Consumer complaint received 2025-08-23 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
b'Im writing today to file a formal complaint and request assistance with multiple inaccuracies and potentially improper reporting practices on my credit report. What began as an attempt to rebuild and stabilize my financial life has now been overshadowed by a series of discrepancies that I believe are unfair, inaccurate, and harmful.\n1. Inaccurate and Outdated Personal Address Information\nMy report includes several addresses that are either outdated or entirely incorrectXX/XX/XXXXSome of these addresses may have been associated with older records, but I never lived at one or more of these locations, and they create confusion and suspicion on my report. This inaccurate personal information also raises red flags regarding identity verification and proper reporting.\n\n2. Derogatory Late Payments & Charge-Offs (Many During Times of Hardship)\n\nSeveral accounts are showing late payments or charge-offs that I either do not recognize, or which occurred during periods when I was enduring significant hardship, including the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:XX/XX/XXXXays late  XX/XX/XXXXThese late payments span a period when I was financially struggling and should have been eligible for assistance, or at minimum, offered options for forbearance. I was not made aware of such options by several creditors. I have reason to believe some of these were not reported in compliance with FCRA 623(a)(1)(A), which requires accuracy and integrity in data reporting.\n\nCharge-Off Accounts:XX/XX/XXXX Balance: XX/XX/XXXX Balance:XX/XX/XXXX Balance: XX/XX/XXXX  As noted above\XX/XX/XXXX As noted above\nThese charge-offs appear duplicative and overly punitive, especially when considering the economic circumstances surrounding the COVID era.\n\n3. Hard Inquiries I Did Not Authorize or Do Not Recognize\n\nMy credit report also reflects several hard inquiries from companies I never initiated contact with, particularly in XX/XX/XXXXand XX/XX/XXXX. These include:\XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXXam not aware of initiating applications with many of these institutions. Under the FCRA 604, hard inquiries should only appear on a consumers report with a permissible purpose. If no valid application or credit extension request occurred, these inquiries are damaging and must be removed.\n\n4. Collection Accounts Not Properly Validated or Disclosed\nI also noticed collection accounts that raise concerns, such asXX/XX/XXXXOriginal creditor: XX/XX/XXXXCredit  Account ending in XX/XX/XXXXBalance:XX/XX/XXXXOriginal creditorXX/XX/XXXX Service  Account ending inXX/XX/XXXXBalance: XX/XX/XXXXThese collection entries were never properly communicated to me via the required notices under the FDCPA, and I was never provided an opportunity to validate the debt before it appeared on my report. I am requesting a full validation of these accounts under 15 U.S.C.  1692g.'

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation