Consumer complaint received 2025-11-24 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: MO

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint because XXXX separate collection accounts, XXXX reported by XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$510.00}, and XXXX reported by XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) in the amount of {$340.00}, are being furnished to my credit reports even though I do not own these accounts, I have never authorized them, I was never notified about them, and neither collector has been able to validate or prove the legitimacy of the debts. I have also filed an official FTC Identity Theft Report regarding these accounts, because I believe they are the result of fraudulent activity that I did not authorize. Despite this, both companies continue reporting derogatory information without producing documentation. 

This situation has created ongoing, significant harm to me, financially and otherwise. What has happened represents a failure of proper validation procedures, inaccurate reporting, and non-compliance with federal law. I am requesting the CFPBs help because neither XXXXXXXX XXXX  nor XXXX has resolved the issue, and both debts continue to appear on my reports even though no validation, no documentation, no contract, no statements, and no proof of ownership or assignment have ever been provided. 

1. How I Discovered the XXXX XXXX Accounts I became aware of the accounts when reviewing my consumer credit reports. I noticed : XXXX XXXX reporting a {$510.00} derogatory collection XXXX reporting a {$340.00} derogatory collection I had never received any communication from either company before seeing these accounts. There were no notices, no letters, no emails, no billing statements, no disclosures of validation rights, no demands for payment, and no indication that these accounts existed. 

Because I never opened or authorized the accounts linked to these collections, I immediately filed an FTC Identity Theft Report documenting these debts as fraudulent.

2. My Initial Disputes and Attempts To Resolve the Issue A. I disputed both accounts with all three credit bureaus I clearly stated : I do not own these accounts I never opened them I never authorized them I believe they are fraudulent I filed an FTC identity theft report I requested deletion and full validation Instead of conducting a reasonable investigation, each bureau sent me a letter saying the furnishers verified the accounts. 

No bureaus provided : The method of verification Copies of any documents Any evidence supporting the accounts The disputes were closed extremely quickly, which suggests no meaningful investigation was conducted.

B. I contacted each collector directly and requested validation I asked for : The original creditor name A signed application or contract Billing statements Dates of service Proof of ownership or assignment Chain of title Itemized balances Neither XXXX XXXX nor XXXX provided anything. 

They did not : Validate the debts Send any documents Identify an original creditor Provide itemization Provide proof of ownership Provide chain-of-title Provide a contract Instead, both companies simply continued reporting. 

3. Filing an FTC Identity Theft Report Because I never opened these accounts and neither collector provided any proof, I filed an official FTC Identity Theft Report, detailing : I never authorized either debt I never received goods/services I never opened the original accounts I never communicated with the original creditors I never received validation notices from XXXX or XXXX Both debts are fraudulent Under FCRA 605B, once a consumer submits an identity theft report, the collector and the bureaus must : Block the fraudulent information Stop reporting Stop selling the debts Stop attempting to collect them Despite my FTC filing , both XXXX Funding and XXXX continued reporting the accounts without providing any legally required documentation. 

4. Violations by XXXXXXXX XXXX  and XXXX A. FDCPA 809 ( b ) Failure To Validate When a consumer disputes a debt and requests validation, a collector must : Cease collection Cease reporting Provide documentation Neither XXXX nor XXXX has validated the debts, yet both companies continue furnishing derogatory information. 

B. FDCPA 807 ( 8 ) False Representation Both companies are reporting the debts as if they are valid when : They have not provided proof They have not produced documents They have not shown I owe the debts They have not shown legal ownership Reporting unverifiable debt is false and misleading.

C. FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ) Reporting Disputed Information When a consumer disputes information, furnishers must report the debt as disputed. 

Both XXXX and XXXX continued reporting without properly reflecting my dispute, despite multiple notifications. 

D. FCRA 611 Reasonable Reinvestigation Credit bureaus must : Review all relevant information Conduct a reasonable investigation Obtain documentation from the furnisher The reinvestigations completed by the bureaus were superficial and automated.

E. FCRA 607 ( b ) Maximum Possible Accuracy Neither account is accurate because : I never opened these accounts The collectors never validated them The companies have not proven ownership No documents link me to the debts Unvalidated information can not be accurate.

F. FCRA 605B Identity Theft Blocking Requirements Once an FTC identity theft report is submitted, bureaus must block the accounts unless the collectors provide clear evidence of validity.

No evidence has been provided.

Yet the accounts remain.

5. Why These Accounts Are Fraudulent and Not Mine Both debts share the same red flags of identity theft : I never opened or authorized either account.

I never received notices from the original creditor. 

I never received collections notices from XXXX or XXXX. 

Neither collector validated the accounts. 

No contract was supplied. 

No supporting documents exist. 

The collectors responded to disputes with automated verified statements.

No itemized billing was ever shown.

My FTC identity theft report documented them as fraudulent.

No collector has challenged or disputed my FTC report.

If these were legitimate accounts, the collectors would easily be able to produce : Original contracts Service agreements Proof of ownership They did not. 

6. Harm I Have Experienced Because these XXXX fraudulent accounts remain on my credit reports, I have suffered : Lower credit scores Denials for credit Higher interest rates Negative impact on creditworthiness Emotional distress Lost opportunities Difficulty securing loans The presence of unvalidated debt also increases the likelihood of future fraud. 

7. Why CFPB Intervention Is Needed Neither XXXX nor XXXX Funding has complied with : FDCPA validation requirements FCRA accuracy requirements FCRA identity-theft protections Proper reinvestigation standards Documentation obligations The credit bureaus have also failed to conduct meaningful investigations or block fraudulent information under FCRA 605B .

Without CFPB involvement, these accounts will remain despite no proof, no validation, and no legal basis.

8. What I Am Requesting I am requesting that the CFPB require : 1. Immediate deletion of both accounts XXXX XXXX {$510.00} XXXX {$340.00} 2. Removal from all three credit bureaus 3. Compliance with FCRA 605B due to my FTC identity theft filing 4. Require collectors to stop reporting until validation is supplied 5. Require collectors to provide documentation or delete the accounts 6. Written confirmation of deletion These actions follow federal law.

9. Closing Summary In summary : XXXX XXXX and XXXX are reporting fraudulent debts totaling {$510.00} and {$340.00}, respectively. 

I do not recognize or own these accounts. 

I have filed an FTC Identity Theft Report. 

Neither collector has validated the debts. 

No documentation proving the debts belong to me has ever been provided. 

Both companies continue reporting false information in violation of federal law. 

The credit bureaus have not conducted meaningful reinvestigations. 

The continued reporting is causing ongoing harm. 

I respectfully request CFPB assistance to ensure these unvalidated, fraudulent accounts are deleted and that all parties comply with federal consumer protection laws.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief