Consumer complaint received 2025-03-21 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX To Whom It May Concern : Subject : Dispute of Charge-Off Accounts ( 1099-C ) Request for Removal Based on FCRA Violations and Identity Theft Protections I am writing to dispute several charge-off accounts listed on my credit report, which I believe were reported in violation of federal law. Specifically, I am requesting the removal of these accounts that have been marked as Charge-Off and reported as 1099-C ( Cancellation of Debt ). Upon review, I believe these accounts may have been reported erroneously or were the result of identity theft. I am invoking the provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), including 15 U.S.C. 1666b, 15 U.S.C. 1681i, 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2, and 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( c ) ( a ), as well as Metro2 compliance standards, to request the immediate investigation and removal of these accounts.

Below are the accounts that are being disputed : Account Name : XXXX ; Account Number : XXXX ; Opened : XX/XX/XXXX ( REMOVE IMMEDIATELY ) Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX ; Account Number : XXXX ; Opened : XX/XX/XXXX ( REMOVE IMMEDIATELY ) Account Name : XXXX XXXX  ; Account Number : XXXX ; Opened : XX/XX/XXXX ( REMOVE IMMEDIATELY ) Legal Grounds for Dispute 1. 15 U.S.C. 1666b Reporting of Charge-Offs Under 15 U.S.C. 1666b, creditors are required to provide accurate and timely reporting of charge-offs and cancellations of debt. If the creditor has reported the debt as a Charge-Off but has failed to provide proper documentation or did not follow the correct process of notifying the consumer, this constitutes an error in reporting. If I did not receive proper documentation of the charge-off or the cancellation of debt ( 1099-C ), or if the account was settled or disputed, the charge-off should be removed.

2. 15 U.S.C. 1681i Dispute Resolution Process Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, when a consumer disputes information on their credit report, the credit reporting agency must conduct a reasonable investigation within 30 days to verify the accuracy of the reported information. If the information can not be verified, it must be removed. Given that these charge-off accounts may not be accurate or may have been reported under false pretenses, I request that you investigate these entries and provide me with written confirmation of the findings. If the accounts are unverifiable, they must be deleted from my credit report.

3. 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 Responsibilities of Furnishers of Information Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2, furnishers of information are required to report accurate data to the credit bureaus. This includes the responsibility to investigate disputed information and correct any inaccuracies. If the creditor or lender who reported these charge-offs has failed to verify the information or provide accurate reporting, they are in violation of this provision, and the credit reporting agencies are required to remove the information from my report.

4. 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( c ) ( a ) Removal of Information Due to Identity Theft Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( c ) ( a ), if any information on my credit report is a result of identity theft, the credit reporting agency must block and remove this information within 4 business days of receiving a complaint consisting of the relevant details. I believe some of the charge-off accounts in question may be the result of fraudulent activity or identity theft. As such, I am requesting that you treat these accounts as potentially fraudulent and immediately block and remove these accounts from my credit report.

5. Metro2 Compliance and FCRA Guidelines The credit reporting agency must comply with the Metro2 guidelines for the accurate reporting of charge-off accounts and other credit data. If these charge-offs do not comply with the Metro2 standards or the FCRA, they must be corrected or removed. This includes ensuring that the data is accurate, the correct codes are used, and the reporting is made in compliance with the law. If any of these accounts were reported incorrectly under Metro2 guidelines, I request they be removed.

Request for Immediate Action I respectfully request the following actions be taken : 1. Remove any charge-off accounts that have been reported in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1666b, including those that may lack proper documentation or the correct reporting of the cancellation of debt ( 1099-C ).

2. Remove any disputed charge-off accounts under 15 U.S.C. 1681i that can not be verified by the creditor or furnishers of the information.

3. Remove any charge-off accounts reported under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 that have been inaccurately reported by the furnisher of information.

4. Block and remove any charge-off accounts that I identify as fraudulent or related to identity theft, in compliance with 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( c ) ( a ), and ensure that these accounts are removed within 4 business days.

5. Ensure that all charge-off accounts comply with Metro2 Compliance standards and FCRA regulations .

Please conduct a thorough investigation and provide me with the results of your findings within the 30-day period required under 15 U.S.C. 1681i. If the information is found to be unverifiable or inaccurate, I request that these charge-off accounts be deleted from my credit report. Additionally, if the investigation determines that any of the charge-offs are the result of identity theft or fraudulent activity, I request that you block and remove these entries from my report in compliance with the FCRA and 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( c ) ( a ).

If any of the charge-off accounts are found to be valid and accurate, I request that you provide supporting documentation that verifies the legitimacy of these entries, including proof of my authorization or any supporting agreements.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving confirmation of the removal of these erroneous charge-off accounts and any other necessary corrections to my credit report. Sincerely
, XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation