Consumer complaint received 2025-08-26 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 Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute and demand immediate correction of inaccurate and damaging information that has been reported on my credit file in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). These errors are severely harming my financial stability, credibility, and overall livelihood. The FCRA under 602 requires fair and accurate reporting. 607 ( b ) requires consumer reporting agencies to assure maximum possible accuracy. 611 requires proper reinvestigation of disputed items, and 623 prohibits furnishers from knowingly reporting false or unverifiable information. The FDCPA under 807 prohibits misrepresentation of debts and false reporting that causes consumers harm. Despite these clear protections, my file continues to contain false addresses and inaccurate account information. This is a direct violation of my rights and has caused me repeated denials for housing, credit opportunities, and auto financing. The embarrassment and XXXX  I face explaining errors that are not mine is humiliating and financially destructive. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX Wrong Address. Issue : This address does not belong to me and has no association with my identity or residence history. Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) requires credit bureaus to maintain accuracy. Story : Because of this wrong address, lenders have questioned my identity, and I have been forced to answer humiliating questions about fraud and identity theft. This has delayed important financial approvals, caused suspicion about who I am, and created unnecessary red flags in background checks. At one point, I was even denied a rental property because the landlord assumed I was hiding past evictions at this location, which is completely false. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, CA XXXX Wrong Address. Issue : False address reporting. Law : FCRA 623 prohibits furnishers from providing false residence data. Story : This has created confusion in background checks, leading employers and creditors to doubt my stability and honesty. I was nearly disqualified from a housing opportunity when the property manager suspected I was lying about my past. These false addresses make me look careless, unstable, and potentially fraudulent, when in reality the inaccuracy is entirely the fault of the reporting agencies. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance : {$690.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Chargeoff. Issue : This account is inaccurately reported as a charge-off when no proper validation or proof of delinquency has been provided. Law : FCRA 623 requires furnishers to report accurately, FDCPA 807 prohibits misrepresentation of debt. Story : Reporting this account as charged-off is devastating to my financial credibility. It makes me look like someone who abandoned their obligations, which is not true. This false reporting has destroyed my ability to qualify for affordable loans. I was offered only high-interest credit options, forcing me into a cycle of debt that I should never have been placed in. My credit reputation has been damaged publicly, and this single false charge-off has cost me XXXX  of dollars in added costs and emotional suffering. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX High Balance : {$470.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment. Issue : False reporting of late payment. Law : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) prohibits furnishers from reporting information they know or should know is inaccurate. Story : This late payment is entirely inaccurate. It has unfairly damaged my credit score and has made me appear as a high-risk borrower. Because of this, I was denied a personal loan that I intended to use for medical expenses. Instead, I had to rely on high-interest payday loans, which placed me under extreme financial strain. The humiliation of being rejected over a false report is something I should never have to go through. 
XXXX XXXX High BalancXXXX : {$7600.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment. Issue : This account is incorrectly marked with late payments. Law : FCRA 623 requires accuracy, and furnishers may not report unverifiable information. Story : This late payment reporting is damaging my credit standing and makes it appear that I neglected my student loan obligations. Because of this false reporting, I have been denied opportunities for refinancing, resulting in higher monthly payments and financial hardship. It also caused lenders to treat me as high risk even though I have consistently worked to maintain good standing. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX High Balance : {$8100.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Chargeoff. Issue : This account is being falsely reported as a charge-off. Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) and FDCPA 807 prohibit misreporting debts and creating a false impression. Story : Reporting this account as a charge-off has destroyed my creditworthiness. I have been denied credit cards, auto loans, and affordable housing because of this inaccurate entry. It presents me as financially irresponsible when there is no proper proof that this debt is valid or charged-off. This has been humiliating, costly, and unjust. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. Issue : Unauthorized inquiry. Law : FCRA 604 requires permissible purpose for credit inquiries. Story : This inquiry was not authorized by me. Each hard inquiry unfairly lowers my score, creates suspicion, and damages my ability to qualify for credit. This entry is abusive and violates my right to privacy. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry. Issue : False inquiry. Law : FCRA 611 requires reinvestigation of unverifiable inquiries. Story : This inquiry is another unauthorized pull that compounds damage. Every duplicate entry unfairly lowers my score, increasing financial hardship. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry. Issue : Duplicate/unauthorized inquiry. Law : FCRA 604. Story : This is another unauthorized credit pull that falsely portrays me as someone constantly applying for credit. This damages my credibility and forces me to pay higher rates due to suspicion of instability. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry. Issue : Unauthorized inquiry. Law : FCRA 604. Story : I never gave permission for this department store inquiry. It wrongly ties me to accounts I never applied for, lowering my score unfairly and creating the false impression of overspending. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry. Issue : Unauthorized inquiry. Law : FCRA 604. Story : Another false inquiry from the same department store, compounding the damage. It shows negligence in reporting and has created a false pattern of reckless credit-seeking behavior.

In conclusion, these errors represent serious violations of the FCRA and FDCPA. They have inflicted financial, emotional, and reputational harm on me. Each false address and inaccurate account entry adds to the picture of someone I am not. I have been denied housing, jobs, and credit opportunities because of these errors. I demand that these inaccurate items and wrong addresses be removed immediately. If these errors are not corrected, I am prepared to escalate this matter by filing complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and pursuing all available legal remedies. I expect a full reinvestigation and correction within the required 30 days under FCRA 611.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief