Consumer complaint received 2025-12-22 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
I believe the actions taken by XXXX XXXX and the credit reporting agencies violate multiple provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 

After I disputed the XXXX XXXX collection accounts and requested reinvestigation, the accounts were deleted from my credit reports around XX/XX/XXXX. That deletion indicates that, at the time of reinvestigation, the information could not be verified or was otherwise reported inaccurately. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is clear that once disputed information is deleted, it may not be reinserted unless strict statutory requirements are met. 

Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ), a credit reporting agency may not reinsert previously deleted information unless the furnisher certifies the accuracy of the information and the consumer is notified in writing within XXXX business days of the reinsertion. In my case, the XXXX XXXX XXXX accounts were reinserted around XX/XX/XXXX, yet I did not receive any written reinsertion notice from any credit bureau within XXXX business days, or at any time thereafter. Because no notice was provided, the reinsertion of these accounts was unlawful regardless of whether the debt is alleged to be valid. 

In addition, both XXXX XXXX accounts that reappeared report the same balance and list the same original creditor, meaning they represent the same underlying debt obligation. Allowing XXXX collection tradelines for the same debt to report simultaneously is materially misleading and violates 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to maintain reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. Reporting the same debt twice artificially inflates the negative impact on my credit file and does not reflect an accurate or fair representation of my credit history. 

Furthermore, XXXX XXXX conduct after the original dispute constitutes a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ). Once a furnisher receives notice of a dispute and the account is deleted, the furnisher may not re-report the same information unless it has been properly reinvestigated, verified as accurate, and furnished in a non-misleading manner. Re-reporting the same debt under XXXX tradelines after deletion, without resolving the dispute and without ensuring accuracy, breaches the furnishers statutory duties. 

These violations caused measurable harm. When the XXXX accounts were deleted, my credit score increased by approximately XXXX points. When the same accounts were reinserted, my score dropped by approximately XXXX points. This demonstrates that the reinsertion and duplicate reporting caused real and substantial consumer harm, not a hypothetical or technical issue. 

For these reasons, I believe the reinsertion and duplicate reporting of the XXXX Funding accounts constitute clear violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and I am requesting regulatory review and corrective action.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation