Consumer complaint received 2025-01-12 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: MI

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint pursuant to my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., as well as other applicable federal regulations protecting consumer privacy and credit reporting accuracy.

Right to Privacy Under FCRA According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681, Section 602 ( a ), there is a clear mandate to ensure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumers right to privacy. 
Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX are consumer reporting agencies, and I am the consumer. Therefore, my rights to privacy must be upheld in accordance with this provision. 
Protection of Nonpublic Personal Information 15 U.S.C. 6801 states : It is the policy of the Congress that each financial institution has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality of those customers nonpublic personal information.

The furnisher of information to the credit agencies is a financial institution by definition. As such, they are obliged to keep my personal information secure and must not share my data without adhering to the law.

Requirement for Written Consent Before Furnishing Information 15 U.S.C. 1681, Section 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) stipulates that a consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report only in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. 
Neither Equifax, XXXX, XXXX, nor the furnisher of information have received my written consent to report or share my private information. Any prior consentwhether verbal, implied, or otherwiseis hereby revoked.

Right to Opt Out of Disclosure 15 U.S.C. 6802 ( b ) ( c ) clarifies that a financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unlessthe consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option.

I was never informed of my right to exercise a nondisclosure option.

Furthermore, 12 C.F.R. 1016.7 states, A consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time.

I am formally opting out of any reporting or sharing of my personal or financial information by these entities.

Accuracy and Reasonable Procedures Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), a furnisher of information shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate.

15 U.S.C. 1681e requires every consumer reporting agency to maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 1681c of this title and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b of this title. 
Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX are not maintaining reasonable procedures, because they continue to publish and distribute inaccurate, outdated, and unverified information despite the statutory requirements.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief