Consumer complaint received 2025-09-24 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MN

Complaint narrative:
Enhanced Complaint XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Your Name : XXXX XXXX Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Phone : XXXX Email : XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) State Attorney General Consumer Protection / Civil Rights Division XXXX XXXX Executive Office & Legal Department Subject : Formal Complaint Fraud Mis-Handling, Discrimination, Credit Reporting Violations , & Financial Harm 1 . Statement of Facts On XX/XX/XXXX, I filed a fraud claim with XXXX XXXX for fraudulent charges totaling over XXXX {$250000.00}. These charges were unauthorized, and none of them were made by me or approved by me. 
XXXX XXXX initially credited my account ( or indicated they would ) acknowledging the fraud. Subsequently, without adequate explanation, they reversed the credit, closed the fraud claim ( or said the case was closed ), and began holding me responsible for these unauthorized charges. 
Because of their actions : My credit reports with all three major credit bureaus ( Equifax, XXXX, XXXX  ) were severely damaged. 
I experienced negative entries, delinquent status, or collection type listings because XXXX XXXX reported me as responsible ( or past due ) for the fraudulent amounts. 
Another creditor ( XXXX ) closed my account because of the adverse credit reporting and issues stemming from this dispute. 
I lost business operations : I was forced to sell my company for {$200000.00}, which is far less than fair value due to the harm to my credit, finances, reputation. 
I also lost all loyalty / rewards points accumulated on my XXXX XXXX account during the timeframe of the fraud claim, which I believe I had rights to retain under the advertised Fraud Protection / Zero Liability / Guarantee policies. 
I believe I have been discriminated against because I am a XXXX XXXX and because my name is XXXX. I believe the treatment I received ( denial of claims, mishandling, poor customer service, failure to investigate properly ) was influenced negatively by bias. 



2. Legal Grounds/ Violations These are the U.S. federal laws and protections I believe XXXX XXXX has violated : Fair Credit Billing Act ( FCBA ) 15 U.S.C. 1666 et seq. 
The right to dispute billing errors, including unauthorized ( fraudulent ) charges, and an obligation for proper, timely investigation. 
Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) especially regarding what a card issuer must disclose, what protections against unauthorized use are.

Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) for the requirement that credit reporting be accurate, that disputed items must be investigated and corrected if incorrect, that negative reporting must be removed if wrong. 
Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA ) 15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.

No discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or other protected classes when giving credit, handling credit disputes, closing accounts, etc. 
Consumer Protection Laws/ Unfair, Deceptive or Abusive Acts or Practices ( UDAAP ) under the CFPBs rules.

Possibly state consumer protection / anti-discrimination statutes ( depending on your state ) which may provide additional protection or remedies.

3. Relevant Precedent & Similar Cases These show that XXXX XXXX has in the past been found liable for misconduct, including discrimination and mishandling of credit and dispute issues. They strengthen my complaint : CFPB Orders XXXX XXXX to Pay {$85.00} XXXX Refund For illegal credit card practices : deceptive marketing, failure to report disputes to credit bureaus, discrimination based on age, etc. 
CFPB Orders XXXX to Pay {$59.00} XXXX for Illegal Practices Involving deceptive add-on products, misleading consumers, billing and marketing issues. 
CFPB and XXXX Resolution Discriminatory terms for consumers in XXXX XXXX and U.S. territories, unequal terms, higher rates, stricter credit cutoffs.

Credit discrimination is Illegal ( CFPB guidance ) You are protected under ECOA, they cant treat you differently because of race, religion, national origin.

These show regulators have held XXXX accountable in similar types of wrongdoing : deceptive practices, misreporting disputes, discriminatory treatment of cardholders. 



4. Claims/ Alleged Violations Based on the above, these are what I claim : XXXX has not honored its fraud protection guarantee ; it reversed decisions in a way that violates FCBA / TILA. 
XXXX improperly reported disputed debt to credit bureaus or failed to remove negative items despite dispute or fraud status ( violating FCRA ). 
The reversal of credit or closure of dispute without logical explanation / due process. 
Discrimination under ECOA because of my name / religion / national origin, in the way my dispute / fraud claim was treated.

Misleading / deceptive statements/ possibly false advertising concerning fraud protection guarantee or zero liability.

Financial and emotional harm : loss of business, loss of credit, damage to reputation, etc. 



5. Relief / What I Demand I request the following : 1. Immediate reopening of my fraud claim and full investigation by XXXX XXXX, with transparency and documentation. 
2. Restoration of the credit that was originally credited, OR compensation for the loss.
3. Removal of all adverse credit reporting from credit bureaus related to these fraudulent charges.

4. Restoration of my loyalty/rewards points that were lost.

5. Financial compensation for tangible losses : value lost by forced sale of the company, lost business opportunities, increased costs, etc.

6. Non-monetary relief : A written apology. 
A commitment from XXXX to review and correct their dispute / fraud handling process, especially oversight for discrimination. 
If discrimination is found, remedial actions under ECOA and related civil rights laws.

7. Investigation by CFPB / FTC / State AG : that they enforce legal sanctions if violations are confirmed.

6. Supporting Evidence All documentation of the fraudulent transactions ( statements, notices, etc. ) Correspondence with XXXX : emails, letters, calls dates, names, what they said. 
Evidence of credit damage : credit reports before/after, notices from credit bureaus, communications from XXXX or other creditors who closed accounts due to credit issues. 
Evidence of business loss : valuation, sale documents, financial statements. 
Evidence of discrimination : any statements, treatment, denials, difference in handling compared to others. 



7. Summary and Legal Notice XXXX XXXX conduct appears to violate the laws cited above. I demand that regulatory agencies ( CFPB, FTC ), your offices, enforce these laws, fully investigate this complaint, and order restitution for me, including correction of my credit history, compensation, and relief for discriminatory treatment. 



Respectfully submitted, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief