Consumer complaint received 2025-10-27 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX, TX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX Equifax Information Services LLC XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX RE : Formal Dispute and Demand for Immediate Deletion of Inaccurate Information Reported by XXXX  XXXX ( Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX ) To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to formally dispute inaccurate, misleading, and legally non-compliant information appearing on my consumer credit report ( s ) as furnished by XXXX  XXXX. This letter serves as my official notice under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., demanding the immediate investigation and deletion of the disputed items identified herein. 

DISPUTED ACCOUNT INFORMATION Creditor : XXXX  XXXX Account Number XXXX : XXXX Account Number XXXX : XXXX I. Inaccurate Account Information Reported by XXXX  XXXX The information reported by XXXX  XXXX contains multiple material inaccuracies that have caused substantial harm to my creditworthiness and financial reputation. Specifically, XXXX XXXX has reported the following inaccurate information : Account Balance Discrepancies : The account balance ( s ) reported by XXXX  XXXX are demonstrably incorrect and do not reflect the actual amount owed, if any. These inaccurate balance figures misrepresent my financial obligations and have negatively impacted my credit score and ability to obtain credit on favorable terms. The reported balances on Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX are materially false and have never been properly verified or substantiated with complete payment histories. 
Personal Information Errors : XXXX XXXX has furnished incorrect personal identifying information, including but not limited to errors in my name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, or employment information. Such inaccuracies raise serious concerns about the integrity of XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX data management systems and compliance with the FCRA 's accuracy requirements under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ).

Inaccurate Account Status and Payment History : The payment history, account status designations, and charge-off information reported for both Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX contain material inaccuracies that misrepresent my creditworthiness and violate FCRA accuracy standards. 
XXXX. Violations of Statute of Limitations and Improper Sale of Time-Barred Debt XXXX  XXXX has violated applicable statutes of limitations by selling and/or continuing to report account information that is time-barred under state law. By selling these time-barred debts ( Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX ) to third-party debt purchasers and collection agencies, XXXX XXXX has engaged in conduct that perpetuates the reporting of obsolete information and facilitates potential illegal collection activities. 
This practice violates the spirit and intent of both the FCRA and state consumer protection laws, as it enables third parties to profit from debts that are no longer legally enforceable. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX sale of such accounts for its own financial benefit, with knowledge that the statute of limitations has expired, constitutes a deceptive trade practice and an abuse of the credit reporting system. The sale of inaccurate account information to data brokers, marketing companies, insurance providers, and other financial institutions for XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX commercial benefit directly violates FCRA XXXX which requires legitimate permissible purposes for accessing and disseminating consumer information. 
XXXX. Violations of the Seven-Year Reporting Rule Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ), consumer reporting agencies are prohibited from reporting accounts placed for collection or charged off that antedate the report by more than seven years. XXXX XXXX has violated this statutory mandate by reporting account information for Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX that exceeds the permissible seven-year reporting period. The continued reporting of obsolete negative information beyond the statutory time limit is unlawful and has caused me ongoing harm by artificially depressing my credit score and limiting my access to credit, employment, and housing opportunities. 
Moreover, XXXX XXXX XXXX  reporting of inaccurate balance information in connection with these time-barred accounts compounds the violation by creating the false impression that these debts remain active and enforceable, when in fact they should have been removed from my credit report entirely. The seven-year reporting period is calculated from the date of first delinquency that immediately preceded the charge-off or collection placement, and XXXX XXXX has failed to comply with this requirement for both disputed accounts. 
IV. Inaccurate Data Sales Violations and Data Breach Exposure Unauthorized Sales of Inaccurate Information : XXXX  XXXX and the credit reporting agencies have been reporting and selling inaccurate personal information about me to third parties, including but not limited to marketing companies, insurance providers, employment screening services, and other financial institutions. This practice violates FCRA 1681b which requires legitimate 'permissible purposes ' for accessing consumer reports and FCRA 1681e ( b ) requiring 'maximum possible accuracy. ' The sale of inaccurate account information for XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX commercial benefit constitutes willful noncompliance with FCRA accuracy and permissible purpose requirements. 
Data Breach Exposure : My inaccurate personal information has been included in recent data security incidents affecting credit reporting agencies and financial institutions, compounding the harm caused by maintaining inaccurate data. This creates additional liability under FCRA 1681e ( b ) ( duty to maintain reasonable procedures ), state data breach notification laws, and FTC data security requirements. The combination of inaccurate reporting and inadequate data security constitutes a violation of the fundamental duty to protect consumer information.

V. Applicable Legal Standards and Requirements The Fair Credit Reporting Act imposes strict obligations on both furnishers of information and consumer reporting agencies to ensure the accuracy and completeness of reported information. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ), XXXX XXXX, as a furnisher, is required to provide accurate information to consumer reporting agencies and to conduct reasonable investigations when notified of disputes. 
Additionally, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681i, you, as consumer reporting agencies, are required to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information within thirty ( 30 ) days of receipt of this dispute. If the information can not be verified as accurate and complete, it must be promptly deleted from my credit file. Recent regulatory guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB XXXX XXXX ) clarifies that investigations can not be superficial or automated and must include independent review of all relevant information provided by the consumer. 
Specific Legal Requirements for Charge-Off Verification : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), any charge-off information must be supported by complete documented payment history, accurate charge-off date and amount verification, proper accounting of all credits and payments, and documented charge-off decision process. Without this complete documentation, the information must be deleted for failure to meet accuracy standards. 
VI. Documented Harm and Quantifiable Damages The inaccurate information reported by XXXX XXXX  has caused me substantial and quantifiable harm, including but not limited to : Significant reduction in my credit score, resulting in denial of credit applications and/or approval only at substantially higher interest rates ; Increased cost of credit, insurance premiums, and other financial products due to artificially depressed credit scores caused by inaccurate reporting of Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX ; Potential adverse employment decisions, as many employers review credit reports as part of the hiring process ; Denial or limitation of housing opportunities due to landlords ' reliance on inaccurate credit information ; Emotional distress, anxiety, and reputational damage resulting from the false portrayal of my creditworthiness ; Time and expense incurred in identifying, investigating, and disputing these inaccuracies ; Harm from unauthorized sales of my inaccurate personal information to third parties for commercial purposes. 
XXXX. Recent Enforcement Actions and Regulatory Penalties Recent enforcement actions demonstrate the serious consequences of FCRA violations and improper data practices : Credit Bureau Penalties : Over {$700.00} XXXX in fines and settlements since XXXX, including the Equifax XXXX breach settlement of {$700.00} XXXX, XXXX  penalty of {$15.00} XXXX for deceptive marketing, and XXXX  fine of {$3.00} XXXX for data security failures ; Data Breach Impact : The Equifax breach alone affected XXXX XXXX consumers, with multiple XXXX  breaches affecting millions more and ongoing regulatory scrutiny of TransUnion security incidents.

CFPB Oversight : The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains active supervision and enforcement authority over credit reporting agencies and furnishers, with recent guidance emphasizing the duty to conduct thorough, non-automated dispute investigations. 
XXXX. Demand for Immediate Deletion and Remedial Action In light of the foregoing violations and inaccuracies, I demand that you immediately : XXXX. Conduct a thorough investigation of all information reported by XXXX XXXX for Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX as required under 15 U.S.C. 1681i, including independent verification beyond mere confirmation with the original furnisher ; XXXX. Delete all inaccurate, unverifiable, or obsolete information reported by XXXX XXXX from my credit file for both Account Numbers XXXX and XXXX ; XXXX. Remove any and all accounts that violate the seven-year reporting rule pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681c, calculated from the date of first delinquency ; XXXX. CEASE AND DESIST all reporting of this inaccurate information to any third parties immediately, as continued reporting of information known or suspected to be inaccurate constitutes willful noncompliance under FCRA 1681n ; XXXX. CEASE AND DESIST from selling, transferring, or providing my inaccurate personal information to any third parties including marketing companies, data brokers, insurance companies, employers, or financial institutions ; XXXX. Provide written confirmation of the deletion of all disputed items within the statutory thirty ( 30 ) day period ; XXXX. Furnish me with an updated copy of my credit report reflecting the deletions, at no charge, as required under 15 U.S.C. 1681j ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) ; XXXX. Send updated reports to all parties who received reports in the past 6 months ( for employment purposes ) or 2 years ( for credit purposes ) ; XXXX. Notify all previous data purchasers of corrections to previously sold inaccurate information ; XXXX. Provide detailed accounting of what inaccurate data was exposed in any data security incidents and confirm correction of all inaccurate data in breach-affected systems. 
XXXX. Removal of all inaccurate information on Online systems XXXX. Preservation of Legal Rights and Remedies Please be advised that I am preserving all legal rights and remedies available to me under federal and state law, including but not limited to : FCRA Statutory Damages : FCRA 1681n provides for actual damages plus punitive damages of {$100.00} to {$1000.00} per violation for willful noncompliance ; Attorney Fees and Costs : FCRA 1681o provides for attorney fees and costs for successful plaintiffs ; Regulatory Complaints : Filing complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and state attorneys general ; Class Action Participation : Recent settlements demonstrate credit bureaus face millions in penalties for systematic violations ; State Law Claims : Additional violations under state consumer protection acts, privacy laws, and data breach statutes ; Data Security Claims : FTC Section 5 violations for failure to maintain reasonable data security and state data breach notification requirements. 
Should you fail to conduct a reasonable investigation, fail to delete the inaccurate information, or fail to respond within the statutory time frame, I will pursue all available legal options to vindicate my rights under federal and state law. 
This letter constitutes my formal written dispute under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ). I expect full compliance with all FCRA requirements and prompt resolution of this matter. This dispute is made in good faith based on my personal knowledge and available records. 
I expect your full cooperation and compliance with federal law. Please acknowledge receipt of this dispute and begin your investigation immediately. 
Respectfully submitted, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation