Consumer complaint received 2025-03-10 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
Dear Equifax Dispute Department, I am formally demanding immediate corrective action regarding your continued failure to properly investigate and block fraudulent information as required by FCRA 605B and your ongoing mishandling of my dispute concerning the XXXX XXXX XXXX account on my credit report. 

Despite multiple disputes filed over three months ago, you have : Failed to block fraudulent information despite receiving a valid dispute.

Failed to conduct a reasonable investigation and provide proper verification.

Reinserted or failed to remove disputed items that should have been blocked. 
Violated the CFPBs recent enforcement order against Equifax by continuing to report unverifiable data. 

If Equifax does not delete this fraudulent account and provide proper verification within 10 days, I will immediately initiate arbitration, legal proceedings, and formal regulatory complaints against Equifax for willful noncompliance with federal law. 

Equifaxs Violations of Federal Law 1. Failure to Block Fraudulent Information ( FCRA 605B ) Requirement : Under FCRA 605B, credit bureaus must block fraudulent information within four business days if a consumer provides a valid identity theft report and supporting documentation.

Violation : Equifax has failed to block or remove the disputed account despite receiving my dispute, proof of fraud, and necessary documentation. 
You are required by law to block any fraudulent information unless you have substantial proof that the request is false, which you have failed to provide. 

2. Failure to Conduct a Proper Reinvestigation ( FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ) Requirement : Credit bureaus must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of any disputed account.

Violation : Equifaxs response relied solely on the furnishers statement without verifying the accuracy of the claim.

If Equifax can not verify the debt with original documentation, the account must be deleted immediately under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ).

3. Reinsertion of Previously Deleted Information ( FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) ) Requirement : If an account is deleted after a dispute, it can not be reinserted unless strict requirements are met, including : New documentation from the furnisher proving accuracy.

A consumer notification within five days of reinsertion.

Violation : Equifax has failed to ensure that previously deleted or disputed information does not reappear, a violation explicitly cited in the CFPBs enforcement action.

4. Reporting Inaccurate Data That Other Bureaus Have Deleted ( FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ) Requirement : Credit bureaus must ensure accuracy and consistency across all consumer reports. 
Violation : XXXX and XXXX have deleted this account, yet Equifax refuses to do so. 
This failure to maintain consistency and fairness is a violation of federal consumer protection laws. 

5. CFPBs Enforcement Action Against Equifax for Systemic Failures The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) recently sued Equifax for : Failing to thoroughly investigate consumer disputes ( FCRA 611 ).

Failing to block identity theft-related information ( FCRA 605B ). 
Reinserting previously removed information without proper documentation ( FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) ).

Providing inaccurate credit data to lenders ( FCRA 607 ( b ) ).

Your continued mishandling of my dispute directly aligns with these violations, proving that Equifax has not corrected the unlawful practices cited by the CFPB.

Immediate Corrective Actions Required 1. Immediate Deletion of the Fraudulent XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Equifax has failed to provide proper validation of this debt. 
Under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ), if a debt can not be verified with original documentation, it must be deleted.

Under FCRA 605B, Equifax must block fraudulent accounts within four business days of receiving an identity theft report.

2. Full Disclosure of Verification Materials Provide all records used in the reinvestigation, including : The original signed contract proving I agreed to this debt. 
Payment history and full account details. 
Communication logs between Equifax and the furnisher.

The name and title of the individual who verified this account.

3. Assurance That This Account Will Not Be Reinserted Under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ), if an account is deleted, Equifax can not reinsert it without proper notification and supporting documentation.

Provide written confirmation that this account will not be unlawfully reinstated.

Equifaxs continued failure to properly investigate, validate, and remove fraudulent or inaccurate information from your credit report violates multiple federal laws, including FCRA ( Fair Credit Reporting Act ), FDCPA ( Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ), and the Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA ). Below are additional violations, using alternative wording to further strengthen your legal claims.

1. Failure to Uphold Consumer Protection Standards 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) Legal Requirement : Credit reporting agencies must take reasonable steps to ensure the accuracy of consumer credit files and prevent the dissemination of incorrect or unverified data. 
Equifaxs Violation : Equifax has recklessly allowed unverified, outdated, or fraudulent account information to remain on file, despite your repeated disputes. 
This negligence has resulted in ongoing harm to your creditworthiness, which Equifax is legally obligated to prevent. 

2. Inadequate Reinvestigation of Disputed Accounts 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) Legal Requirement : When a consumer disputes an item, the credit bureau must conduct a meaningful reinvestigation, going beyond simply contacting the furnisher.

Equifaxs Violation : Rather than conducting an independent and thorough review of the account, Equifax blindly accepted the furnishers response without requesting verifiable proof.

No original signed agreement, itemized payment history, or transfer of ownership records have been presented to substantiate the alleged debt. 

3. Reporting Incomplete and Misleading Information 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) Legal Requirement : Data furnishers ( such as creditors and debt collectors ) must ensure that all information they provide to credit bureaus is accurate and complete. 
Equifaxs Violation : The XXXX XXXX XXXX account continues to be reported, despite conflicting information across different credit bureaus ( XXXX and XXXX have removed it ). 
By refusing to correct the inconsistencies in your credit file, Equifax is perpetuating false and misleading data.

4. Illegal Re-Aging of Debt 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) Legal Requirement : A charged-off or delinquent debt can not be re-aged to appear as newer than it truly is, artificially extending the time it remains on a consumers credit report.

Equifaxs Violation : The Date of Last Activity ( DLA ) has been altered in such a way that extends the reporting period of this disputed account, making it appear more recent than it is.

This unlawful modification misleads potential lenders and prevents you from obtaining fair credit terms.

5. Failure to Prevent Reinsertion of Deleted Information 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) Legal Requirement : If a disputed account is removed from a credit file, it can not be reinserted unless the credit bureau follows strict reinsertion procedures : XXXX. Obtain certified documentation from the furnisher proving its accuracy. 
XXXX. Provide written notice to the consumer within five business days of the reinsertion.

Equifaxs Violation : Equifax previously removed or modified certain disputed items, but those same items have reappeared on your report without proper notice.

There has been no written notification or proof that the furnisher provided new verification.

6. Failure to Block Fraudulent Information 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( a ) ( FCRA Section 605B ) Legal Requirement : When a consumer submits a valid identity theft report, the credit bureau must block the fraudulent item within four business days, preventing it from being reported again.

Equifaxs Violation : You provided documentation establishing that the disputed account was fraudulent ; however, Equifax has refused to block the information.

Instead of complying with its legal obligation, Equifax has continued to allow the disputed data to impact your creditworthiness.

7. Engaging in Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts ( UDAAP ) 12 U.S.C. 5531 ( Consumer Financial Protection Act ) Legal Requirement : The CFPB prohibits credit bureaus from engaging in deceptive or abusive practices that mislead consumers or unfairly disadvantage them. 
Equifaxs Violation : By ignoring legally required dispute resolution procedures and continuing to report an unverifiable account, Equifax has engaged in an unfair practice that harms your financial standing. 
The CFPB recently took enforcement action against Equifax for this very type of misconduct, proving a pattern of noncompliance.

8. Failure to Provide Consumers with Verification Details 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) Legal Requirement : After completing a reinvestigation, a credit bureau must provide the consumer with a detailed written notice explaining : What documentation was used to verify the disputed account.

The name, address, and contact information of the furnisher.

Whether any modifications or deletions were made as a result of the dispute. 
Equifaxs Violation : Equifax has failed to provide you with a meaningful response outlining how they verified the disputed information. 
No documentation or evidence has been presented to support their claim that the account is accurate.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation