Consumer complaint received 2025-09-11 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint regarding multiple inaccurate, misleading, and fraudulent items on my credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. These reporting errors have caused substantial harm to my creditworthiness, delayed access to financial products, and negatively impacted my financial stability. I demand immediate investigation, correction, and removal of all inaccurate information. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Wrong Address This is not nor has ever been my address. By law, credit bureaus must maintain maximum possible accuracy under FCRA 1681e ( b ). Reporting this false address makes it look like I lived in multiple places I never lived in, and creditors wrongly view me as unstable. Because of this wrong address, I was questioned during a loan application and treated as if I was hiding something. This caused embarrassment in front of my family and denied me approval for better credit terms. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX High Balance : {$99000.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment Freedom Mortgage has reported late payments that are not true. I was making payments but was placed on hold for hardship assistance during a financial crisis, yet they still marked me late. Because of this false reporting, I was denied a refinance that would have lowered my monthly payment by hundreds of dollars. This caused me to lose money every single month, adding up to thousands of dollars in loss. Under FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), no furnisher may report inaccurate information knowingly, yet this continues. 
XXXX XXXX * * High Balance : {$65.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off A {$65.00} account being marked as a charge off is misleading, disproportionate, and damaging. I never received validation or a proper billing statement proving this debt. Because of this charge off, a credit card issuer reduced my credit limit, which then raised my credit utilization and lowered my score further. I was treated as if I defaulted on a large debt, all over {$65.00}. This is abusive and violates both FCRA and FDCPA standards. 
XXXX XXXX * High Balance : {$1.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off Reporting a {$1.00} charge off is not only inaccurate but also ridiculous. It shows reckless data handling and negligence. A {$1.00} charge off should never exist in the first place, and yet it damaged my profile by showing derogatory activity. Because of this, my score dropped enough that I lost approval for a store financing plan I needed for essential household items. This is proof of malice and negligence in reporting. 
XXXX XXXX * High Balance : {$20000.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off I strongly dispute this charge off. XXXX failed to provide me with a signed contract, payment records, or proof of default. I was actively trying to resolve the account but was misled and ignored by their collection department. This false charge off made it impossible for me to buy a safe and reliable vehicle for my family, leaving me stuck with an unreliable car that often broke down. The financial and emotional toll was immense. Reporting without proof violates FDCPA XXXX and FCRA XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX High Balance : {$2700.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This charge off is being reported without proof. I attempted multiple times to communicate with XXXX to set up a resolution, but instead of cooperation, they marked it as a charge off. Because of this, when I applied for a personal loan to cover medical expenses for my family, I was flatly denied. The humiliation of being told I was too risky because of this one disputed account has created sleepless nights, stress, and constant fear. Under FDCPA 809 and FCRA 623, no furnisher can legally report without validation. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX * * * High Balance : {$20000.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This large charge off has never been validated with proof. I have never received a proper contract, breakdown of charges, or notice of default. Yet, it sits on my report destroying my creditworthiness. Because of this, I was denied a mortgage pre-approval and forced to continue renting. This has stopped me from building generational stability for my family. The emotional toll of being unable to provide a permanent home is devastating. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX * * High Balance : {$2700.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This charge off is completely unverifiable. No billing statement, no contract, and no legal proof has been provided. Yet it continues to destroy my file. Because of this, I was rejected for a small emergency loan during a family medical crisis, leaving me helpless and dependent on others. This created shame, emotional distress, and financial instability. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance : {$880.00} | Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX | Status : Collection This alleged debt is being reported in violation of the FDCPA and FCRA. XXXX XXXX is known to purchase old, time-barred, or unverified debts, and in this case, they have failed to provide any original documentation proving ownership or validity. Without proper chain-of-custody and validation, they are violating 15 U.S.C. 1692g. Reporting this account to my credit file without legally required validation is damaging, misleading, and unlawful. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX I never authorized this dealership-related inquiry. I did not apply for auto financing with XXXX XXXX on this date. The inquiry is unverified and must be deleted because it violates the permissible purpose rules of the FCRA. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry XXXXend XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry On XX/XX/XXXX, more than a dozen auto-related inquiries hit my credit report all at once. I did not authorize so many lenders to pull my credit file. At most, I XXXX have visited XXXX dealership, but auto dealers and affiliated lenders engaged in shotgun multiple submissions without my consent. This practice grossly misrepresents my credit-seeking behavior, artificially lowers my score, and violates the FCRAs permissible purpose requirement. Duplicate and shotgun inquiries must be removed. 
All of the above accounts and inquiries are reported falsely, misleadingly, and without proper verification or authorization. I demand written confirmation of your investigation and resolution, including corrected credit reports sent to all major credit bureaus. If any items can not be verified, they must be permanently removed under FCRA 1681i, 1681e ( b ), and 1681b. Failure to comply will result in legal escalation, including reporting to the Federal Trade Commission and seeking remedies under 15 U.S.C. 1681n and 1681o.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief