vivekkopthsd/cfpb-consumer-complaints huggingface dataset:
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax did not do their due diligence to protect my credit information, and their systems were compromised for at least 2 months in summer of 2017. I am among a list of millions of Americans who are likely affected by this data breach. I am freezing my credit to prevent potential damage, but I ca n't know for some months if any damage was done before my actions.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
My personal information was released by Equifax and has been compromised.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OK

Complaint narrative:
This complaint specifically involves Equifax, but applies to all credit reporting agencies.
On XX/XX/XXXX, one of the largest data breaches occurred when Equifax was hacked and over 150 million people 's SSNs, DOBs, addresses, etc were stolen. Notification of this breach was not handled in a timely manner. The solution provided by the company involves free credit monitoring for a year based on the consensus that I waive my right to sue or participate in a class action lawsuit. This is theft, in addition to the hacking. This solution does not suffice. This company mishandled mine and millions of other 's information incorrectly and should not be allowed to be benefit from their carelessness under the guise of " saving money '' by cutting corners regarding proper security measures.
All credit reporting agencies should step up security measures by including at least a two-step verification process. Additionally, credit report monitoring should be a free, standard service since the public is subjected, as a standard, to being forced into having our information in the hands of these credit reporting agencies without permission, without a business relationship.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: DC

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my information, which has led to a breach that puts me and millions of others at risk. I am extremely disappointed with how Equifax has handled reporting this breach. Very little was done to notify the public for nearly a month after the breach was detected. I received no E-mail, letter, or phone call, and instead had to discover it via social media.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem — Was not notified of investigation status or results
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OK

Complaint narrative:
Equifax was hacked, and investigated the incident for several months without notifying consumers. They are now using this large identity theft incident to market their fraud alert program.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
The equifax data hack that caused the loss of my personal identifying information that can be used to impersonate my identity and even take out loans without my awareness. That this data was stored in an unencrypted format and can be accessed in bulk is a failure on Equifax 's end, and that this information can be used without my direct involvement is a failure on the industry as a whole, as even my email has two step authentication.
Equifax 's solution to offer one free year of their paid service monitoring with an agreement to not pursue any lawsuits is nothing less than a profiteering exploitative insult, as the information that was stolen will be mine for the rest of my life. Not that the end of my life necessarily means the end of the problem, as there have been instances where a stolen identity has been used even after they the owner of that identity is XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Due to the recent Equifax Security Breach, I checked to see if I may have been impacted and yes, I may have. I put a 90 day fraud alert on my account to keep it somewhat protected from newly credit applications under my identity.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, 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:
Equifax reports that my personal information was likely leaked in the hacking of their databanks in XX/XX/XXXX through XX/XX/XXXX. This could include my social security number, date of birth, drivers license number, etc.. I never consented for Equifax, or any other credit bureau, to collect this information and the loss of it is squarely their responsibility. I am unable to get a new SSN or drivers license number, these have been compromised and will never be safe again. It has been reported that certain leadership of Equifax sold some stock in the company before the reporting of identity theft was reported.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my information which has led to a breach that puts myself and millions of others at potential risk. I am extremely disappointed with how Equifax has handled reporting this breach. Very little was done to notify the public for nearly a month after the breach was detected. I received no notification that I could potentially be impacted, no email, letter, or phone call. Instead had to discover it via social media and through news agencies.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
My information was compromised in the Equifax hack.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX, 2017, I found out that my personal information was compromised due to a data breach that affected Equifax over a month ago. Since then, I have been taking precautions, one of which is to freeze my credit. It is ridiculous that a company which I never interacted with is affecting me financially and that I have to pay for every credit bureau in order to protect my credit. In addition to this, to be able to check whether my information was compromised, I had to complete an arbitration clause that excuses accountability from Equifax.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
According to Equifax 's security report on www.equifaxsecurity2017.com/potential-impact/, I am likely part of their privacy breach. To be as safe as possible, my partner and I assume that our private identifying information is no longer private. Equifax 's exact words were : 'based on the information provided, we believe that your personal information may have been impacted by this incident. ' I submitted my information at XXXXXXXX XXXX PST XXXX XXXX, 2017. I found it disgusting that they attempted to enroll me in their 'XXXX XXXX ' account service, which includes in their terms of service the condition that I waive any right to participate in a class-action lawsuit against them. I did not accept these terms. 

After receiving this confirmation, I got my latest credit report from XXXX and placed a free 90-day hold on my credit, to avoid new lines of credit being taken out in my name. However, my information will now be available to malicious parties for much longer than 90 days. Once personal information is stolen it can never be made private again. Permanent damage has been done. 

Equifax has irresponsibly mishandled my personal information, and the personal information of millions of other Americans. Their behavior thus far indicates to me that they are more concerned with their survival as a corporation than the very real damage that will be done to people 's lives as a result of their cavalier actions.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, 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:
Equifax allowed a breach to come to light as of XXXX/XXXX/2017. There is also evidence that they have already known about this for months, in addition to several high level managers selling stock just before the official announcement. Their actions this point seem to have only been to help themselves and leave the public in the lurch. Their resolution has people sign up for a " free '' service that binds people to an arbitration clause, and most likely starts charging them for the service after their free year is concluded.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit repair services
Issue: Problem with customer service — 
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
" Equifax mishandled my information which has led to a breach that puts myself and millions of others at potential risk. I am extremely disappointed with how Equifax has handled reporting this breach. Very little was done to notify the public for nearly a month after the breach was detected. I received no email, letter, or phone call and instead had to discover it via social media. 

Going forward equifax should be required to monitor every account and notify victims if any fraud occurs. Credit fraud protection should be mandatory for every account, not an option for us to have deal with.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax was leaked and my information was potentially included. Really disappointing and now I 'm scrambling to make sure my identity is n't stolen.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
Equifax stored my personal information as plain text, and then released it to hackers, sold their stocks, and then announced the news.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WI

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my personal information including Name, Social Security #, Address, Birthdate, etc. resulting in a data breach inXX/XX/XXXXthat they confirmed I was affected by per their " Potential Impact '' site www.equifaxsecurity2017.com.
They have put myself and millions of others at risk of identity theft/fraud due to negligent security protocols in handling consumer information. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation by signing injured parties THEY are responsible for up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services.
They are simultaneously defrauding these injured parties with hidden terms of service that waive their right to sue the company in what is clearly a situation of criminal negligence/fraudulent behavior as indicated by the three Equifax executives that dumped stock immediately prior to the data breach announcement.
I demand that they rectify this by making credit freezing free and refunding everyone who paid for it following this data breach. The negligent loss of personal information of nearly 200 million consumers is an unconscionable breech of ethical behavior by this company and it is further unreasonable that they are not directly notifying every single person affected by this regardless of their questionable " judgment '' of who to contact.
Moreover, they must provide financial compensation for those affected to fund credit monitoring services like XXXX to provide ongoing protection of priceless, irreplaceable personal information.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem — Difficulty submitting a dispute or getting information about a dispute over the phone
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
Called Equifax to inquire about hack.
Was lead to website which would not accept my SS #.
Was told there was a problem and was disconnected.
Called back and have been on wait for almost 60 minutes now, still waiting!
I wanted to freeze my credit report and am not capable using telephonic and internet attempts. Please freeze all my credit as all my personal information has been provided to hackers by Equifax.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I was unfortunately one of the ~143 million accounts affected by Equifax 's data leak that occurred in XX/XX/XXXXof 2017. I obtained this info by verifying via the Equifax site set up for this ( https : //www.equifaxsecurity2017.com ). Without knowing for certainty the extent of information leaked, I assume that my SSN, DL, DOB, address, credit card info and more were leaked and obtained by third-parties for fraudulent use.
The manner in which Equifax has handled the situation - especially the creation of a non-arbitration clause to a meager 1-year identity theft service they administer, is shameful and nefarious.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OR

Complaint narrative:
My social security number, credit information, and other sensitive data was breached from the Equifax breach. This hack happened much prior to their acknowledgement and I received no notice from them. Offering 1 year of credit monitoring in exchange for agreement to no class action lawsuits is not a fair solution to their lack of cyber security nor their silence for weeks after the breach.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
My information was compromised during the Equifax hack.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax leaked my personal information including, potentially, DOB, social security number, addresses and more. Now my entire credit history is compromised.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
With the recent data breach affecting Equifax, I am concerned with the security of my credit/personal information at their bureau. In effect, the security at other bureaus concerns me as well.
It worries me that 1 ) the hacks were known nearly a month in advance of the reports breaking about a breach and 2 ) recent reports have shown 3 managers sold stock in the company before the hacks even happened, leading to a suspicious narrative around inside gaming and trading.
The result of this breach, if the reports are to be believed at their worst conclusion ( personal data is now public ), I can never truly feel protected from identity theft, or worse, even by our most trusted institutions, and must have permanent restrictions ( such as credit freezes ) on all my accounts to protect my identity and financial security.
As a concerned citizen, thank you for looking into this.
Sincerely, XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
My personal info ( SSN, driver 's license, age, address and bank account ) has been hacked because of the neglect of Equifax.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Based on the finding out of the XXXX data breach, I decided to protect myself by thoroughly investigating my own credit report and doing research. I own a XXXX XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX XXXX card and recently applied for another one and was approved. Upon seeing things affecting my scores I discovered 14 hard inquiries, with many of them the Same one twice and all within a week of each other. I have purchased XXXX XXXX to protect myself and I am going to be placing a fraud alert as well. I am working on my credit to be able to apply for a house loan next year and need these unauthorized inquiries off. I have contacted XXXX XXXX2017 please help me remove these inquiries from all CB please

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax leaked my personal info along with my SSN to unauthorized users.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Other personal consumer report
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Due to inadequate security and monitoring measures, the company Equifax permitted my credit information and the credit information of my wife to fall in the hands of bad actors. This misuse of my credit information has caused worry, potential future fraud, and very likely identity theft by the bad actors.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax mishandled my personal information including name, social security number, address, birthdate, driver 's license number, and possibly more. Through severe negligence in data security, they allowed a data breach to occur in XX/XX/XXXX and they confirmed I could be affected on their website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. They failed to notify victims in a timely manner, putting us at further risk. They are further attempting to capitalize on the situation by signing injured parties they are responsible for up for " trial periods '' of their ID protection services. The negligent loss of personal information of nearly 200 million consumers is unconscionably unethical, and it is further unreasonable that they are not directly notifying every single person affected by this incident.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation
Consumer complaint received 2017-09-09 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Equifax has not secured my very private credit information and as a result of the recent leaks has left me vulnerable to identify theft and credit fraud - among many other risks that I have n't mentioned. 

This should not and can not go by the way side. Something must be done.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation