Consumer complaint received 2025-11-18 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., regarding the inaccurate and improperly verified bankruptcy reporting that appears on my credit file. I request the CFPB open an investigation into the conduct of the credit reporting agency ( CRA ) and any furnisher involved. 

Bankruptcies I am referring to are : XXXX XXXX filed XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX filed XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX filed XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX filed XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. The Bankruptcy Being Reported Is Inaccurate and Not Properly Verified A bankruptcy is a public record that must be reported with maximum accuracy under FCRA 607 ( b ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ]. Credit reporting agencies are required to use reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy and can not report information that they can not properly verify.

I dispute the accuracy and completeness of the bankruptcy being reported. The credit reporting agencies have not provided any legally acceptable method of verification, nor have they produced the original public records or documentation proving the filing, docket details, or court verification source.

2. Credit Bureaus Are Not Permitted to Verify a Bankruptcy Through Third-Party Databases Under FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ) and 611, I am entitled to a description of the procedure used to verify disputed information. CRAs often use private third-party vendors ( e.g., XXXX, XXXX XXXX, or public-record databases ) rather than obtaining information directly from the court. 
However, courts do NOT furnish bankruptcy data to credit bureaus, and the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has confirmed that courts do not report to or verify for CRAs. Therefore, any verification that did not come directly from the bankruptcy court is insufficient under FCRA standards for accuracy and reasonable procedures. 
If the CRA can not produce : * Certified court records * A direct court source used for verification * The clerk or court official who confirmed the record then the bankruptcy can not be legally verified.

3. FCRA Requires Deletion of Information That Can not Be Verified Under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ), when a consumer disputes information and the CRA can not verify it : the agency shall delete the item of information from the file of the consumer.

Because the credit bureaus have failed to produce any direct verification and can not demonstrate compliance with reasonable procedures as required by 607 ( b ), the reporting of this bankruptcy is unlawful and must be removed.

4. Requested Action by the CFPB I request that the CFPB investigate the following : 1. The credit reporting agencies failure to verify the bankruptcy through acceptable legal means.

2. The use of third-party data vendors in violation of FCRA verification requirements.

3. The continued reporting of a public record that lacks verified accuracy.

5. Relief Requested I am requesting the CFPB require : * Removal of the disputed bankruptcy from all credit reporting agencies ( Equifax, Experian, TransUnion ) pursuant to FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ).

* Proof of the verification procedure used, as required under FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) and 609 ( a ) ( 1 ).

* Confirmation that all inaccurate, unverified information has been deleted.

Please provide written confirmation of the results of the CFPBs investigation. I certify that the information in this complaint is true to the best of my knowledge.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 
Respectfully, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation