Consumer complaint received 2025-02-07 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Problem with personal statement of dispute
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Subject : Dispute of Inaccurate Collection Account Immediate Removal Required Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to formally dispute a collection account that is being inaccurately reported on my Equifax credit report but does not appear on XXXX or XXXX. This discrepancy is a violation of federal law, and I am demanding immediate deletion of the collection account from my Equifax credit report. 

Disputed Collection Account Details Creditor/Collection Agency Name XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Balance Reported : {$300.00} Original Creditor : Gas South Date Reported : XX/XX/year> This collection account is only appearing on Equifax and has already been removed or never reported on XXXX and XXXX. This inconsistency indicates that the debt is either invalid, unverifiable, or improperly reported. If this collection was legitimate, it would be uniformly reported across all three bureaus. 

Legal Violations and Grounds for Immediate Removal 1. FCRA Violation - Inconsistent and Inaccurate Reporting ( 15 U.S. Code 1681i ) Under 15 U.S. Code 1681i ( a ), the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) requires credit reporting agencies to conduct a proper investigation when a consumer disputes an item. 
The fact that this collection does not appear on XXXX or XXXX suggests that the debt was unverified or deemed inaccurate by other credit bureaus. 
Since XXXX and XXXX do not report this collection, Equifax must remove it immediately for failing to meet the FCRAs accuracy requirements. 
XXXX. FCRA Violation - Failure to Ensure Accuracy ( 15 U.S. Code 1681e ( b ) ) 15 U.S. Code 1681e ( b ) mandates that credit reporting agencies maintain accurate and complete information. The reporting of this collection on only one bureau is inconsistent and misleading, and it is causing irreparable damage to my credit profile. 
This collection account is either fraudulent, incorrect, or has been removed by the other bureaus for being invalid, and Equifax must delete it immediately. 
XXXX. FCRA Section 1681s-2 ( b ) - Furnishers Duty to Investigate and Correct Errors Under 15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ( b ), furnishers of information ( i.e., the collection agency ) are legally required to conduct a reasonable investigation when a dispute is filed. 
If the same collection account was removed or never reported by other bureaus, then Equifax is violating this law by allowing the inaccurate reporting to continue. 
XXXX. FDCPA Violation - Misrepresentation of Debt ( 15 U.S. Code 1692e ) According to 15 U.S. Code 1692e of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), a debt collector may not misrepresent the character, amount, or legal status of a debt. 
Since this collection is not uniformly reported, the continued reporting by Equifax without full verification constitutes a misrepresentation of the debt, which is an FDCPA violation. 
XXXX. Time Limits on Reporting Negative Information ( 15 U.S. Code 1681c ) 15 U.S. Code 1681c states that negative items such as collections must be removed after seven years from the date of first delinquency.

If this account has already exceeded the legal reporting limit, it must be deleted immediately.

Demand for Immediate Deletion Given the clear violations of the FCRA and FDCPA, I demand the immediate removal of this collection account from my Equifax credit report. If XXXX and XXXX have already removed or never reported the collection, it is evident that this debt is invalid, unverifiable, or incorrectly reported. 

Failure to Act If this dispute is not resolved within XXXX days, I will take further legal action, including : Filing formal complaints with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and State Attorney General. 
Seeking legal action for damages caused by this inaccurate reporting. 
XXXX XXXX and the furnisher of information accountable under the FCRA and FDCPA. 

Request for Investigation and Confirmation I request that the CFPB immediately initiate an investigation and ensure that XXXX deletes the disputed collection account from my credit report. Please provide me with a written confirmation within XXXX days, detailing the actions taken to resolve this dispute. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation