Consumer complaint received 2025-09-26 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
To the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau I am filing this formal complaint regarding multiple inaccurate and unlawful items being reported on my credit file. These items are damaging my creditworthiness, preventing me from obtaining fair access to financial opportunities, and they are being reported in violation of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other applicable consumer protection laws. I am requesting CFPB oversight and enforcement to ensure immediate reinvestigation, deletion of these inaccurate items, and accountability from the furnishers and credit reporting agencies who are continuing to allow this false information to appear.

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Balance Owed : {$0.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX This account is marked as a chargeoff with a balance of {$0.00} which is an inherent contradiction. A chargeoff by definition is the creditors declaration that the debt is unlikely to be collected, yet if the balance is XXXX, there is no debt to collect. This inconsistency violates FCRA Section 602 ( A ) which requires that all credit reporting be fair and accurate. No creditor can legally report a chargeoff with no financial obligation outstanding. Furthermore, the presence of this item on my report misleads lenders into believing I had a default when in reality no balance exists. Under FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ), you are required to reinvestigate and verify the accuracy of disputed information, yet no documentation proving this debt has been provided. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also emphasized that misleading information in consumer reports constitutes unfair harm. By continuing to report this, the bureau is violating FCRA Section 607 ( b ), which requires maximum possible accuracy. This reporting damages my reputation, creditworthiness, and ability to secure fair financial terms. The FCRA makes clear under Section 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) that unverifiable items must be deleted. I demand immediate removal of this chargeoff entry since it lacks legal foundation, proper validation, and contradicts itself by listing a XXXX balance while simultaneously labeling the account as a chargeoff. No proof of a signed agreement, payment records, or official chargeoff statement has been furnished. This makes the account unverifiable and unlawful to continue reporting. 

XXXX XXXX * * Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment * * This account reflects late payments despite showing a XXXX balance. The contradiction demonstrates the inaccuracy of this reporting, as no debt exists yet derogatory remarks are being maintained. FCRA Section 609 ( a ) requires that the consumer reporting agency furnish all information in the file, including contracts, billing statements, and payment histories to validate such reporting. None of this evidence has been provided in response to my first dispute. By reporting late payments with no balance owed, the bureau is publishing misleading and unfair information in violation of FCRA Section 607 ( b ), which mandates maximum possible accuracy. Under Section 611 ( a ) ( 5 ), unverifiable and inaccurate data must be deleted. The lack of substantiation shows that this late payment history is being reported without permissible verification. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made clear that reporting inaccurate payment history harms consumers by lowering credit scores, increasing the cost of borrowing, and damaging reputations. If there is no balance owed, there is no legitimate payment obligation to be late on, making this entry both inaccurate and misleading. I demand immediate deletion of this item unless the credit bureau can produce signed documentation from the creditor validating the accuracy of the payment history, including monthly statements and proof of delinquency. Without such validation, this entry violates my rights under the FCRA and must be permanently removed. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Balance Owed : {$0.00} Late Payment XXXX XXXX This account is being reported with derogatory late payments despite showing no balance owed, which is contradictory and inaccurate. A consumer can not be late on payments when no balance exists, and reporting such information is a direct violation of FCRA Section 607 ( b ). Under Section 609 ( a ), you are required to provide me with copies of any original contracts, promissory notes, or billing statements that validate the accuracy of the late payment history. None of these documents have been provided, making this account unverifiable. Under FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ), reinvestigations must be reasonable, and the absence of substantiating documentation proves that this reinvestigation has not been conducted properly. The CFPB has repeatedly emphasized that inaccurate reporting of payment history causes severe harm to consumers, limiting access to fair credit and increasing financial costs. Continued reporting of this unverifiable late payment history is misleading, inaccurate, and a violation of FCRA Section 602 ( A ). By law, under Section 611 ( a ) ( 5 ), this item must be deleted if it can not be verified with concrete proof. Reporting old late payments with no balance owed also appears to be an attempt to unfairly extend the derogatory impact of a closed account. The FCRA prohibits obsolete, misleading, and unverifiable information from remaining on consumer reports. I demand immediate deletion of this account unless the bureau can produce signed contracts and full billing records validating each reported delinquency. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed : {$2400.00} Late Payment XXXX XXXX  This account is being reported with late payments, yet no valid proof has been provided that substantiates the alleged delinquencies. Under FCRA Section 611, a credit bureau must provide the consumer with evidence from the furnisher showing that the payment history is accurate. To date, no such evidence has been presented. Without original contracts and complete billing histories, this reporting is unverifiable and inaccurate. Section 602 ( A ) of the FCRA requires fair and accurate reporting, and Section 607 ( b ) requires maximum possible accuracy. The continued reporting of unverifiable late payments violates both provisions. The CFPB has made it clear that inaccurate reporting of payment history unfairly harms consumers by lowering credit scores and damaging reputations. The presence of this derogatory information creates significant financial harm and limits access to fair lending. Reporting this account without proper substantiation is not only misleading but also unlawful. Under Section XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ), unverifiable accounts must be deleted. The lack of validation and failure to furnish original documentation shows that this account can not be lawfully reported. I am demanding deletion unless full validation is provided directly from the creditor, including signed agreements and accurate billing statements that prove the delinquency. 

I respectfully request that the CFPB take immediate action to ensure that these inaccurate, unverifiable, and unauthorized items are deleted from my credit file. These accounts and inquiries have been maintained in violation of federal law, and despite my disputes, the credit reporting agencies and furnishers have failed to comply with their legal obligations. I am requesting CFPB intervention to protect my rights as a consumer and to enforce the laws set forth under the FCRA to guarantee fair and accurate reporting.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief