any requirement imposed under this subchapter shall be deemed to be a violation of a requirement imposed under that Act. In addition to its powers under any provision of law specifically referred to in subsection ( b ), each of the agencies referred to in that subsection may exercise, for the purpose of enforcing compliance with any requirement imposed under this subchapter any other authority conferred on it by law, except as provided in subsection ( d ). 
( d ) RULES AND REGULATIONS Except as provided in section XXXX ( a ) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of XXXX [ XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ], the Bureau may prescribe rules with respect to the collection of debts by debt collectors, as defined in this subchapter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation