Consumer complaint received 2025-03-11 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this formal complaint against XXXX XXXX XXXX and Equifax Information Services LLC for willful and negligent violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and Californias Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act ( CCCRAA ), Civil Code 1785.1 et seq. The violations include failure to conduct a proper reinvestigation, continued reporting of inaccurate information, and failure to provide verification documents as required by law.

Violations and Applicable Laws Failure to Conduct a Proper Reinvestigation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ) Despite multiple disputes, both XXXX and Equifax have failed to provide adequate verification of fraudulent accounts and unauthorized inquiries.

The agencies continue to report erroneous and unverifiable information without demonstrating compliance with federal verification requirements.

Reporting Inaccurate and Unverifiable Accounts ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) The bureaus have reported the following accounts with discrepancies in payment status, open dates, and lack of proper notification across reporting entities : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account No. XXXX ) XXXX ( Account XXXX. XXXX ) These accounts have been " verified '' without any supporting documentation proving their legitimacy. 
Failure to Provide Original Documentation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681g & 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ) Both bureaus have refused to produce original signed agreements or documentation proving the validity of the disputed accounts. 
No substantive evidence has been provided regarding the investigation process, nor have the names of the verifying entities been disclosed.

Unlawful Reporting of Unauthorized Inquiries ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b & California Civil Code 1785.11 ) XXXX XXXX has made unauthorized inquiries on my credit report without a permissible purpose. 
This constitutes a direct violation of the permissible purpose requirements under the FCRA.

Reporting Inaccurate Personal Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c & 1681e ( b ) ) Incorrect addresses and name variations are being reported despite multiple disputes : Fraudulent Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX Incorrect Name : XXXX XXXX ( misspelling of my legal name ) Such inaccurate reporting violates both federal and state laws requiring the maintenance of maximum possible accuracy in consumer reports.

Failure to Delete Unverified Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ) The law mandates that unverifiable information must be removed within 30 days of a dispute. The continued reporting of erroneous accounts despite a lack of verification is a clear violation of this provision.

Violations Under California Consumer Protection Laws California Civil Code 1785.16 : Requires consu
mer reporting agencies to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and correct errors within 30 days.

California Civil Code 1785.25 ( a ) : Prohibits furnishers from providing inaccurate or misleading information to credit bureaus.

California Unfair Competition Law ( Business & Professions Code 17200 et seq. ) : Prohibits fraudulent business practices, including knowingly reporting false credit information.

Requested Actions by CFPB Given the willful and negligent noncompliance demonstrated by XXXX and Equifax, I respectfully request that the CFPB take the following enforcement actions : Order the immediate deletion of the disputed accounts ( XXXX XXXX  XXXX and XXXX ) due to the bureaus ' failure to provide sufficient verification.

Order the removal of unauthorized inquiries ( XXXX XXXX ) that were placed on my credit file without my consent. 
Direct XXXX and Equifax to correct personal information inaccuracies ( address and name errors ). 
Investigate the systemic failure of the credit bureaus to conduct lawful reinvestigations as required under the FCRA. 
Pursue monetary penalties against the credit bureaus for willful violations of consumer protection laws. 
Initiate regulatory actions similar to previous CFPB lawsuits against the bureaus for similar noncompliance and deceptive practices. 
Conclusion The repeated refusal of XXXX and Equifax to comply with federal and state credit reporting laws has caused financial harm and emotional distress. These violations are not isolated but represent a systemic issue affecting many consumers. I urge the CFPB to take decisive action to hold these credit bureaus accountable for their failure to adhere to consumer protection laws. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Please keep me informed of any updates regarding this complaint. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief