Consumer complaint received 2025-12-15 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint to report ongoing inaccuracies, procedural failures, and violations of my consumer rights related to information being reported on my credit reports by credit reporting agencies and data furnishers. Despite my repeated efforts to correct these issues through proper channels, including direct disputes, identity verification, and the filing of an FTC Identity Theft Report, inaccurate and fraudulent information has remained on my credit reports and continues to cause financial harm. 

The core issues involve identity theft, fraudulent accounts, inaccurate late payment reporting, improper bankruptcy reporting, and unauthorized credit inquiries, compounded by failures of the credit bureaus to properly reinvestigate disputes as required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 

Identity Theft and Fraudulent Account Reporting I discovered that a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account was reported on my credit report as a collection or charge-off. I did not open this account, did not authorize it, and did not benefit from it in any way. This account is the result of identity theft. 

Once I became aware of this issue, I took appropriate and lawful action. I filed an Identity Theft Report with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), which is the federal mechanism specifically designed to document and address identity theft. I then disputed the fraudulent XXXXXXXX XXXX account directly with the credit reporting agencies, requesting that it be blocked and removed in accordance with FCRA 605B. 

Despite providing notice that this account was fraudulent and that an FTC Identity Theft Report had been filed, the account continued to be reported. In some cases, my disputes were rejected or closed without a proper reinvestigation, and in other cases, I was told the dispute was not processed due to incorrect assumptions about authorization, even though I personally submitted the disputes and later provided identity verification documentation. 

This failure to promptly block and remove fraudulent information caused ongoing damage to my credit profile and undermined the protections XXXX put in place for identity theft victims. 

Improper Handling of Disputes and Reinvestigations I submitted disputes directly and personally, not through any third-party credit repair company. Nevertheless, at least one credit bureau incorrectly stated that a request did not come from me or someone I authorized, and closed the dispute without investigation. This was incorrect and later contradicted by my submission of government-issued identification, proof of address, and Social Security documentation to verify my identity. 

Closing disputes without reinvestigation based on incorrect assumptions prevented compliance with FCRA 611, which requires credit reporting agencies to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation when a consumer disputes information. These procedural failures delayed corrections, allowed inaccurate information to remain, and forced me to open additional disputes and CFPB complaints to seek resolution. 

Late Payment Reporting Issues In addition to the fraudulent account, my credit reports reflect multiple late payment entries that are inaccurate, misleading, or lack proper context. Some late payments are associated with accounts impacted by identity theft, while others were reported during periods affected by financial hardship and bankruptcy proceedings. 

Late payment reporting must meet the FCRAs maximum possible accuracy standard. Reporting late payments that are tied to fraudulent accounts, unverified data, or accounts affected by bankruptcy without proper verification creates a misleading credit profile. I disputed these late payments and requested that each be individually verified with original creditor documentation. 

Despite this, late payments continued to appear without adequate explanation or proof that the reporting was accurate. In some cases, late payment data appeared inconsistent across different credit bureaus, suggesting systemic inaccuracies rather than verified reporting. 

Bankruptcy Reporting Problems My credit reports also contain multiple bankruptcy entries, including a Chapter XXXX XXXX that was discharged and XXXX XXXX cases that were dismissed. While I understand that bankruptcy is a public record, its reporting must still comply with the FCRA. 

The issues I identified include : Duplicate or redundant bankruptcy listings Inconsistent reporting across credit bureaus Incorrect dates or reference information Reporting that does not clearly reflect dismissal or discharge status I disputed these inconsistencies because inaccurate bankruptcy reporting unfairly magnifies negative impact and misrepresents my financial history. Each bankruptcy entry should be verified directly with court records and reported accurately and consistently. 

Unauthorized and Improper Credit Inquiries My credit reports also contain numerous credit inquiries that I do not recognize, did not authorize, or that appear connected to fraudulent or disputed accounts. Under FCRA 604, a credit inquiry may only be reported if the requester had a permissible purpose. 

I disputed inquiries that : I did not initiate Were generated without my consent Are linked to fraudulent accounts Appear duplicative or inaccurately dated Despite these disputes, many inquiries remain on my credit reports without evidence that a permissible purpose existed. Unauthorized inquiries further damage my credit profile and create an inaccurate record of my credit-seeking behavior. 

Impact on Me as a Consumer The continued reporting of fraudulent accounts, inaccurate late payments, improper bankruptcy information, and unauthorized inquiries has caused substantial harm. These inaccuracies have negatively affected my credit scores, limited my access to fair credit terms, and required significant time and effort to address. 

I have acted in good faith throughout this process, following all required procedures, filing appropriate reports, and providing documentation when requested. The lack of timely and effective resolution has forced me to escalate this matter to the CFPB. 

Why I Am Filing This CFPB Complaint I am filing this complaint because : Fraudulent information was not promptly removed despite an FTC Identity Theft Report Disputes were closed without proper reinvestigation Late payment reporting remains inaccurate and misleading Bankruptcy reporting is inconsistent and duplicative Unauthorized credit inquiries remain uncorrected These issues demonstrate systemic failures to comply with the FCRA and to protect consumers from inaccurate credit reporting. 

What I Am Seeking Through This Complaint I am seeking regulatory assistance to ensure that : Fraudulent accounts are blocked and removed Late payments are corrected or deleted if unverifiable Bankruptcy information is reported accurately and consistently Unauthorized inquiries are removed Credit bureaus comply fully with reinvestigation requirements I am requesting that the CFPB ensure that my disputes are handled lawfully and that my credit reports reflect only accurate, verified, and legally reportable information. 

This narrative is submitted truthfully and in good faith. I am requesting that the CFPB review this matter and require the involved companies to comply with federal consumer protection laws and correct my credit reports accordingly.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation