Consumer complaint received 2025-03-12 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Was not notified of investigation status or results
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: LA

Complaint narrative:
FCRA & FTC Act Violations From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, LA XXXX XX/XX/XXXX To : Equifax Information Services XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX CC : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Accounts XXXX & XXXX XXXX XXXX Open Date XX/XX/XXXX ) Reporting only on XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account XXXX ) Subject : Formal Dispute & Demand for Correction of Unlawful Credit Reporting To Whom It May Concern, This is a formal dispute and legal notice regarding inaccurate, deceptive, and unverifiable accounts that remain on my credit report in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) and the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Act. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX is engaging in blatant credit reporting manipulation by removing itself from XXXX and XXXX while continuing to report on Equifax. This selective reporting is an intentional act of deception, misrepresenting my credit history and violating federal laws requiring fair, accurate, and consistent credit reporting. 
I am giving Equifax, XXXX, and the named furnishers an opportunity to correct these violations before further regulatory and legal action is taken. 
XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX has violated federal law by : Reporting XXXX separate accounts when I only had XXXX account. 
Deleting both accounts from XXXX and XXXX but illegally keeping them on Equifax. 
Failing to provide written notice before reporting negative information ( FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ) ).

Failing to report the First Date of Delinquency ( FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 5 ) ), which raises concerns of illegal re-aging. 
Selective Reporting = Illegal & Deceptive Practice If XXXX XXXX XXXX believed the accounts were valid, they would be reported consistently across all three bureaus. 
Their removal from XXXX and XXXX but continued reporting on Equifax is an intentional effort to manipulate my credit report and mislead lenders, which is a violation of the FTC Acts prohibition on unfair and deceptive trade practices. 
XXXX Required : Equifax must immediately delete these accounts, as their removal from the other XXXX bureaus proves they are not verifiable. 
XXXX. XXXXXXXX XXXX  Failure to Conduct a Proper Investigation This account was removed from XXXX and Equifax but continues to be reported on XXXX. 
If XXXX and Equifax determined the account was unverifiable, then XXXX is violating FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) by continuing to report it. 
Resolution Required : XXXX must immediately remove this account, as it has already been determined to be unverifiable. 
XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX are reporting debts on my credit file without providing proof of legal authorization to collect, in direct violation of multiple consumer protection laws. Despite my dispute, neither entity has furnished a Forward Flow Agreement or Purchase Agreement, which is essential to prove they have the legal right to collect or report the debt. This is a deliberate attempt to collect on a debt they may not legally own, constituting deceptive and unlawful collection practices. 
Violations Committed by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XXXX. Failure to Provide a Forward Flow Agreement No Proof of Legal Assignment A Forward Flow Agreement is a legally binding contract that outlines the ongoing sale and assignment of debts between the original creditor and a debt buyer. 
If XXXX XXXX XXXX or XXXX XXXX XXXX do not possess this agreement, they can not prove they have legal authority to collect or report this debt, rendering their actions unlawful. 
Any attempt to collect or report this debt without documentation proving ownership is fraudulent misrepresentation. 
Demand : Provide a copy of the Forward Flow Agreement or immediately delete this account from my credit file.

2. FCRA 1681s-2 ( b ) Reporting Unverifiable Debts Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), credit reporting agencies are required to only report debts that can be verified with supporting documentation. 
Because neither XXXX XXXX XXXX nor XXXX XXXX XXXX has provided verifiable proof of ownership through a Forward Flow Agreement, they are violating FCRA 1681s-2 ( b ) by allowing unverifiable information to remain on my credit report. 
Demand : Equifax and XXXX must immediately delete these unverifiable accounts or provide evidence that a full reinvestigation has taken place in compliance with the FCRA. 
XXXX. FDCPA 1692g Failure to Validate the Debt The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 1692g requires debt collectors to provide written validation of a debt upon request before continuing collection activity. 
Despite my request, neither XXXX XXXX XXXX nor XXXX XXXX XXXX has provided a valid contract, signed agreement, or chain of assignment proving they legally own or have been assigned this debt. 
A mere account statement or balance summary does not satisfy validation requirements. 
Demand : If they can not provide a signed agreement proving I legally owe this debt to them, this account must be permanently deleted. 
4. Title 18 U.S.C. 894 Extortionate Practices & Unlawful Collection Efforts Attempting to collect a debt without proper legal documentation or authority is a form of deceptive and extortionate practice, violating 18 U.S.C. 894. 
By failing to provide the necessary Forward Flow Agreement or proof of legal assignment, XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX are misrepresenting their right to collect, which constitutes fraudulent behavior under federal law. 
Any attempt to collect an unverified debt, threaten legal action, or damage my credit without proper ownership constitutes an extortionate practice under federal law. 
Demand : These furnishers must either prove ownership with proper documentation or immediately cease collection activities and remove this account from my credit file. 
Final Opportunity to Resolve This Matter Failure to immediately provide documentation proving legal assignment will result in the following actions : Formal complaints to the FTC, CFPB, and Louisiana Attorney General for violations of the FCRA, FDCPA, and federal extortion laws. 
Potential legal action for willful and negligent violations of consumer protection laws, including statutory damages under the FDCPA and punitive damages under the FCRA. 
A demand for deletion of these accounts from my credit report due to non-compliance with federal law. 
XXXXediate corrective action is required. If I do not receive proper documentation or confirmation of account deletion within four ( 4 ) days, I will proceed with regulatory and legal escalation 4. Reinsertion of Previously Deleted Accounts FCRA 1681a ( 5 ) ( B ) Violation Credit bureaus can not reinsert a deleted account unless the furnisher provides written certification proving its accuracy. 
If any of these accounts are reinserted, Equifax and XXXX must notify me in writing within XXXX business days and provide the exact verification documents used to justify the reinsertion. 
Failure to follow proper reinsertion procedures is a direct violation of the FCRA and will be reported to the FTC, CFPB, and my State Attorney General. 
5. Equifaxs Pattern of Sham Investigations Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny Equifax has already been fined {$15.00} XXXX for : Failing to conduct real investigations into consumer disputes. 
Knowingly reporting inaccurate information. 
Engaging in unfair credit reporting practices. 
If Equifax continues to ignore these violations, I will take the following steps : File formal complaints with the FTC, CFPB, and Louisiana Attorney General. 
Seek legal action for willful FCRA violations, which allow statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation plus punitive damages. 
XXXX. Opportunity to Resolve This Matter To avoid further escalation, Equifax and XXXX must take immediate corrective action within four ( 4 ) days by : Deleting all disputed accounts that have already been removed by other bureaus.

Providing written confirmation that my credit file has been updated.

Disclosing all verification documents used to continue reporting these accounts.

Certifying the accuracy of any remaining accounts in compliance with federal law. 
Failure to act will result in formal regulatory complaints and potential legal action. 
This is a clear opportunity for Equifax and XXXX to comply with the law and correct these violations without further intervention. I expect a response confirming the resolution within four I am formally demanding the immediate and permanent removal of the following account from my Equifax credit report due to Unfair, Deceptive, and Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAP ) violations, FCRA noncompliance, and Equifaxs continued willful reporting of false information : XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Account # XXXX & XXXX XXXX Open Date : XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX  Has Already Deleted Itself from XXXX and XXXX Yet Equifax Continues to Violate the Law XXXX XXXX XXXX has already removed itself from XXXX and XXXX after being confronted with its violations of accuracy, balance reporting, and payment history compliance. This is an undeniable admission of wrongful reportingthe account should not exist on my credit report. 

Despite XXXX own removal, Equifax continues to knowingly verify and report this account, making Equifax equally liable for : 1. FCRA violations for knowingly reporting false information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ).

2. UDAP violations under the FTC Act ( 15 U.S.C. 45 ) for deceptive and unfair business practices.

3. Failure to ensure accurate reporting under FCRA 1681e ( b ), as Equifax has permitted multiple reporting violations related to payment history and balance inaccuracies.

4. Illegally extending the accounts impact by reporting incorrect or misleading datawhich is a deceptive practice subject to statutory penalties. 

Equifaxs Financial Liability Over {$25000.00} in Potential Fines and Growing This account has been inaccurately reported since XXXX XXXX total of 18 months and counting. 
Under FCRA 1681n ( willful violations ) and 1681o ( negligent violations ), Equifax can be fined {$1000.00} per month per violation.

With 18 months of false reporting, Equifax is now facing at least {$18000.00} in potential fines.

Each instance of incorrect balance reporting and payment history misrepresentation adds additional violations, increasing the penalty amount. 

This is an escalating legal and financial risk for Equifax, which could face further class action lawsuits and regulatory penalties for knowingly verifying an account that XXXX itself has deemed inaccurate. 

Final Notice : Remove This Account Immediately or Face Further Action Since XXXX XXXX XXXX has already admitted fault and removed itself from other bureaus, Equifax has no justification for continuing to report this account. If this account is not removed within 10 business days, I will take the following actions : days. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX English Turn XXXX, LA XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief