Consumer complaint received 2025-05-06 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: VA

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Rebuttal to Equifax Response Failure to Comply with FCRA 1681g and 1681i Dear CFPB Officer, I am writing in response to Equifax Information Services LLCs reply dated XX/XX/XXXX, regarding my original complaint concerning Equifaxs refusal to investigate or verify disputed information reported in my credit file. I respectfully assert that Equifaxs actions and their stated justification are legally deficient, factually misleading, and in direct violation of their obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 

1. Equifaxs Refusal to Investigate Based on Identity Documents is Misleading and Unlawful Equifaxs response claims it was unable to locate a credit file unless I provide a Social Security Number ( SSN ), full address, date of birth, and multiple forms of documentation. This requirement contradicts the provisions of 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( a ), which states that a consumer reporting agency must clearly and accurately disclose to the consumer all information in the consumers file at the time of the request, using reasonable identification. 

Nowhere in the FCRA is a consumer required to provide a Social Security Number or multiple government-issued documents to obtain their credit report. The law explicitly uses the term reasonable, not exhaustive, and courts have held that the burden to verify identity must be balanced against the consumers rights to access and correct inaccurate data XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

By insisting on excessive documentationparticularly when Equifax is actively furnishing derogatory information under my nameEquifax is effectively denying me access to challenge or correct my own credit file, in violation of both 1681g ( access to file ) and 1681i ( duty to reinvestigate disputed information ). 



2. Contradiction Between Their Claim and Public Records Equifax claims it can not locate a file under my name due to no recent activity or lack of SSN, yet continues to furnish credit data to third parties that impact my creditworthiness. This contradiction reveals either : Equifax is knowingly reporting unverifiable or misattributed data, or Equifax does in fact have a file, but is willfully refusing to disclose itan act that may constitute willful noncompliance under 15 U.S.C. 1681n.

Either scenario results in harm to me as a consumer and violates my right to transparency and due process under the law. 



3. Unlawful Burden Shifting and Denial of Consumer Protections Equifaxs recommendation to contact the other two credit bureaus is a red herring. The FCRA imposes independent obligations on each credit reporting agency to : Provide access to ones file, Conduct a reinvestigation when a dispute is submitted, Remove inaccurate, unverified, or incomplete information within 30 days. 

Equifax can not legally defer its responsibilities to XXXX XXXX XXXX 



Request for CFPB Action Given these failures, I respectfully request that the CFPB direct Equifax to : 1. Promptly disclose the full contents of any file they maintain under my name, pursuant to 1681g ; 2. Conduct a reinvestigation of the disputed entries I have challenged, pursuant to 1681i ; 3. Cease any further dissemination of disputed or unverifiable data until proper verification has been completed ; 4. Be held accountable under 1681n and 1681o for any willful or negligent refusal to comply with federal law. 

Equifaxs behavior, as documented, denies me fundamental protections under the FCRA and represents a pattern of obstruction that undermines the integrity of the credit reporting system. I remain committed to resolving this matter lawfully and respectfully, and I ask the CFPB to ensure that Equifax meets its obligations to me and to every consumer it serves.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation