Consumer complaint received 2025-08-16 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Communication tactics — Called before 8am or after 9pm
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally dispute the validity of the above-referenced debt that your company, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, is attempting to collect. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), I have the right to request verification of this debt, and I hereby exercise that right. Please provide documentation validating the debt, including the name and address of the original creditor, proof of my liability, and a full accounting of the amount you claim is owed. Absent such proof, I do not acknowledge this debt as mine. 

Furthermore, I must address several actions by your representatives that constitute clear violations of the FDCPA : Inconvenient and harassing communications : Your agents have contacted me at inappropriate times and places. I have received phone calls from your company after XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, which is outside the timeframe allowed by law. According to 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( a ) ( 1 ), debt collectors may not contact consumers at any unusual time or place and, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, must assume that contact before XXXX XXXX  or after XXXX XXXX  is inconvenient. These late-night calls clearly violate this provision. 
Unlawful in-person visit to my home : A representative of your company visited my personal residence without prior arrangement or permission. This uninvited, unscheduled visit was distressing and invasive. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692d, a debt collector may not engage in conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with a debt collection. Visiting my home in person especially after other harassing communications is conduct that falls outside the bounds of professional debt collection and constitutes harassment. 
Repeated phone calls with intent to harass : In addition to calling at prohibited hours, your representatives have placed multiple calls to me in a manner that appears intended to annoy or pressure. 15 U.S.C. 1692d ( 5 ) explicitly prohibits causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass. The pattern of frequent calls Ive received suggests a violation of this section as well. 

These actions are unacceptable and unlawful. I am hereby invoking my rights under the FDCPA to demand that they stop immediately. Effective immediately, you must cease all communication with me, my family, or any third parties regarding this alleged debt. This letter serves as an official CEASE-AND-DESIST demand under 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( c ), which mandates that once a consumer requests in writing that communications cease, a debt collector shall not contact the consumer again except for limited lawful purposes. You are not to call me, visit me in person, send me mail, email, or text messages, or engage in any other contact regarding this debt henceforth. The only exceptions allowed by law ( and acceptable to me ) are : ( 1 ) a single written notice confirming that you will no longer pursue collection, or ( 2 ) official notice of a specific, lawful action ( such as a lawsuit ) you intend to take.

Additionally, if you have reported this debt to any credit reporting agencies, be advised that I dispute this debt. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 8 ), it is a violation of the FDCPA to communicate false or misleading credit information, including failing to report that a disputed debt is disputed. Now that I have notified you of my dispute in writing, you are required to update any credit reporting to reflect that this debt is disputed. More importantly, in light of your collection violations and the unresolved status of the debt, I demand that you remove any negative credit reporting related to this account entirely. Continuing to report an unvalidated, disputed debt especially XXXX associated with the kind of unlawful collection tactics described above is unacceptable. I expect you to ensure that no further damage is done to my credit record by this account. 

To resolve this matter, I require the following actions from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : 1. Validation of Debt : Provide written validation of the debt as required by the FDCPA. This includes documents proving that the debt is valid, that I am the party legally responsible, and that you have the legal right to collect it. 
2. Cease All Contact : Cease all phone calls, visits, letters, emails, or any other form of communication to me ( or my family ) regarding this debt, in full compliance with 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( c ) and my explicit demand above.

3. Credit Report Correction : Immediately remove any reporting of this debt from my credit reports. If you have reported the account, it must be deleted from the credit bureaus. ( At the very least and without prejudice to the above demand you must mark the account as disputed with any credit reporting agency, per 15 U.S.C. 1692e ( 8 ), since I contest the debts validity. ) 4. Written Confirmation : Send a written response to me within 30 days of your receipt of this letter, confirming that you have received and processed this dispute/cease-and-desist letter. Your response should detail your compliance with each of the above requests ( confirmation of debt validation or steps taken to obtain it, confirmation that all communication has ceased, and confirmation that the credit reporting entries have been removed or updated to reflect the dispute ). 

I will be retaining copies of this letter and all other relevant communications for my records. Please be advised that I am fully prepared to enforce my rights in this matter. Your companys documented actions ( calling after legal hours, harassment via home visits, etc. ) have already violated the FDCPA, which puts you at risk of legal liability. The FDCPA provides for civil damages up to {$1000.00} per violation, plus attorney fees and costs, against debt collectors who break the law. I sincerely hope that escalation to regulatory authorities or litigation will not be necessary here it is in both of our interests to resolve this matter amicably and immediately by your prompt compliance with the law. 

Finally, note that any failure to properly respond to this letter and honor the above requests will be reported to the appropriate regulatory agencies. I am prepared to file formal complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and my state Attorney Generals office, as well as consider civil action, if your company continues to violate my consumer rights or if you neglect to take the corrective actions outlined in this letter. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter. I expect to receive your written confirmation of receipt and compliance within 30 days of your receiving this letter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief