Consumer complaint received 2024-12-03 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this follow-up to my complaint filed on XX/XX/XXXX ( Complaint ID XXXX ) against XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX ). As a victim of identity theft, I contest the resolution of my complaint, which was marked as closed without addressing the core issues or providing meaningful relief. XXXX actions, including reporting inaccurate and unverifiable information, failure to validate the alleged debt, and mishandling of disputes, have caused significant financial, emotional, and reputational harm in clear violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ).

Key Issues 1. Reporting Inaccurate and Unverified Information XXXX is reporting a debt I do not owe as a result of identity theft. I have no business relationship with XXXX, and I did not authorize the original creditor to sell or transfer my information. 
The inaccuracies in XXXX  reporting, coupled with discrepancies between XXXX and Equifax, violate FCRA 1681e ( b ), which mandates accurate and consistent reporting.

2. Failure to Validate the Alleged Debt As a victim of identity theft, I have repeatedly disputed this debt and requested validation under FDCPA 1692g ( b ). XXXX has failed to : Provide a copy of the original agreement with XXXX ( original creditor ). 
Demonstrate a clear chain of custody showing ownership of the debt. 
Substantiate the balance, payment history, or any collection activity. 
Legal Precedent ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) ) requires debt XXXX to validate disputed debts before continuing collection activities, including reporting to credit bureaus. XXXX  failure to validate this alleged debt constitutes an ongoing violation of the FDCPA. 

XXXX. Mishandling of Disputes Both XXXX and Equifax have mishandled my disputes, enabling XXXX to continue reporting unverifiable information : XXXX : Marked my dispute as " Completed investigation of FCRA disputeconsumer disagrees '' without providing evidence to support its findings.

Equifax : Labeled the dispute as " Reinvestigation In Progress '' but has not reconciled discrepancies or substantiated the account. 
Under FCRA 611 ( a ), furnishers and credit reporting agencies ( CRAs ) must conduct reasonable investigations into disputes and ensure accurate reporting. XXXX and the CRAs have failed to meet this standard. 

XXXX. Failure to Address Identity Theft As a victim of identity theft, I have provided documentation supporting my claim, yet XXXX continues to report this alleged debt without resolution. This failure to address my status as an identity theft victim and verify the legitimacy of the account violates FCRA 605B, which requires CRAs to block information resulting from identity theft upon receiving appropriate documentation. 

Harm Caused by XXXX Actions Financial Harm : My credit score has been unfairly damaged, resulting in : Denial of credit applications. 
Higher interest rates on loans and credit cards. 
Lost financial opportunities. 
Emotional Distress : Persistent stress and XXXX  caused by unresolved inaccuracies and XXXX  failure to validate the debt or acknowledge my identity theft claim. 
Reputational Damage : Misleading credit reports have tarnished my reputation as a reliable borrower. 
Violations of Federal Laws XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX FCRA Violations : 1681e ( b ) : Furnishing inaccurate and inconsistent information to credit bureaus.

605B : Failing to block information resulting from identity theft.

1681s-2 ( b ) : Failing to correct inaccuracies after receiving notice of the dispute.

FDCPA Violations : 1692g ( b ) : Failing to validate the debt upon request.

1692e : Reporting unverified information as a false or misleading representation.

1692f : Employing unfair and unconscionable means to collect an alleged debt resulting from identity theft.

Credit Reporting Agencies FCRA Violations : 605B : Failing to block inaccurate information stemming from identity theft.

611 ( a ) : Failing to conduct reasonable investigations into disputes.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation