Consumer complaint received 2025-11-29 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:
I am filing this complaint because Equifax, TransUnion, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX  have failed to conduct lawful reinvestigations of disputed accounts and hard inquiries, resulting in severe credit damage and an inaccurate credit profile. These failures violate multiple provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). My credit file contains unverifiable accounts and unauthorized inquiries that continue to suppress my FICO score. Based on my payment history, lack of true derogatory events, low utilization, and overall credit characteristics, my FICO score should reasonably be in the XXXX range. The only reason it is not is because Equifax and TransUnion continue to report information that is either unverified, unverifiable, or unauthorized, in direct violation of FCRA requirements for accuracy and verification. 

Experian has already deleted the XXXX XXXX  tradeline from my Experian credit report after XXXX XXXX failed to verify ownership or accuracy. This proves the account can not be verified and therefore must be deleted by all credit bureaus under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ). Despite this, Equifax and TransUnion continue reporting the same account, even though the furnisher has failed to provide documentary verification to any bureau. This represents a clear violation of 1681e ( b ), which requires maximum possible accuracy, and 611 ( a ), which mandates reinvestigation and deletion of unverifiable items. 

XXXX XXXX  has also admitted that the application for the XXXX account was submitted online and that they have no signed authorization or executed application. Under 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) and 623 ( b ), furnishers are prohibited from reporting information they can not verify and must investigate all disputes thoroughly. Because XXXX can not produce a signed application or any proof that I initiated this account, TransUnion may not continue reporting it under 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ). A credit bureau can not maintain a charge-off or derogatory account that has no verifiable origin. 

Additionally, my credit file contains multiple hard inquiries that are unverified or unauthorized. These include inquiries by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Under FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ), a hard inquiry requires a permissible purpose, such as my written permission or an application initiated by me. Under 1681b ( f ), a credit bureau may not provide a consumers credit report unless a permissible purpose exists. The FTC Staff Opinion Letter to XXXX ( XXXX ) makes clear that unauthorized inquiries must be removed because they are not permissible. Under 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), I have the right to dispute these inquiries, and because none of these furnishers have provided evidence that I initiated or authorized these inquiries, they must be deleted immediately. Continued reporting of unauthorized inquiries violates 1681e ( b ) as they materially distort the accuracy of my credit score and creditworthiness. 

It is important to note that this is now one of several complaints where Equifax has responded with the same boilerplate we must verify your identity message, even when the complaint was clearly not directed at Equifax. My identity is already verified through the CFPB system, and Equifax has repeatedly issued credit reports to me containing my verified personal information. These repeated responses represent an obstruction of the reinvestigation process and a failure to comply with 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), 611 ( a ) ( 2 ), and 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) - ( 7 ). In contrast, Experian successfully reinvestigated and deleted the unverified XXXX account, proving that these excuses from Equifax are not legitimate. 

The presence of unverifiable charge-offs and unauthorized inquiries is artificially suppressing my credit score. Without these unlawful and inaccurate entries, my FICO score should be consistent with a high-quality consumer profile, which is characteristically in the XXXX range. Under 1681e ( b ), the credit bureaus have a legal obligation to ensure that my credit report reflects maximum possible accuracy. Continuing to maintain unverifiable, inaccurate, or unauthorized derogatory information fundamentally violates this obligation and causes measurable harm. 

I request that the CFPB require Equifax and TransUnion to delete the XXXX XXXX  account immediately, consistent with Experians findings ; require TransUnion to delete the XXXX account due to lack of verification ; require deletion of all unauthorized hard inquiries listed in this complaint because they lack a permissible purpose under 604 ( a ) and 1681b ( f ) ; compel XXXX and XXXX XXXX  to produce documentary proof if they wish to continue reporting these tradelines ; review Equifaxs repeated misuse of the identity verification response which has now improperly closed multiple complaints ; ensure that all credit bureaus issue corrected reports ; and evaluate enforcement action against Equifax, TransUnion, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX  for repeated violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including 611, 623, 1681e ( b ), 1681b ( f ), and 1681n/1681o. My credit file must be corrected to reflect only verified and accurate information so that my FICO score accurately reflects my true creditworthiness.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation