Consumer complaint received 2024-11-20 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: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
I am writing in response to your recent communication, dated XX/XX/year> ; XXXX, requesting additional documentation, including two years of proof of address, in connection with my Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) violations complaint. I must object to this request, as it is both unreasonable and inconsistent with the documentation requirements for the dispute you already processed. 

When I submitted my initial dispute, I provided the following documentation : A copy of my Maryland drivers license A copy of my Social Security card A bank statement as proof of my current address You accepted these documents as sufficient to verify my identity and initiate the dispute process. Your current request for additional, excessive documentation, including XXXX years of proof of address, is not required by law and creates unnecessary barriers to the resolution of my complaint. 

Applicable Laws and Violations XXXX. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) : Reasonable Identification Requirements Under the FCRA, consumer reporting agencies ( CRAs ) are permitted to request reasonable identification to verify a consumers identity. However, the law does not specify or require the type of excessive documentation you are now demanding. The Maryland drivers license, Social Security card, and bank statement I provided are well within the scope of what is considered reasonable identification. 
Violation : By requesting additional documentation beyond what the law requires, you are imposing unreasonable burdens that obstruct my rights as a consumer under the FCRA. 
15 U.S.C. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) : Duty to Conduct a Reinvestigation The FCRA requires that CRAs conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information within 30 days. You have already accepted my identity documents for this purpose. Requiring excessive additional documentation to address my FCRA violations complaint delays the process and fails to meet your obligations under the law. 
Violation : Your additional documentation demands represent a failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation as required by the FCRA. 

XXXX. FTC and CFPB Guidance Both the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) have issued guidance prohibiting CRAs from imposing unnecessary barriers for consumers. Specifically : CRAs may request minimal identification necessary to verify a consumers identity, but must avoid excessive requirements that create delays or prevent consumers from resolving disputes or complaints. 
Imposing arbitrary and redundant documentation requirements is considered a violation of federal consumer protection standards. 

XXXX. Maryland Consumer Protection Act ( MCPA ) Under the MCPA, your request for excessive documentation may constitute an unfair or deceptive trade practice, particularly since you have already verified my identity and processed disputes using the same documentation.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation