Consumer complaint received 2025-02-05 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: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
Experian XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Subject : Formal Dispute Regarding Identity Theft and Improper Handling of Block Request Dear Experian, I am writing in response to your recent correspondence, dated [ XX/XX/year> ], in which you declined my request to block information resulting from identity theft XXXX XXXX XXXX. Your response stated that either my request was made in error, based on a material misrepresentation, or that I knowingly obtained goods, services, or money connected to the disputed items. These assertions are incorrect, baseless, and unsupported by any substantive evidence. 

Failure to Provide Validation or Verification ( FCRA Violations ) Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), Experian is required to conduct a reasonable investigation of disputed items and provide validation. 
Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ), XXXX is required to conduct a proper investigation and provide documentation to substantiate the debt. 
Violation : Neither Experian nor XXXX has provided : The original signed agreement that establishes my obligation to the debt. 
Detailed records showing the calculation of the alleged balance. 
Proof of XXXX ownership or transfer of the debt. 

Failure to Notify of Adverse Reporting ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ) ) Requirement : XXXX is XXXX to notify consumers in writing before reporting negative information to credit bureaus. 
Violation : XXXX failed to notify me before reporting the charge-off, and Experian failed to verify whether such notice was provided. 

XXXX Stalling Tactics and Refusal to Investigate Properly Experian has repeatedly dismissed my disputes without providing a valid explanation or evidence supporting their verification. By requesting the same documentation repeatedly and failing to address the substance of my complaints, Experian is engaging in stalling tactics in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) and ( a ) ( 7 ). 

I have provided all the necessary documentation to prove that I am a victim of identity theft, including : 1. A police report outlining the fraudulent activity. 
2. A copy of my government-issued ID and proof of current address. 
3. Additional documentation, including a sworn identity theft affidavit and supporting evidence of the fraud. 

Your refusal to honor my request to block the disputed items violates my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), particularly Section 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ), which requires credit reporting agencies to block fraudulent information when the consumer provides : Proof of identity, A valid identity theft report ( including police reports ), and A written statement identifying the fraudulent information. 

Key Issues with XXXX Response 1. Misrepresentation of Documentation Requirements You claim that my identity theft report was insufficient because it was generated online and not verified by a law enforcement agency. However, the FCRA does not require that a police report be physically stamped or endorsed by an agency to meet the definition of a valid identity theft report. My submission complies with Section 605B, and your additional documentation demands are unreasonable and obstructive. 

2. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Investigation Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ), Experian is obligated to conduct a reasonable investigation of disputes. By rejecting my request outright and failing to address the substantive evidence I provided, you have violated this requirement. 

3. Baseless Accusations of Material Misrepresentation Your suggestion that I knowingly obtained goods, services, or money connected to the fraudulent accounts is false and defamatory. If you are making this claim, you must provide documented proof supporting this accusation. Your failure to substantiate this claim violates FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 6 ), which requires a detailed explanation of the investigations results. 

4. Improper Denial of Block Request Under FCRA Section 605B Your response does not meet the standard outlined in Section 605B of the FCRA, which states that disputed information resulting from identity theft must be blocked upon submission of the required documentation. Your continued refusal to block the disputed items constitutes willful noncompliance under 15 U.S.C. 1681n. 

Requested Actions I demand that Experian take the following corrective actions immediately : 1. Block the Disputed Items : Comply with Section 605B of the FCRA and block the fraudulent information associated with identity theft. 
2. Provide a Detailed Explanation : If you continue to deny my request, provide a written explanation of why the documentation I submitted does not meet the requirements of the FCRA. 
3. Cease Unlawful Accusations : Retract any baseless claims of material misrepresentation and provide documentation substantiating any such assertions. 
4. Ensure Compliance with the CFPBs Directives : Recent enforcement actions by the CFPB against credit reporting agencies highlight the need for strict adherence to the FCRA. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in further escalation. 

Requested Actions I demand that Experian take the following corrective actions immediately : 1. Block the Disputed Items : Comply with Section 605B of the FCRA and block the fraudulent information associated with identity theft. 
2. Provide a Detailed Explanation : If you continue to deny my request, provide a written explanation of why the documentation I submitted does not meet the requirements of the FCRA. 
3. Cease Unlawful Accusations : Retract any baseless claims of material misrepresentation and provide documentation substantiating any such assertions. 
4. Ensure Compliance with the CFPBs Directives : Recent enforcement actions by the CFPB against credit reporting agencies highlight the need for strict adherence to the FCRA. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in further escalation. 


Failure to Properly Investigate Disputes The CFPB alleged that Experian failed to conduct thorough investigations of consumer disputes, instead relying on automated processes without properly reviewing supporting documentation provided by consumers. 
2. Mishandling of Disputes Experian was found to have ignored or mishandled consumer-provided evidence, resulting in inaccurate information remaining on credit reports. 
3. Reinsertion of Inaccuracies Experian allegedly reinserted previously deleted inaccuracies into credit reports without properly notifying consumers, which is a direct violation of the FCRA. 
4. Failure to Block Identity Theft Information The CFPB found that Experian failed to block fraudulent accounts or items despite consumers submitting valid identity theft documentation. 
5. Deceptive Practices Experian sent contradictory and misleading dispute responses to consumers, sometimes claiming that disputed items were verified as accurate while simultaneously stating that the items had been deleted. 
6. Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy Experian was charged with failing to ensure that credit reports contained only verified and accurate information, in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ).

Demand for a Proper Investigation Experian must provide : Clear documentation of how the account was verified as accurate. 
A detailed explanation of the dispute process they followed. 
Any evidence they received from XXXX or other furnishers. 
3. Request Damages Demand compensatory and statutory damages under 15 U.S.C. 1681n for willful violations and 15 U.S.C. 1681o for negligent violations, citing Experians systemic failures highlighted by the CFPB.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation