Consumer complaint received 2025-03-07 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AL

Complaint narrative:
[ SEE ATTACHMENT FOR DETAILS ] This letter serves as a formal dispute and demand for immediate corrective action regarding the inaccurate and fraudulent reporting of an account purportedly belonging to me. The account in question, referenced above, has been improperly verified multiple times despite clear evidence of reporting inaccuracies and fraudulent charges.

I have been disputing this fraudulent charge of {$190.00} for years, yet XXXX  continues to verify incorrect and misleading information with the credit reporting agencies. The details of my dispute are as follows : 1. Incorrect Address Used for Billing XXXX  sent invoices to a residence where I have never lived. I have maintained a lease at my current address for over five years and was living in Georgia previous to this. Despite XXXX  claim via phone dispute a few years ago that I received email statements and they could not remove fraudulent charges on these grounds, these emails were sent to an unmonitored XXXX Updates folder, and I was unaware of them. I never made these charges and was under the belief that this account was closed years ago. 
2. Multiple Inaccuracies in Reporting XXXX reporting to the credit bureaus is riddled with inconsistencies, violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and causing extreme damage to my financial standing : Equifax is reporting the account as a charge-off with a closed status. 
XXXX is reporting the payment status as an " unpaid balance reported as a loss by credit grantor. '' Worst delinquency is listed as " bad debt/collection '' on Equifax and XXXX charge-off/other derogatory '' on XXXX. 
Equifax ceased reporting additional XXXX late payments in XX/XX/XXXX, while XXXX continues to report XXXX lates as recently as XX/XX/XXXX. 
Equifax reports a closed date of XX/XX/XXXX, but XXXX does not list a closed date. 
Equifax reports last activity as XX/XX/XXXX, but XXXX is blank. 
Equifax does not report terms, while XXXX falsely lists " Revolving. '' These discrepancies indicate that XXXX is either failing to properly investigate my disputes or intentionally reporting inconsistent information across the bureaus, which is a violation of the FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ).

3. XXXX Failure to Investigate Violates Federal Law Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( b ), furnishers of credit information are required to investigate disputed information and correct inaccuracies in a timely manner. XXXX  repeated verification of these inaccuracies demonstrates a reckless disregard for the law. Furthermore, continuing to report false and outdated information constitutes willful noncompliance under 15 U.S.C. 1681n and negligent noncompliance under 15 U.S.C. 1681o.

Additionally, XXXX  continued reporting of fraudulent late payments constitutes unfair and deceptive practices, potentially violating : 15 U.S.C. 1666 ( Billing Error Law ), as the charges were billed to an incorrect address, preventing me from disputing timely.

15 U.S.C. 1692e ( False or Misleading Representations ) under the FDCPA, if XXXX has engaged in deceptive reporting. 
15 U.S.C. 1692f ( Unfair Practices ), if XXXX has failed to conduct a reasonable investigation into my disputes. 
4. Damages and Harm to My Credit Profile Due to XXXX wrongful reporting, I have suffered severe financial harm : My mortgage officer explicitly stated that this account is a barrier to my home loan approval.

I have been repeatedly denied credit due to recent late payments on this fraudulent account.

This erroneous reporting has caused significant stress and financial XXXX.

The continued negative reporting has resulted in direct financial damages due to increased interest rates, lost financial opportunities, and undue hardship.

This dispute is not about my ability to pay a {$190.00} balanceI earn a six-figure salary and could easily settle any legitimate obligation. Instead, it is about the blatant inaccuracies, XXXX  failure to investigate, and the unjust damage to my credit profile. XXXX  negligence has caused financial distress that extends far beyond this small balance, affecting major financial decisions and opportunities.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation