Consumer complaint received 2025-09-17 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account information incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern : I am filing this complaint against Equifax Information Services LLC for systemic, willful, and negligent violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and related consumer protection statutes. Equifaxs actions in handling my dispute demonstrate a longstanding pattern of unlawful conduct, confirmed by multiple federal court findings against the company.

Dispute Timeline : - XX/XX/XXXX I submitted a dispute regarding multiple tradelines reported as charge-offs, accompanied by supporting documentation. - XX/XX/XXXX Equifax returned its results, prematurely marking the items as verified/no change. - Post-dispute correspondence Equifax then issued a letter demanding copies of my government-issued ID, Social Security number, and employer information. 
This conduct is improper and unlawful. Equifax is a private company, not a government agency. It has no statutory authority to demand such personal documentation as a precondition to reinvestigation.

These requests are designed to chill consumer disputes and unlawfully shift the burden of investigation from Equifax onto the consumer. 
Violations of Federal Law : 1. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Reinvestigation 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ). Equifax must conduct a reinvestigation within 30 days of a dispute. Declaring items verified after only seven days makes it impossible for a lawful investigation to have occurred. Case law : Cushman v. Trans Union Corp., 115 F.3d 220 ( 3d Cir. XXXX ) ; Dennis v. BEH-1, LLC, 520 F.3d 1066 ( 9th Cir. XXXX ). 
2. Failure to Forward Consumer Documentation 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 2 ). Equifax must transmit all relevant information submitted by the consumer to the furnisher. Failure to do so violates 1681i ( a ) ( 2 ).

3. Failure to Correct or Delete Inaccurate Information 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 )
( A ). Charge-off tradelines remain reported as collectible by original creditors, despite being sold to third parties. This is materially false and misleading. Case law : Gorman v. Wolpoff & Abramson, LLP, 584 F.3d 1147 ( 9th Cir. XXXX ) ; Pinner v. Schmidt, 805 F.2d 1258 ( 5th Cir. XXXX ). 
XXXX. Failure to Assure Maximum Possible Accuracy 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ). Equifaxs reliance on cursory verifications results in false reporting of charge-offs as collectible debts, violating its duty to maintain procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy.

5. Illegal and Deceptive Requests for Consumer Information. Equifaxs demand for ID, Social Security, and employer information is improper. The FCRA does not authorize a CRA to condition reinvestigation on submission of such documentation. This practice is deceptive and unfair under : - 15 U.S.C. 45 ( FTC Act ) prohibiting unfair and deceptive acts in commerce. - 15 U.S.C. 1681i requiring reinvestigation free of charge without additional burdens.

Pattern of Federal Court Findings Against Equifax : Equifax has been repeatedly sanctioned in federal courts for similar conduct : - Drew v. Equifax Info.

Servs., LLC , 690 F.3d 1100 ( 9th Cir. XXXX ). - Ramirez v. TransUnion, LLC, 141 S. Ct. 2190 ( XXXX ) ( confirming consumer standing and harm under FCRA ). - Multiple case confirm Equifaxs systemic mishandling of disputes is not accidental but a pattern of misconduct.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation