Consumer complaint received 2024-12-14 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Public record information inaccurate
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally dispute the inclusion of bankruptcy records on my credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). As a consumer, I have the right to accurate and verifiable information in my credit file, and I am requesting the immediate removal of the bankruptcy records reported by your agency. 
Disputed Item Details : Public Record Type : Bankruptcy Filing Date : XX/XX/year> Court Name : United States Bankruptcy District of Arizona Reason for Dispute : I have conducted a thorough investigation and obtained the following information : XXXX. Bankruptcy Court Statement : I sent a letter to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court inquiring about the reporting of bankruptcy records. The court confirmed that they do not report any information to credit agencies. They also stated that if someone needs bankruptcy information, they must : o Physically visit the court and pay a fee to retrieve the information, or o Register for a XXXX  account and pay a monthly fee to access records online. 
XXXX. XXXX Confirmation : I contacted XXXX, a common third-party provider for public records, and they confirmed they do not have any of my bankruptcy information in their system. I have enclosed their written confirmation for your review. 
XXXX. Equifax and Credit Report Statements : Upon reviewing my credit reports, both Equifax and XXXX stated that they use a third party to retrieve public records, specifically naming XXXX as their source. However, as mentioned above, XXXX has explicitly confirmed they did not provide any information regarding my bankruptcy, and they provided me with a confirmation letter for proof. 
Given these facts, it is clear that the bankruptcy information on my credit report can not be verified and must be removed. The continued presence of inaccurate information on my credit report violates 15 U.S. Code 1681e ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to maintain maximum possible accuracy. Additionally, under 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ), unverifiable information must be deleted during the dispute resolution process.

Action Requested : XXXX. Investigate the accuracy of the reported bankruptcy records immediately. 
XXXX. Remove the bankruptcy records from my credit file since they can not be verified by your data provider ( XXXX ). 
XXXX. Provide written confirmation of the investigation results and the actions taken regarding this dispute. 
Enclosures : Correspondence from XXXX confirming the absence of my records in their system Highlighted copies of my credit reports showing the disputed bankruptcy records Failure to Comply : If you fail to verify the accuracy of this information or remove it promptly, I will take the following actions : XXXX. Filed a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the next step, I will file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and then I will file a complaint with my state Attorney Generals office. 
XXXX. Retain legal counsel to file a lawsuit seeking actual, statutory, and punitive damages under 15 U.S. Code 1681n ( willful violations ) and 15 U.S. Code 1681o ( negligent violations ). 
This is a serious matter, and I expect a response within XXXX  days, as required by law. All correspondence should be sent to my address listed above. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation