Consumer complaint received 2025-06-04 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MI

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally notify you of serious and willful violations of federal law in connection with your handling of my personal data. The following outlines potential breaches under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and related statutes, with emphasis on willful noncompliance, data mishandling, and failure to fulfill statutory obligations.

1. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S. Code 1681 Section 1681i Procedure in Case of Disputed Information When a consumer disputes information on their credit report, the XXXX XXXX XXXX ( CRA ) must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation within 30 days. 

Violations : Failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation. 

Failure to notify the consumer of the results of the reinvestigation. 

Failure to correct or remove inaccurate information within the statutory timeframe. 

2. Data Breach and Protection 15 U.S. Code 1681b & 1681w Section 1681b Permissible Purposes for Consumer Reports CRAs may only disclose consumer information for legally permissible purposes. Unauthorized disclosures or inadequate data protection measures violate federal law. 

Violations : Unauthorized sharing of personal data with third parties. 

Inadequate security protocols resulting in data breaches. 

Failure to provide required consumer notification in the event of a data breach. 

3. Willful Noncompliance 15 U.S. Code 1681n Section 1681n Civil Liability for Willful Noncompliance Willfully failing to comply with FCRA requirements subjects the agency to civil liability, including statutory and punitive damages.

Violations : Willful failure to investigate and respond to disputes.

Failure to update or correct false or incomplete information.

Deliberate negligence in ensuring credit report accuracy despite being notified of discrepancies.

4. Identity Theft and Fraud 15 U.S. Code 1681c-1 Section 1681c-1 Fraud Alerts Upon notification of identity theft, CRAs are required to promptly place fraud alerts. 

Violations : Failure to apply fraud alerts upon request. 

Lack of appropriate procedures for victims of identity theft to dispute fraudulent accounts.

5. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Violations The CFPB enforces compliance with the FCRA and other consumer protection laws.

Violations : Failure to provide documentation related to dispute investigations.

Submission of misleading or false information during the dispute process.

Noncompliance with CFPB rules regarding dispute resolution and consumer rights.

6. Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Violations The FTC oversees the enforcement of consumer protection laws. 

Violations : Failure to properly notify consumers of their rights concerning disputes. 

Breach of FTC guidelines on credit report accuracy, dispute handling, and data security.

7. State Law & Regulatory Violations In addition to federal law, state laws impose additional requirements for consumer data protection and dispute resolution.

Violations : Failure to comply with state-specific laws regarding data breaches and reporting accuracy. 

Noncompliance with state notification requirements following a breach. 

8. Penalties for Willful Noncompliance and Data Breach Violations of these laws may result in the following penalties : Statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation. 

Actual damages sustained due to noncompliance. 

Punitive damages for willful violations. 

Attorneys fees and court costs upon successful legal action.

9. Right to Litigation If these issues are not resolved immediately, I intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including but not limited to : Filing a lawsuit for FCRA violations. 

Seeking damages. 

Reporting noncompliance to the CFPB, FTC, and appropriate state authorities. 

Specific Disputed Items Please conduct a reinvestigation and correct or DELETE the following inaccurate entries : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX yet there are inconsistencies linked to a known data breach. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ), you are required to report only accurate data. If the balance can not be verified, this account must be deleted immediately. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  This collection account is inconsistently reported across all three bureaus and lacks proper verification. The balance, dates, and status are misaligned. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681i and 1681s-2, unverifiable or inaccurate information must be corrected or removed. If one bureau has already deleted the account for lack of verification, continued reporting is unlawful. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Similar to the above, this collection account is inconsistent and unverifiable. You have not provided sufficient documentation. Delete this item or provide full evidence of its accuracy in compliance with FCRA and Metro 2 standards. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX This collection account contains conflicting data across bureaus and lacks proper validation. Continued reporting without documentation violates your legal obligations. Delete this item or provide proof of accuracy. 

Inaccurate Personal Information I also dispute inaccurate personal identifiers ( names, addresses, etc. ) on my credit file. These do not belong to me and must be removed immediately under 15 U.S. Code 1681c.

Demand for Documentation I hereby request tangible evidence proving that the inquiries and entries in question were authorized and made for a permissible purpose, as required under federal law. If such evidence can not be produced, all unverified and derogatory items must be removed. 

Please consider this notice a formal demand for compliance. Failure to take corrective action will result in immediate escalation, including legal proceedings.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief