Consumer complaint received 2025-11-03 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: DE

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Date : XX/XX/year> Subject : Formal Complaint Equifaxs Willful Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Failure to Conduct a Lawful Reinvestigation Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am filing this complaint as a consumer whose rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) have been willfully violated by Equifax. Despite multiple written disputes, Equifax continues to report fraudulent and unauthorized inquiries and accounts, and has failed to follow the investigation and reinvestigation procedures required by law. 

The following items were reported without authorization and have been the subject of prior dispute : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Under Section 604 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ), no consumer reporting agency may furnish a report without the consumers written permission or a legally permissible purpose. I never authorized these inquiries, and Equifax has failed to demonstrate written proof of permissible purpose. 

Under Section 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ), when a consumer disputes the accuracy of information, the credit reporting agency must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation. Equifaxs form response stating that inquiries are a factual record of file access is not a lawful reinvestigationit is a blanket refusal to comply. The agency did not obtain or provide the original application, signed authorization, or verification documentation from the furnishers, as the statute requires. 

Under Section 616 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n ), willful non-compliance with the FCRA subjects the violator to statutory and punitive damages. Equifaxs repeated failure to investigate after notice of dispute is clear evidence of willful disregard for federal law.

Equifaxs claim that I must contact the creditor directly and follow their internal fraud procedures is misleading and unlawful. The burden of reinvestigation lies with Equifax, not the consumer. This attempt to shift responsibility away from the credit bureau is a direct violation of Section 623 ( b ) and Section 611 ( a ) of the FCRA. 

I am requesting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau intervene and compel Equifax to : Permanently delete all fraudulent inquiries and accounts listed above. 

Provide written verification and proof of permissible purpose for every inquiry. 

Submit written confirmation of FCRA compliance within 30 days. 

Issue sanctions or enforcement action for repeated willful violations. 

Equifaxs pattern of non-compliance demonstrates a disregard for both consumer rights and federal law. This complaint serves as a formal demand for enforcement and oversight action by the CFPB. 

Respectfully,

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation