Consumer complaint received 2025-12-29 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: NM

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint against Experian, TransUnion, Equifax, and multiple data furnishers due to ongoing and repeated violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Despite submitting multiple formal disputes, these entities continue to report inaccurate personal identifiers, unauthorized credit inquiries, and derogatory tradelines that are not supported by lawful verification, competent documentation, or Metro 2compliant reporting. Equifax has confirmed that my personal identifying information was compromised in its data breach, which significantly heightens the risk of mixed-file reporting, identity misuse, and unauthorized account activity. Nevertheless, the credit bureaus and furnishers have failed to take appropriate corrective action. 

My consumer credit reports contain personal identifying information that does not belong to me and has never been properly verified. This includes incorrect and unauthorized name variations such as XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX, incorrect or variant dates of birth, prior addresses that are not associated with me ( including XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ), and employment information that I did not authorize, including XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. I have never lived at several of these addresses, never used these name variations, and have not authorized the reporting of this employment information. No documentation has been produced to establish that these identifiers belong to me. Continuing to report inaccurate personal identifiers after receiving notice of dispute violates FCRA 1681e ( b ) and 1681i and materially increases the risk of mixed-file reporting and identity-related errors. Updating or correcting these identifiers is not an acceptable remedy ; identifiers that can not be verified must be deleted. 

In addition to the personal identifier errors, my credit reports reflect hard credit inquiries that I did not authorize and that lack a permissible purpose under FCRA 1681b. These include inquiries by XXXX dated XX/XX/2024 and XX/XX/2024 and by XXXX dated XX/XX/2024. I did not apply for credit, services, or any transaction with these entities, nor did I provide written, verbal, or electronic authorization for my consumer report to be accessed. No signed applications, permissible-purpose certifications, or transaction records have been provided. Accessing my credit report without a permissible purpose and continuing to report these inquiries after notice of dispute violates FCRA 1681b, 1681e ( a ), and 1681i, especially in the context of a confirmed data breach. 

My credit file also contains numerous derogatory accounts and collection tradelines that continue to be reported without lawful verification or documentation. These include XXXX XXXX credit card charge-off accounts ending in XXXX and XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX collection accounts ending in XXXX and XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX accounts ending in XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX, an XXXX XXXX  collection account ending in XXXX, and charge-off accounts reported as XXXX ending in XXXX and XXXX/XXXX  ending in XXXX. Across these tradelines, the reporting is materially inaccurate and internally inconsistent, with conflicting balances, contradictory account statuses, fragmented or missing payment histories, duplicated or re-reported debts, inconsistent dates of activity, and missing mandatory Metro 2 data fields. Some accounts are reported as charged off while simultaneously reflecting zero balances or closed at consumer request notations, which is internally contradictory and misleading to users of the credit report. 

No furnisher has produced a signed agreement, original application, complete billing statements, itemized accounting, or lawful chain-of-title documentation establishing that these alleged debts belong to me or that the reporting entities have the authority to report or collect. Despite my disputes, these accounts continue to be marked as verified, yet no evidence has been provided that a reasonable investigation was conducted as required under FCRA 1681i and 1681s-2 ( b ). Verification without reviewing and confirming underlying account-level documentation does not meet the legal standard for a reasonable investigation. Updating, correcting, or re-aging these tradelines does not cure the violations ; accounts that can not be fully and lawfully verified should not be reported at all. 

As a direct result of the continued reporting of inaccurate personal identifiers, unauthorized inquiries, and unverifiable derogatory accounts, my credit scores have been unfairly suppressed, my credit profile has been materially damaged, and I have experienced denials of credit and less favorable lending terms. I have also been forced to expend significant time and effort attempting to correct errors that should not exist, causing ongoing stress and financial harm. I am requesting CFPB intervention to require the immediate deletion of all inaccurate personal identifiers, unauthorized inquiries, and unverifiable tradelines described above ; to compel the credit bureaus and furnishers to comply with FCRA and Metro 2 reporting standards ; and to provide written confirmation of deletion and correction to prevent continued consumer harm.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief