Consumer complaint received 2025-01-11 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
[ XXXX A XXXX ] [ XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ] [ XXXX, Ga, XXXX ] [ XXXX ] [ XXXX ] [ XXXX ] Equifax XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX Subject : Formal Complaint and Demand for Resolution Regarding Willful and Negligent Noncompliance Dear Equifax, I am writing to formally express my grave concerns and file a complaint regarding Equifaxs continuous and subsequent willful and/or negligent noncompliance in handling my credit file. Specifically, I am addressing your repeated failures in reporting accurate information related to two Department of Education loans on my credit report and your misuse of your platform to discourage and obstruct my ability to dispute these inaccuracies. 

This ongoing situation is not only a clear violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) but also reflects a disregard for your legal obligations as a credit reporting agency. Furthermore, Equifaxs repeated verification of blatantly inaccurate information borders on violations of the False Claims Act, as your company continues to make false statements of verification and resolution despite the existence of clear and egregious inaccuracies.

Details of the Complaint 1. Inaccurate Reporting of Department of Education Loans : Equifax has misreported two student loans that have been fully paid off, yet they are inaccurately listed with a current payment status of over 180 days late.

These loans are over seven years old but are inaccurately reported as being under two years old, contrary to the FCRAs statute of limitations for reporting adverse information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c ).

My credit report also reflects 3 late payments on these loans, despite evidence showing they were fully resolved and paid in full.

2. Failure to Allow and Facilitate Disputes : Equifax has improperly discouraged and disallowed me from effectively disputing these inaccuracies, forcing me to escalate the matter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and other regulatory agencies.

This obstruction violates my rights under the FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information and to receive a prompt, fair investigation of my claims. 
XXXX. Misuse of Platform and Ongoing Noncompliance : Equifax has perpetuated the inaccuracies by continually verifying the erroneous information without performing a reasonable investigation or correcting the errors, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ).

By reporting Consumer Disputes After Resolution on my file without addressing the inaccuracies, Equifax has willfully prolonged harm to my creditworthiness and financial reputation.

Violations Equifaxs actions ( and inactions ) constitute willful and negligent violations of : FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e, 1681i, and 1681c ) : Failure to ensure accurate reporting, failure to correct errors, and failure to comply with time limits for reporting adverse information.

FDCPA ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e and 1692f ) : Collaboration with lenders or debt collectors to misrepresent or perpetuate false claims.

False Claims Act : Potential submission of false statements of verification, damaging my credit and financial standing.

Harm and Damages Your continued negligence has caused me substantial harm, including but not limited to : Reputational damage due to the erroneous reporting of delinquent accounts.

Financial harm through denials of credit opportunities and increased borrowing costs.

Emotional distress caused by the prolonged effort required to address these inaccuracies.

Demand for Immediate Resolution I demand that Equifax take the following actions immediately : 1. Correct the Inaccurate Information : Remove all inaccurate and outdated information regarding the two Department of Education loans, including the incorrect payment statuses, late payments, and any references to these accounts being delinquent.

2. Provide a Written Explanation : Deliver a detailed explanation of how the inaccurate information was verified and why it has remained on my credit file despite my disputes.

3. Compensation : Provide appropriate compensation as properly listed in preceding complaints for the damages caused by your willful and/or negligent noncompliance, including statutory, punitive, and emotional distress damages as provided under 15 U.S.C. 1681n.

4. Arbitration or Legal Resolution : If immediate resolution is not possible, I am prepared to escalate this matter to arbitration or pursue legal remedies to hold Equifax accountable for its actions.

I expect a written response within 14 calendar days of receipt of this letter, detailing how you will address and resolve these issues. Failure to provide an adequate response will leave me no choice but to escalate this complaint to the CFPB, the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and other appropriate regulatory agencies. I will also seek legal counsel to explore further actions under the FCRA, FDCPA, and other applicable laws. 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I hope for a swift resolution that avoids the need for further legal escalation. 

Sincerely, [ XXXX XXXX XXXX ]

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation