Consumer complaint received 2024-02-15 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: PA

Complaint narrative:
To the CFPB : 15 USC 6805 Enforcement. ( a ) In general Subject to subtitle B of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 [ 12 U.S.C. 5511 et seq. ], this subchapter and the regulations prescribed thereunder shall be enforced by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Federal functional regulators, the State insurance authorities, and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to financial institutions and other persons subject to their jurisdiction under applicable law, ALL ACCOUNTS ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 ( 5 U.S.C subsection 552a ) Important Definitions ( 4 ) the term record means any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history and that contains his name, or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph ; This includes consumer reports.

( b ) Conditions of Disclosure. No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains, unless disclosure of the record would be ( 12 ) to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with section 3711 ( e ) of title 31.

They need prior written instruction of the individual to whom it relates.

Section 3711 ( e ) of title 31 States ( 1 ) When trying to collect a claim of the Government under a law except the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ( 26 U.S.C. 1 et seq. ), the head of an executive, judicial, or legislative agency shall disclose to a consumer reporting agency information from a system of records that a person is responsible for a claim if ( E ) the head of the agency has established procedures to ( iii ) get satisfactory assurances from each consumer reporting agency that the agency is complying with all laws of the United States related to providing consumer credit information.

ALL STUDENT LOAN COMPANIES ON MY CONSUMER REPORT ARE IN VIOLATION OF FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT ( FERPA 20 U.S.C 1232g ( b ) ) B ) No funds under any applicable program shall be made available to any State educational agency ( whether or not that agency is an educational agency or institution under this section ) that has a policy of denying, or effectively prevents, the parents of students the right to inspect and review the education records maintained by the State educational agency on their children who are or have been in attendance at any school of an educational agency or institution that is subject to the provisions of this section. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( FERPA ) is a federal law enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to any public or private elementary, secondary, or post-secondary school.

15 USC subsection 6801Protection of nonpublic personal information ( a ) Privacy Obligation Policy It is the policy of the Congress that each financial institution has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality of those customers nonpublic personal information. 
Congress stated that XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX has an obligation to respect the privacy of the consumer and to protect the security and confidentiality of my nonpublic information. How are they protecting my confidential information when they are reporting it to third parties. THEY ARE IN VIOLATION. 
15 USC subsection 6802 Obligation with respect to disclosures of personal information.

( a ) Notice requirements- Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a financial institution may not, directly or through any affiliate, disclose to a nonaffiliated third party any nonpublic personal information, unless such financial institution provides or has provided to the consumer a notice that complies with section 6803 of this title.

( b ) Opt Out ( 1 ) In general A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless ( a ) such financial institution clearly and conspicuously discloses to the consumer, in writing or in electronic form or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title, that such information may be disclosed to such third party ; ( b ) the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party; and ( c ) the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option. 
I also never gave XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX permission to report my confidential information to third parties. I sent an opt out letters to XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX. I was never given the opportunity to opt out by these companies. 
16 CFR 313.1 Purpose. This part governs the treatment of nonpublic personal information about consumers by the financial institutions listed in paragraph ( b ) of this section. This part : ( 1 ) Requires a financial institution in specified circumstances to provide notice to customers about its privacy policies and practices ; ( 2 ) Describes the conditions under which a financial institution may disclose nonpublic personal information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties ; and ( 3 ) Provides a method for consumers to prevent a financial institution from disclosing that information to most nonaffiliated third parties by opting out of that disclosure, subject to the exceptions in 313.13, 313.14, and 313.15.

314- Standards for safeguarding customer information. Also see 15 USC 6801 ( b ) 6805 ( b ) ( 2 ) and 67 FR 36493 Purpose. This part, which implements sections 501 and 505 ( b ) ( 2 ) of the XXXX XXXX, sets forth standards for developing, implementing, and maintaining reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of customer information. 
XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX are in violation of 22 CFR subsection 1101.8- Disclosure of records to third parties.

( a ) The Section will not disclose any information about an individual to any person other than the individual except in the following instances : ( b ) ( 1 ) Upon written request by the individual about whom the information is maintained ; ( c ) ( 2 ) With prior written consent of the individual about whom the information is maintained ; I have never requested for my personal information to be disclosed to any third party. 
XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX are in violation of Family educational and privacy act 20 USC subsection 1232g ( c ) The first sentence of subparagraph ( A ) shall not operate to make available to students in institutions of postsecondary education the following materials : financial records of the parents of the student or any information contained therein ; XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX is reporting my financial records to third parties. 
IT IS ILLEGAL TO REPORT TRANSACTIONS ON A CREDIT REPORT!! 
XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and USDOE/GLELSI are in violation of 22 CFR subsection 1101.5 Security, confidentiality, and protection of records.

( a ) The Act requires that records subject to the Act be maintained with appropriate administrative, technical and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of records and to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to their security or integrity which could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience or unfairness to any individual on whom information is maintained. 
With XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX reporting my information to the third parties like XXXX, XXXX and Equifax, XXXX have been embarrassed and humiliated when being denied for credit. 
15 USC 1681 ( a ) Accuracy and fairness of credit reporting The Congress makes the following findings : ( 1 ) The banking system is dependent upon fair and accurate credit reporting. Inaccurate credit reports directly impair the efficiency of the banking system, and unfair credit reporting methods undermine the public confidence which is essential to the continued functioning of the banking system.

( 3 ) Consumer reporting agencies have assumed a vital role in assembling and evaluating consumer credit and other information on consumers.

( 4 ) There is a need to insure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumers right to privacy. 

My first XXXX account on my credit report the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX and XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX USDOE/XXXX account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX XXXX USDOE/XXXX  account is reporting the following. 
XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX, and Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX Accounts that are reporting as Charge offs.

Charge offs are consider certificates of indebtness and 1099-C are filed.

According to the IRS Publication 4681 ( 2022 ) Canceled Debts, Foreclosures, Repossessions and Abandonments. 
Under introduction it states : Generally, if you owe a debt to someone else and they cancel or forgive that debt for less than its full amount, you are treated for income tax purposes as having income and may have to pay tax on this income. Also, under General Rule it states : Generally, if a debt for which you are personally liable is forgiven or discharged for less than the full amount owed, the debt is considered canceled in whatever amount it remained unpaid. Generally, you must include the canceled debt in your income. A debt includes any indebtedness : For which you are liable, or Subject to which you hold property. Per the IRS, charge offs are considered income and income can not be reported on my credit report. They MUST be REMOVED! 
According to the IRS Instructions for forms 1099A and 1099C states under Special Instructions for 1099C Form 1099-C must be filed regardless of whether the debtor is required to report the debt as income. 
Charge offs are illegal to be reported on my consumer report because it is considered ordinary income. INCOME CAN NOT BE REPORTED ON A CONSUMERS REPORT. Charges offs are not debt but income and must be filed with taxes. 
These are the accounts that are reporting as charge off on my credit report and MUST BE REMOVED : XXXX XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax XXXX XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX  is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX  is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax XXXX XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax XXXX is reporting my account as charged off to XXXX and XXXX These are the accounts that are in violation of 15 USC 1681 ( a ) Accuracy and fairness of credit reporting The Congress makes the following findings : ( 1 ) The banking system is dependent upon fair and accurate credit reporting. Inaccurate credit reports directly impair the efficiency of the banking system, and unfair credit reporting methods undermine the public confidence which is essential to the continued functioning of the banking system. 
( XXXX ) Consumer reporting agencies have assumed a vital role in assembling and evaluating consumer credit and other information on consumers. 
( XXXX ) There is a need to insure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumers right to privacy. 
XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following inaccuracies : XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX and reporting as charged off/closed, XXXX open XXXX XX/XX/XXXX and reporting as charged off/closed, Equifax open date XX/XX/XXXX and reporting as 120 days XXXX XXXX account. 
XXXX reporting to Equifax is also in violation of 15 U.S.C 1681a.

2 ) Exclusions. Except as provided in paragraph ( 3 ), the term consumer report does not include ( A ) subject to section 1681s3 of this title, any ( i ) report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and the person making the report ; and 15 U.S.C 1666b ( a ) TIME TO MAKE PAYMENTS- A creditor may not treat a payment on a credit card account under an open end consumer credit plan as late for any purpose, unless the creditor has adopted reasonable procedures designed to ensure that each periodic statement including the information required by section 1637 ( b ) of this title is mailed or delivered to the consumer not later than 21 days before the payment due date. 

XXXX XXXX account is reporting the following inaccuracies : XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX and reporting as account type : collections, payment status charged off, XXXX open date XX/XX/XXXX and reporting as account type open, payment status charged off. 
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 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 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 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 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 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX are in violation of the following : 15 USC subsection 6802 Obligation with respect to disclosures of personal information. 
( c ) Notice requirements- Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a financial institution may not, directly or through any affiliate, disclose to a nonaffiliated third party any nonpublic personal information, unless such financial institution provides or has provided to the consumer a notice that complies with section 6803 of this title.

( d ) Opt Out ( 2 ) In general A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless ( d ) such financial institution clearly and conspicuously discloses to the consumer, in writing or in electronic form or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed under section 6804 of this title, that such information may be disclosed to such third party ; ( e ) the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party ; and the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option 16 CFR 313.1 Purpose. This part governs the treatment of nonpublic personal information about consumers by the financial institutions listed in paragraph ( b ) of this section. This part : ( 1 ) Requires a financial institution in specified circumstances to provide notice to customers about its privacy policies and practices ; ( 2 ) Describes the conditions under which a financial institution may disclose nonpublic personal information about consumers to nonaffiliated third parties ; and ( 3 ) Provides a method for consumers to prevent a financial institution from disclosing that information to most nonaffiliated third parties by opting out of that disclosure, subject to the exceptions in 313.13, 313.14, and 313.15.

16 CFR 314- Standards for safeguarding customer information. Also see 15 USC 6801 ( b ) 6805 ( b ) ( 2 ) I have not given 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, permission to disclose my information to third parties. I have also sent these companies opt out letters. 
15 USC subsection 1681b- Permissible purpose of consumer reports.

( a ) In general Subject to subsection ( c ), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other : ( 1 ) In response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order, a subpoena issued in connection with proceedings before a Federal grand jury, or a subpoena issued in accordance with section 5318 of title 31 or section 3486 of title 18.

( 2 ) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.

AGAIN, I DID NOT GIVE WRITTEN CONSENT TO FURNISH ANY OF THE ABOVE ACCOUNTS ON MY CREDIT REPORT.

15 USC subsection 1681c- Requirements relating to information contained in consumer report.

( 5 ) Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the report by more than seven year.

WITH THE EXPECTIONS OF CONVICTION OF CRIMES, NOTHING SHOULD BE FURNISHED ON MY CREDIT REPORT.

15 U.S. Code 1681e - Compliance procedures ( a ) Identity and purposes of credit users Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 1681c of this title and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b of this title. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section 1681b of this title.

( b ) Accuracy of report Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates.

By violating section 1681b for permissible purpose and 1681c for information contained in consumer reports they are also violating compliance procedures under this title.

15 U.S. Code 1681n - Civil liability for willful noncompliance ( a ) In general Any person who willfully fails to comply with any requirement imposed under this subchapter with respect to any consumer is liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of ( A ) any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or damages of not less than {$100.00} and not more than {$1000.00} ; or ( B ) in the case of liability of a natural person for obtaining a consumer report under false pretenses or knowingly without a permissible purpose, actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or {$1000.00}, whichever is greater ; 15 U.S. Code 1681s2 - Responsibilities of furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies ( 1 ) Prohibition ( A ) Reporting information with actual knowledge of errors A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate.

( B ) Reporting information after notice and confirmation of errors A person shall not furnish information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if ( i ) the person has been notified by the consumer, at the address specified by the person for such notices, that specific information is inaccurate; and ( ii ) the information is, in fact, inaccurate.

As you can see, All the forementioned accounts must be removed from by credit report due to several violations.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief