Consumer complaint received 2025-08-20 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: MI

Complaint narrative:
To the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am submitting this complaint regarding multiple inaccurate, unverifiable, and unauthorized items currently being reported on my credit file. These accounts and inquiries are in direct violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), and other federal consumer protection laws. The continued reporting of this information has caused me significant financial harm, emotional distress, and denial of fair access to credit. I respectfully request the CFPB to investigate these matters and ensure that the furnishers and credit reporting agencies are held accountable for their violations. 
Below are the specific items in dispute : I have worked hard for years to rebuild and maintain my financial standing, but these inaccuracies have made it nearly impossible to achieve progress. Every time I apply for credit or attempt to secure stable housing, I am denied due to information that does not even belong to me. I am treated unfairly and judged harshly because of reports that are not based on verified facts. The stress of these errors has impacted my family life, my employment opportunities, and my overall well-being. I am exercising my legal right to dispute these accounts and demand that they be investigated, validated, or removed immediately. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX Wrong Address Issue : This address is being falsely reported as connected to me. 
Law : FCRA 1681e ( b ) requires consumer reporting agencies to maintain maximum possible accuracy. 
Story : I have never resided at this address, nor have I had any connection to it. When a false address is placed on my credit profile, it creates confusion and raises suspicion as if I may be tied to accounts or activities that are not mine. This not only affects how lenders view me but also increases the risk of identity confusion and fraud. It is deeply unfair for me to be linked to an address I have never lived at, and it causes humiliation when I am questioned by creditors about residences that are unfamiliar to me. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, MI XXXX Wrong Address Issue : Erroneous address association. 
Law : Under FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ), I am entitled to know the sources of information being reported about me, and under FCRA 611, I have the right to dispute and request deletion of unverifiable data. 
Story : I have never lived here, nor is there any verifiable record connecting me to this property. Including this address is reckless and negligent. It makes it appear that I lived in places where I never set foot, which confuses lenders and employers. When they see multiple addresses, they may assume I am hiding something or being dishonest, which is absolutely untrue. This false reporting has tarnished my reputation and made me feel powerless, even though the law is supposed to protect me from this very harm. 
XXXX XXXX Acct : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  {$600.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge-off Issue : This account is inaccurately reported as a charge-off. 
Law : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) requires furnishers to provide accurate information, while FDCPA prohibits false, deceptive, or misleading representation of debt.

Story : This account is damaging my credit profile by showing as a charge-off even though I have disputed it repeatedly and no verifiable proof has been produced. The burden of proof lies on the furnisher, not on me as the consumer. Yet, this account remains, making me look like someone who walks away from obligations. This false perception is ruining my ability to secure even small lines of credit, forcing me into financial dependency and making it harder for me to provide for my household. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$23000.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge-off Issue : Improper charge-off being reported. 
Law : FCRA 611 ( a ) requires reinvestigation and correction of disputed information ; FDCPA 807 prohibits debt collectors from misrepresenting character, amount, or legal status of a debt. 
XXXX : The reporting of such a large balance as a charge-off paints me as irresponsible, which is not only untrue but devastating to my financial future. When a false charge-off of this size appears, I am immediately denied for credit, car financing, or even some job opportunities. The fact that no documentation has been provided to prove this debt only makes the harm worse. My financial and emotional stability is being crushed under the weight of this false entry. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$2600.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge-off Issue : Incorrect past-due balance reported as a charge-off. 
Law : FCRA 605 ( c ) sets limits on the reporting of negative information ; data older than XXXX years should not be included. 
Story : This account is outdated and should no longer even appear on my report. Yet it is being kept alive as a weapon against my financial freedom. Every time I apply for credit, this outdated mark haunts me like a ghost from the past. It keeps me locked out of opportunities that could allow me to rebuild my life. This is unjust, unlawful, and needs to be corrected immediately. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  {$480.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Collection Issue : Reported as a collection without proof of ownership. 
Law : FDCPA 809 ( b ) requires debt validation upon request. 
Story : I have never received validation of this debt. No signed contract, no billing history, nothing that links this account to me. Yet, it is being reported in a way that makes it seem like I failed to meet my obligations. This false impression follows me into every financial decision, creating stress and denial after denial. The lack of validation proves that this reporting is unlawful and must be removed. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  {$2900.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Collection Issue : Reported as a collection despite disputes. 
Law : FCRA 611 and FDCPA 807 both require accuracy and prohibit misleading reporting. 
Story : I have disputed this account, yet it remains with no proof provided. It feels as if I am fighting a system that is stacked against me, where furnishers can report anything without proof and consumers are left to suffer the consequences. This reporting is unfair, misleading, and a direct violation of my rights. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$740.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Issue : XXXXXXXX XXXX  is reporting this collection without providing sufficient verification of the original account, the balance, or proof that they have the legal right to collect. 
Law : FDCPA 807 prohibits false or misleading representation of debt. FCRA 611 requires accurate reporting and reinvestigation of disputed accounts. 
Story : XXXX XXXX is known for purchasing old, unverified debts and reporting them as new collections. I never received full documentation proving that this account is legitimate or that they have the legal standing to collect. This account is damaging my score and preventing me from accessing fair credit opportunities. The continued reporting without proof is harassment and a violation of my rights under both FDCPA and FCRA. 
XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Issue : These inquiries are being reported on my credit file without my knowledge, authorization, or permissible purpose. 
Law : Under FCRA 604, a credit reporting agency may only furnish a consumer report when there is a permissible purpose. Inquiries made without my explicit authorization or legitimate purpose violate federal law. 
Story : These hard inquiries are damaging my creditworthiness by lowering my credit score and creating the impression that I am seeking excessive credit, which is not true. Many of these inquiries were conducted without my consent, and I never authorized these companies to access my credit file. The presence of these inquiries is misleading, harmful, and unlawful. I demand immediate removal of these unauthorized inquiries. 
Conclusion : The reporting of these accounts and inquiries is inaccurate, unverifiable, and in violation of federal law. I am requesting that the CFPB investigate these matters, require the furnishers to provide complete documentation, and direct the credit reporting agencies to delete any information that can not be properly verified. The FCRA and FDCPA exist to protect consumers like me from unfair, misleading, and abusive practices, and I am asking for your assistance to ensure my rights are fully enforced.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief