Consumer complaint received 2025-05-14 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AR

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to file a formal complaint against all three major credit reporting agencies ( Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion ) for multiple violations of my rights under federal consumer protection laws. Due to the severe impact these violations are having on my financial well-being, I request expedited handling of this complaint.

IDENTITY FRAUD CONCERNS Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., I have the right to dispute inaccurate information resulting from identity theft. I have identified several accounts on my credit reports that I did not authorize or open. These accounts appear to be the result of identity fraud. Despite previous dispute attempts, the credit bureaus have failed to conduct reasonable investigations as required by 15 U.S.C. 1681i.

The credit bureaus have violated my rights under : FCRA 1681e ( b ) - Failure to follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy FCRA 1681i - Failure to properly investigate disputes FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) - Failure to provide proper notice of investigation results FCRA 1681c-1 - Failure to properly implement fraud alerts and credit freezes FCRA 1681c-2 - Failure to block information resulting from identity theft Additionally, under : Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act ( 18 U.S.C. 1028 ) Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act ( FACTA ) amendments to the FCRA Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018 ( requiring free security freezes ) I am entitled to have fraudulent information blocked and removed from my reports. The credit bureaus have failed to meet these obligations despite my requests for fraud alerts, credit freezes, and identity theft blocks.

DATA BREACHES AND SECURITY CONCERNS All three credit bureaus have experienced significant data breaches compromising my personal information : Equifax 's XXXX data breach exposed approximately XXXX XXXX consumers ' information.

Experian has experienced multiple breaches, including significant breaches in XXXX.

TransUnion has reported data breaches affecting millions of consumers.

These breaches violate numerous laws : Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ( GLBA ), 15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq. - Requiring safeguards to protect consumer data : GLBA Safeguards Rule ( 16 C.F.R. Part 314 ) GLBA Privacy Rule ( Regulation P, 12 C.F.R. Part 1016 ) Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 45 - Prohibiting unfair or deceptive practices Failure to implement reasonable data security measures constitutes an unfair practice State Data Breach Notification Laws ( applicable to my state of residence ) Failure to properly notify me of breaches affecting my data California Consumer Privacy Act ( if applicable ) Failure to provide proper notice and maintain reasonable security procedures State Consumer Protection Laws ( applicable in my state ) Failure to maintain reasonable security measures CFPB 's Regulation V ( 12 C.F.R. Part 1022 ) Failure to maintain reasonable procedures for data protection Furthermore, under FCRA 1681e, they have failed to maintain reasonable procedures to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to legitimate purposes.

MEDICAL DEBT REPORTING VIOLATIONS AND MEDICAL CONDITION PROTECTIONS My specific medical conditions create additional legal protections and considerations in credit reporting : Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ) : Prohibits discrimination based on disability Requires reasonable accommodations in financial reporting Protects individuals from adverse treatment due to medical conditions Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ( 29 U.S.C. 794 ) : Prohibits discrimination in programs receiving federal financial assistance Provides additional protections for individuals with medical conditions No Surprises Act ( Division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ) : Prohibits reporting medical debt for the first 365 days Requires patient notice before reporting medical debt Establishes protections against surprise medical billing Credit Bureau Medical Debt Reforms ( as of XX/XX/XXXX ) : Removal of paid medical collection debt from reports Extension of time before unpaid medical collection debt appears on reports from XXXX  months to XXXX year Exclusion of medical collection debt under {$500.00} from credit reports ( effective XX/XX/XXXX ) Medical Debt Relief Act provisions HIPAA ( 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164 ) : Strict limitations on sharing protected health information Requirements for authorization before sharing medical information Additional protections for sensitive medical conditions FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 6 ) restrictions on reporting certain medical information CFPB XXXX XXXX on Medical Debt Collection and Credit Reporting Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( ACA ) provisions : Additional protections for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions Restrictions on using medical information for discriminatory purposes My medical condition creates specific additional concerns : Protection from discriminatory credit reporting practices Enhanced privacy requirements for medical information Potential limitations on how medical debt can be reported Considerations for medical expenses related to my specific condition Potential reasonable accommodations in credit reporting Medical-Related Reporting Violations Include : Is less than XXXX year old Has been paid in full but still appears negatively Is under {$500.00} but still appears on my reports Was incurred during the COVID-19 national emergency period Contains protected health information shared without proper authorization May be directly related to my medical condition and treatment I request special consideration under the above-mentioned laws, including : Complete review of how my medical condition impacts my credit reporting Verification that no discriminatory practices have occurred Thorough investigation of all medical-related debt reporting Consideration of my medical condition in assessing credit reporting accuracy IMPACT OF CREDIT REPORTING ERRORS ON FUNDAMENTAL LIFE NECESSITIES The inaccurate and derogatory information on my credit reports has created a catastrophic barrier to obtaining basic life necessities, violating multiple consumer protection laws and causing substantial harm to my ability to : HOUSING DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS Violations of : Fair Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3601-3619 ) Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA, 15 U.S.C. 1691 ) State-level housing discrimination laws Specific Impacts : Inability to secure permanent housing Repeated denial of rental applications Barriers to homeownership Forced into unstable living conditions UTILITY SERVICE ACCESS RESTRICTIONS Violations of : FCRA 604 ( a ) - Permissible purposes of consumer reports Public Utility Commission regulations State utility consumer protection laws Specific Impacts : Denial of utility service connections Required excessive deposits Inability to establish essential home services Potential health and safety risks from service denials INSURANCE ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS Violations of : Fair Credit Reporting Act Insurance industry non-discrimination regulations State insurance consumer protection laws Specific Impacts : Denial of car insurance Increased insurance premiums Inability to obtain comprehensive coverage Potential legal driving restrictions FINANCIAL SERVICE RESTRICTIONS Violations of : Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA ) Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) Consumer Financial Protection Act Specific Impacts : Denial of car loans Inability to secure emergency loans Blocked access to credit cards Prevented from establishing financial stability Potential employment discrimination LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF SYSTEMIC BARRIERS These credit reporting errors have created a cascading cycle of financial exclusion that : Violates multiple federal and state consumer protection laws Prevents economic mobility Creates systemic barriers to basic life necessities Potentially constitutes constructive financial discrimination

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief