Consumer complaint received 2024-11-07 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: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: LA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ] CFPB Complaint Submission Subject : Urgent Demand for Removal of Unauthorized Accounts, Personal Information, and Violation of FCRA Permissible Purpose Requirements To : Equifax, XXXX and XXXX Credit reporting agencies I am submitting this formal complaint to demand immediate action on unauthorized accounts, unauthorized personal information, and violations of permissible purpose under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). The reporting agencies and companies involved have repeatedly failed to fulfill their legal duties under FCRA and other federal regulations, violating my rights and damaging my credit profile. I demand immediate removal of these items from my credit report, as detailed below. 

Unauthorized Accounts and Extortionate Collection Practices The following accounts are inaccurately reported as auto loans or mobile home accounts when, in reality, they are credit sales using unauthorized extensions of my credit. This misclassification is not only misleading but has been used in attempts to unjustly collect on my social security-backed credit, violating 18 U.S.C. 894, which prohibits extortionate means to collect on extensions of credit. These accounts must be removed immediately : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Status : Open with negative remarks Unauthorized Accounts and Extortionate Collection Practices The Above Auto Vehicle and Mortgage accounts are inaccurately reported as auto loans or mobile home accounts when, in reality, they are credit sales using extensions of my credit. This misclassification is not only misleading but has been used in attempts to unjustly collect on my social security-backed credit, violating 18 U.S.C. 894, which prohibits extortionate means to collect on extensions of credit. These accounts must be removed immediately ( a ) Whoever knowingly participates in any way, or conspires to do so, in the use of any extortionate means ( 1 ) to collect or attempt to collect any extension of credit, or ( 2 ) to punish any person for the nonrepayment thereof, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

Which I See unauthorized Consumer information via Collection companies and others have been trying to collect from me Impermissible Use of Personal Information Under 15 U.S.C. 1681b, it is unlawful for agencies to report or disseminate my information without explicit consent. This includes unauthorized reporting of my addresses, telephone numbers, and employer information, which was neither authorized nor permitted. My credit report must only include : Legal Violations and Case Law The unauthorized reporting of these accounts, without permissible purpose, directly contravenes the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ), which requires that credit bureaus obtain consumer consent before sharing or publishing personal information. Furthermore, the reporting of these accounts violates 18 U.S.C. 894 Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means. Extortionate collection practices, including the misuse of my personal information for collection purposes, are illegal and carry penalties of fines and imprisonment. 

In addition to these federal statutes, please note the following precedents : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : This case emphasized that the FCRA mandates consumer reporting agencies to exercise maximum possible accuracy and allows consumers to challenge data accuracy. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) : The court held that consumer reporting agencies could be liable for failing to verify disputed information, underscoring the duty to correct inaccurate or unverifiable data. 
XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX ( XXXX ) : The FTC reinforced that consumer reporting agencies must ensure the accuracy of information reported and be vigilant in preventing unauthorized disclosures. 

I will filing a ftc Report reporting all the unauthorized accounts above and all other unauthorized addresses Aliases and phone numbers on my consumer report The name that should be reporting on my account is XXXX XXXX not XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Only address to be reported is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX No phone numbers should be XXXX on my consumer report Not Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Phone Number ( XXXX ) XXXX Nor employer information Employer XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  I Will be filling A FTC Report under the following circumstances and all Unauthorized information needs to me removed promptly 1681e ( b ) ( Accuracy of Reporting ) : Requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information they report. Any failure to ensure accuracy, especially when reporting unauthorized or unverified information, violates FCRA. 
1681c ( a ) ( Obsolete Information ) : Mandates that outdated and inaccurate information, such as incorrect addresses and outdated employment information, must not be included in consumer reports. 
XXXX. Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act 18 U.S.C. 1028 1028 ( a ) ( Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Identification Documents ) : Prohibits unauthorized or fraudulent use of anothers identifying information, such as Social Security numbers. Reporting unauthorized accounts linked to an individuals identity can be deemed identity theft, subjecting companies to severe penalties.

3. 18 U.S.C. 894 Collection of Extensions of Credit by Extortionate Means This statute criminalizes the use of extortionate methods to collect on credit extensions. Reporting false, unauthorized debt information and using incorrect or unverifiable details to coerce consumers to pay could be construed as extortion under this law, making violators liable for criminal penalties. 
XXXX. XXXX XXXX 15 U.S.C. 6802 ( Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information ) Protects consumers from unauthorized disclosure of personal information, mandating that financial institutions can not share sensitive data without explicit consent. Reporting unverified addresses, phone numbers, or other personal data without authorization could constitute a breach of this Act.

5. FTC Act Section 5 ( a ) ( Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices ) This section empowers the FTC to address unfair practices that harm consumers. The presence of unauthorized, inaccurate, or unverifiable information on a credit report that damages the consumers financial reputation and well-being may be deemed unfair or deceptive, warranting FTC enforcement action. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Reinforced that permissible purpose under the FCRA must be strictly adhered to, especially for collecting unpaid debt. Unauthorized use of credit information without consumer consent was ruled as an FCRA violation in this case. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Affirmed the FTCs authority to take enforcement action against entities that engage in unfair practices involving Immediate Removal of All Unauthorized Accounts and Personal Information Per the FCRA, your agencies must remove or verify disputed items with documentation. No verification of permissible purpose was provided, and thus, all disputed accounts, addresses, and phone numbers must be removed within XXXX ( XXXX ) days.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief