Consumer complaint received 2025-10-05 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Investigation took more than 30 days
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX SSN ( Last XXXX ) : XXXX Phone : XXXX Email : XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX To : TransUnion LLC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Experian XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  SUBJECT : FAILURE TO COMPLETE REINVESTIGATION WITHIN 30 DAYS / FORMAL DEMAND FOR DELETION OR METHOD OF VERIFICATION Account in Dispute : XXXXXXXX XXXX  | Account No. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  To Whom It May Concern, This correspondence serves as a * * formal demand for deletion * * of the above-referenced XXXX XXXX  account, or, if verified, a * * Method of Verification ( M.O.V. ) * * pursuant to the * * Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) * *, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 

On * * XX/XX/XXXX * *, I submitted a dispute through XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX challenging the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the information reported for this account. 
Each bureau received this dispute as follows : - XXXX XXXX  TransUnion XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Experian XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, none of the above bureaus have provided reinvestigation results within the legally required 30-day timeframe.

Therefore, under * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * and * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *, this account must be * * deleted immediately * *. 
If any bureau claims that the account was verified, I am invoking my right under * * 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) * * to receive the * * full Method of Verification * * within * * 15 days * *. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION I FCRA 30-DAY REINVESTIGATION REQUIREMENT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * [ 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ] provides : > If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumers file is disputed the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable reinvestigation * * before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute. * * Failure to complete a reinvestigation within this period constitutes a direct violation of the FCRA. 
Once the statutory 30-day window expires, * * the item must be deleted * * under * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION II CFPB.GOV DISPUTES HAVE EQUAL LEGAL WEIGHT AS DIRECT DISPUTES -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Under * * FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 8 ) * * [ 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 8 ) ] and * * CFPB XXXX XXXX * *, disputes filed through the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX portal carry the * * same legal weight * * and obligations as direct disputes to the CRA or furnisher. 
This means CRAs are required to treat CFPB.gov disputes identically, adhering to the same reinvestigation timelines and verification duties. 
Failure to comply constitutes a violation of * * 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * and * * 623 ( b ) * *.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
SECTION III MATERIAL INCONSISTENCIES AND INACCURACIES -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - The XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account contains multiple discrepancies across TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian that render the tradeline * * inherently inaccurate and unverifiable * * : 1. * * Date of Last Activity * * - TransUnion & Experian : XX/XX/XXXX - Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX Contradictory reporting violates * * 607 ( b ) * * and case law under * XXXX XXXX TransUnion XXXX *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ), which requires CRAs to go beyond the furnishers word and conduct independent verification.

2. * * Account Type * * - TransUnion & Experian : Credit Card - Equifax : Blank Incomplete or omitted data is misleading and fails to meet accuracy obligatio
ns under * * 607 ( b ) * * and FTC Staff Opinio
n Letters.

3. * * Remarks/ Account Status * * - TransUnion : Blank - Equifax : Charged-Off Account - Experi
an : Unpaid balance reported as a loss by credit grantor / Close d at credit grantors request Three conflicting statuses violate
* * 611 ( a ) * * and have been held misleading in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

XXXX XXXX XXXX  Delinquency History ( XX/XX/XXXX Days Late ) XXXX XXXX XXXX TransUnion : XXXX - Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX ( factually impossible ) - Experian : XXXX ( factually impossible ) Impossible delinquency sequences violate * * 607 ( b ) * * and XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX TransUnion XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX - TransUnion & Equifax : {$2600.00} - Experian : {$0.00} XXXX XXXX balances while others show outstanding amounts is materially misleading under * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *.

6. * * High Credit * * - TransUnion & Experian : {$3300.00} - Equifax : {$0.00} Inconsistent high credit limits are misleading and prejudicial.

7. * * Payment History * * - TransUnion : No history- Equifax : XXXX  % on-time - Experian : XXXX  % on-time Contradictory data misrepresents the consumers payment behavior, violating * * 607 ( b ) * *. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX : Misleading information violates the FCRA even if not technically false. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION IV APPLICABLE LAW AND CASE LAW SUPPORT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - * * Statutory Provisions : * * - FCRA 602 ( a ) : Ensures fairness and accuracy in credit reporting - FCRA 607 ( b ) : Duty to maintain maximum possible accuracy - FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Mandates reinvestigation within 30 days - FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) : Requires deletion of unverifiable information - FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) : Entitles consumer to Method of Verification - FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Prohibits reporting information known to be inaccurate - FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 8 ) : CFPB disputes are treated as direct disputes * * Case Law : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX CRAs must independently verify data. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Contradictory information is inaccurate. 
- XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Misleading credit reporting violates the FCRA. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX v. Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Missing XXXX reinvestigation deadline mandates deletion. 
- XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Verification requires documentary evidence. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION V TOO LATE TO UPDATE OR CURE -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Once the 30-day period under * * 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * has expired, credit bureaus may not update or cure the tradeline retroactively. 
The law is explicit : unverifiable data must be * * deleted * *, not amended.

Failure to delete constitutes * * willful noncompliance * * under * * 616 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n ) * *. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION VI FORMAL DEMAND FOR ACTION -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 1. * * Immediate Deletion : * * Remove the XXXX XXXX tradeline from all credit reports for failure to reinvestigate within the statutory XXXX timeframe. 
2. * * If Verified : * * Provide the full * * Method of Verification ( M.O.V. ) * * within 15 days, including : Furnishers name, address, and telephone number Method and date of verification Documentation relied upon Failure to comply will result in immediate complaints filed with the * * CFPB * *, * * FTC * *, and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Attorney General * *, and potential private action under * * FCRA 616617 * *. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation