Consumer complaint received 2025-03-09 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
Formal Complaint Against Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX for FCRA and FDCPA Violations Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am filing a formal complaint against Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX for their violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). Despite my valid disputes, Equifax has failed to conduct a proper investigation, and XXXX XXXX XXXX has not provided the necessary debt validation as required under federal law. 
Unauthorized Reporting & Identity Theft ( FCRA 1681 ) Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX have reported a collection account on my credit file without my consent and without permissible purpose under FCRA 1681b. Because I did not authorize this debt to be reported, this qualifies as identity theft under FCRA 1681c-2, requiring its immediate removal. 
Furthermore, FCRA 1681a states that consumer reports should not contain financial transactions or experiences that have not been expressly authorized. Since I never consented to this account being reported, it must be removed immediately.

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Failure to Validate the Debt ( FDCPA 1692g ) I previously disputed the XXXX XXXX XXXX account associated with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Below are the account details : Debt Collector : XXXX XXXX XXXX Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Balance : {$640.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Status : Collection account, past due as of XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  Under FDCPA 1692g, XXXX XXXX XXXX was required to provide proper debt validation within 30 days of my request. This includes : A signed contract proving I agreed to this debt. 
A full accounting of how the balance was calculated. 
Documentation proving they have legal authority to collect this debt. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX has failed to meet these requirements, making the account unverifiable and invalid under federal law. 
Equifaxs Failure to Conduct a Proper Investigation ( FCRA 1681i ) Equifax is required under FCRA 1681i to conduct an independent and thorough investigation rather than relying solely on information provided by the debt collector. Proper verification must include : Third-party verification through an independent source A review of original signed contracts Personal interviews and supporting documentation Since Equifax has failed to provide any proof that such an investigation took place, they are in direct violation of FCRA 1681i and must remove this account immediately. 
Violation of Accuracy Requirements ( FCRA 1681e ( b ) ) The FCRA mandates that consumer reporting agencies ensure maximum possible accuracy of the information they report. If Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX can not verify the accuracy of this collection, they are in violation of FCRA 1681e ( b ). 
Keeping an unverified collection account on my credit report creates financial hardship, damages my credit score, and negatively impacts my ability to access credit. I do not consent to XXXX XXXX XXXX or Equifax reporting this account. 
The CFPBs Role in Enforcing Fair Credit Practices Congress has established that consumer reporting agencies have a grave responsibility to ensure fair and accurate reporting. By failing to investigate properly, Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX are neglecting their responsibility under federal law. 
Additionally, they do not have my consent to process my disputes through automated systems like E-OSCAR, which violates FCRA 1681i. E-OSCAR fails to meet the investigation requirements set forth by the FCRA. 
What I Am Demanding I request that the CFPB take the following corrective actions : 1. Order Equifax to delete this collection account immediately due to failure to verify it properly. 
2. Order XXXX XXXX XXXX to cease all collection attempts and remove the account due to lack of validation. 
3. Hold Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX accountable for failing to comply with federal law and impose financial penalties. 
4. Provide written confirmation that this account has been permanently removed from my credit file. 
If this matter is not resolved in a timely manner, I am prepared to escalate my legal actions, including filing a lawsuit under FCRA 1681n, which allows me to seek {$1000.00} per violation in damages. 
Please confirm receipt of this complaint and provide an update on the next steps in the investigation. I expect a timely and full resolution of this issue. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation