Consumer complaint received 2024-08-08 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: DC

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against the three major credit reporting agencies : XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax. These agencies have repeatedly violated my rights as a consumer by reporting inaccurate information and disclosing my transaction history and other experiences without proper authorization and my transactions history like late payments on my consumer report. 

Specifically, my complaints are as follows : XXXX. Inaccurate Information : Each of these credit reporting agencies has included incorrect data in my credit reports, which has adversely affected my credit score and overall financial standing. Despite my numerous attempts to dispute these inaccuracies, they remain unresolved. These inaccuracies include but are not limited to incorrect account balances, erroneous late payments, and accounts that do not belong to me. 
XXXX. Unauthorized Reporting of Transactions : In reviewing my consumer reports, I have discovered that my personal transactions and experiences are being reported without my consent. This unauthorized disclosure of my private financial activities is a violation of my privacy rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 
XXXX. Failure to Address Disputes : I have followed the proper procedures for disputing the inaccurate information, including submitting detailed dispute letters and providing supporting documentation. However, XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax have failed to conduct proper investigations and continue to report erroneous information. 


The FCRA, specifically 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), mandates that consumer reporting agencies must follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of the information in consumer reports. Despite this legal requirement, the inaccuracies and incomplete data in my credit reports have caused significant harm to my financial standing and personal well-being. 

Inaccuracies and Incompleteness : XXXX. Inaccurate Information : My credit reports contain multiple inaccuracies, such as incorrect account balances, erroneous late payments, and accounts that do not belong to me. These inaccuracies have negatively impacted my credit score and have not been corrected despite my repeated disputes. 

XXXX. Incomplete Information : In addition to inaccuracies, my reports also lack critical information that would provide a complete and accurate representation of my credit history. This incompleteness has further contributed to an unjustly lower credit score. 

Legal Basis for Complaint : In support of my complaint, I cite the following legal authority and case law : XXXX. Statutory Violation : 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) - Consumer reporting agencies are required to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. 
XXXX. Case Law : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) - In this case, the court emphasized the responsibility of credit reporting agencies to conduct a reasonable investigation to ensure the accuracy of the information they report. 

The continuous misreporting and lack of accountability by these agencies have caused significant distress and financial harm. I am seeking your assistance to ensure that my rights as a consumer are upheld, and to hold XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax accountable for their violations. 

I kindly request that the CFPB take immediate action to : XXXX. Investigate the practices of XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax concerning my complaints. 
XXXX. Prevent further unauthorized reporting of my transactions and experiences. 
XXXX. Hold these agencies accountable for their failure to comply with the FCRA and other relevant regulations l.., The FCRA, specifically XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( b ), mandates that consumer reporting agencies must follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of the information in consumer reports. Despite this legal requirement, XXXX XXXX XXXX and Equifax have reported inaccurate and incomplete data on my credit report, causing substantial distress and financial harm. 

Inaccuracies and Incompleteness : XXXX. Inaccurate Information : My credit report contains multiple inaccuracies, including incorrect account balances and erroneous late payments. These inaccuracies have unjustly lowered my credit score and have not been corrected despite my repeated disputes. 
XXXX. Incomplete Information : My report also lacks critical information that would provide a complete and accurate representation of my credit history, further contributing to an unjustly lower credit score. 

Legal Basis for Complaint and Monetary Relief : XXXX. Statutory Violation : 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) - Consumer reporting agencies are required to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. 
XXXX. Case Law : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) - The court emphasized the responsibility of credit reporting agencies to conduct a reasonable investigation to ensure the accuracy of the information they report. 
XXXX. Case Law on Late Payments : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) - This case highlighted the responsibility of credit reporting agencies to accurately report late payments and the impact of inaccuracies on the consumers credit report. 
XXXX. Monetary Relief : Under the FCRA, consumers can seek actual damages sustained as a result of the agencys failure to comply with the law, or statutory damages ranging from {$100.00} to {$1000.00} per violation. Additionally, punitive damages may be awarded in cases of willful noncompliance. Given the repeated violations by XXXX, XXXX XXXX and Equifax I seek the maximum allowable statutory damages per violation as well as compensation for the actual financial harm caused. 

Despite my numerous attempts to dispute the inaccuracies and incompleteness, including submitting detailed dispute letters and supporting documentation, XXXX, XXXX XXXX and Equifax has failed to fulfill its obligations under the FCRA. Their ongoing failure to correct these issues has resulted in continuous distress and financial harm. 

this reporting violates several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other related laws, specifically : 15 U.S.C. ( 2 ) Exclusions.Except as provided in paragraph ( 3 ), the term consumer report does not include ( i ) report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and theperson making the report This law clearly states that my transactions history nor my experience should be reporting to my consumer report AT ALL. Along with these related and relevant laws that the reporting agencies and furnishers are being willfully noncompliant with below 1. 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) This section mandates that consumer reporting agencies must follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates. The repeated reporting of inaccurate late payments demonstrates a clear failure to comply with this statutory requirement. 

XXXX. XXXX*15 U.S.C. 1681iXXXX : This section provides the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information in a credit report. Despite my formal dispute filed on XX/XX/XXXX, the inaccuracies remain uncorrected, contravening my rights under this statute. 

XXXX. XXXX15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) XXXX  : This section outlines the responsibilities of furnishers of information to provide accurate information. It is evident that XXXX XXXX has failed to meet these responsibilities by inaccurately reporting late payments. 

Additionally, case law supports that inaccurate reporting of late payments can constitute a violation of the FCRA. In XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), the court held that consumer reporting agencies must use reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy, and failure to do so can lead to liability under the FCRA. 

Furthermore, the FCRA requires that I receive written notice if late payments are being reported to my credit report. Specifically : XXXX. XXXX15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ) XXXX  : This section mandates that furnishers of information notify consumers if negative information is being reported to a credit reporting agency within 30 days of reporting. I have not received any such notice from XXXX XXXX, further violating my rights under the FCRA. 

In addition to the above, I believe there have been violations of my rights under other related statutes : XXXX. XXXX15 U.S.C. 1666 ( Fair Credit Billing Act ) XXXX XXXX  This section allows consumers to dispute billing errors, including charges not made by the consumer, charges for goods and services not received, and other errors in billing. I have previously disputed the late payment charges under this section, but the dispute has not been resolved in my favor, contrary to the provisions of the Act. 

XXXX. XXXX15 U.S.C. 1666b ( a ) Time to make payments A creditor may not treat a payment on a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan as late for any purpose, unless the creditor has adopted reasonable procedures designed to ensure that each periodic statement including the information required by section 1637 ( b ) of this title is mailed or delivered to the consumer not later than 21 days before the payment due date.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief