Consumer complaint received 2025-09-29 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau because my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) are being violated by the inaccurate, incomplete, and harmful reporting of accounts and inquiries that do not belong to me or are being reported in violation of federal law. These items are causing severe damage to my creditworthiness, limiting my ability to obtain housing, transportation, employment, and financial stability. The credit bureaus and furnishers have failed in their duty to ensure maximum accuracy as required by law and to properly investigate my disputes. I am requesting the CFPB to take enforcement action to ensure these violations are corrected. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX Wrong Address This address is another inaccurate variation of an already disputed entry. Inserting multiple versions of a wrong address only amplifies the harm and confusion on my credit profile. No legally acceptable proof has ever been provided linking me here, which makes it an error under FCRA 611. This must be deleted immediately as the law requires. Duplicating the same false location with minor formatting differences misleads anyone who reviews my credit history, suggesting patterns that do not exist. Such errors clearly demonstrate a lack of reasonable procedures as outlined in FCRA 607 ( b ). The bureau must rely on verifiable documentation, not third-party assumptions or clerical errors. By keeping multiple wrong versions of the same address, you are compounding the inaccuracy and damaging my creditworthiness. Without original, verifiable evidence, this entry is unlawful and must be removed. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$23000.00} Late Payment * * This account is reported with late payments that are inaccurate and harmful. Under FCRA 607 ( b ), you must report with maximum possible accuracy, and yet no valid proof has been provided that any late payments occurred. Furnishers are obligated under FCRA 623 ( a ) to report only correct information. I have never received proof in the form of original billing statements or account records to validate these alleged late payments. Automated data sharing between furnisher and bureau is not a lawful verification under FCRA 611. By continuing to report this account with negative marks, you are placing me in financial jeopardy when lenders and insurers review my file. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) has issued guidance that unverifiable late payments must not be reported. It is your duty to confirm with original source documents and not rely solely on electronic coding. The burden of proof is on the furnisher and bureau, not the consumer. Failure to delete unverifiable late entries is a willful violation of FCRA 616. Unless complete, verifiable records are produced within 30 days, these inaccurate late payment notations must be deleted immediately. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$47000.00} Late Payment * * This is a duplicate entry of the XXXX account already listed, and reporting it with different balances and statuses constitutes double jeopardy on my file. FCRA 607 ( b ) prohibits duplication that misrepresents the consumers true obligations. There is no legal justification for two entries of the same account, especially with conflicting balance information. Such duplication inflates negative reporting and creates an inaccurate representation of my financial history. I demand you provide evidence showing how two balances can lawfully exist under the same creditor and account number. Without actual proof, this is misleading and unlawful. The bureaus duty is not to simply repeat what a furnisher provides but to ensure accuracy and fairness under FCRA 602. If you can not prove that this account is distinct from the other XXXX account, it must be immediately deleted. Continuing to report this duplicate account violates FCRA 611 because you are not properly investigating disputes. This account is unverifiable, harmful, and must be removed. 

DPT ED/XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$65000.00} Late Payment * * This federal student loan is being reported with late payments that are inaccurate. There has been no verifiable documentation provided to show that the payments were late. FCRA 609 entitles me to see the source of the information being reported, yet nothing has been provided beyond generic bureau responses. FCRA 611 requires that you obtain actual documentation from the servicer or Department of Education, not rely on automated data. Failure to provide such documentation proves this information is unverifiable. Reporting negative information without proof misleads lenders and harms my ability to obtain credit. In addition, federal loans follow specific servicing rules, and inaccurate late payment reporting violates the Higher Education Act as well. You can not lawfully keep these entries without direct evidence. Unless complete records are provided, including statements and servicing history, the alleged late payments must be deleted. Continued reporting of unverifiable lates is a direct violation of federal law and willful noncompliance. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$0.00} Charge Off * * This account is reported as a charge-off with a XXXX balance, which is deceptive and inaccurate. A XXXX balance means there is no financial obligation, yet it is still marked as a charge-off, harming my credit profile. FCRA 607 ( b ) requires the removal of misleading information. No documentation has been provided showing how this account became delinquent or charged off. If there was a charge-off, original records must exist, but none have been supplied. A bureau can not verify based on automated data feeds, as this does not meet the legal requirement under FCRA 611. Reporting an account with conflicting status is damaging to my financial credibility. Without verifiable proof from XXXX, this entry is unverifiable. Failure to delete this false reporting constitutes willful noncompliance under FCRA 616. This entry must be deleted immediately. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$7400.00} Charge Off * * This account is marked as a charge-off without any supporting documentation. FCRA 611 requires deletion when an account can not be verified. No signed agreements, billing statements, or charge-off records have been produced. Reporting such serious negative information without proof is unlawful. It misleads lenders and damages my ability to obtain fair credit. This account may also represent a duplicate or error, but without verification, it is unverifiable. The bureau must ensure accuracy through reasonable procedures as required under FCRA 607 ( b ). This entry is damaging and can not remain. Unless full documentation is provided, it must be deleted. Continued reporting without proof violates FCRA 623 obligations. This account is not lawfully reportable. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$0.00} Charge Off * * This entry shows a XXXX balance but is still marked as a charge-off, which is deceptive and harmful. A charge-off implies delinquency and default, but no proof has been provided that such an event occurred. Reporting an account as both XXXX balance and charge-off creates conflicting and inaccurate data. FCRA 607 ( b ) prohibits such misleading reporting. Without original XXXX  XXXX XXXX records, this account can not be verified. The bureau must delete unverifiable accounts as required by FCRA 611. By continuing to report this, you are failing to ensure maximum possible accuracy. This entry is harming my ability to obtain credit and misleads future creditors. The law requires removal unless you can provide actual documentation. This account must be deleted. 

XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$1500.00} Charge Off * * This XXXX account is being reported as a charge-off but has not been verified. No signed contract, original application, or billing history has been provided. FCRA 609 gives me the right to request this documentation, but none has been produced. Reporting unverifiable data violates 611 and 607 ( b ). Charge-offs are highly damaging, and without lawful proof, they can not be kept on file. The bureau must ensure accurate information, not assumptions. Continuing to report this entry misrepresents my financial history and damages my credibility. This account must be deleted immediately unless full, original documentation is provided. Keeping it without verification is a violation of federal law. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$4200.00} Charge Off * * This is a duplicate entry of the XXXX collection already listed, creating double jeopardy on my file. FCRA 607 ( b ) prohibits duplicate or misleading reporting. Reporting both a charge-off and a collection for the same account inflates negative impact and misleads creditors. Without original documentation showing two separate obligations, this is inaccurate. FCRA 611 requires deletion when information can not be verified. XXXX is a debt buyer and has not provided any signed contract or proof of assignment. Without proof of ownership, this entry is unlawful. Reporting duplicate accounts misrepresents my financial history and violates my rights under FCRA. This account must be deleted immediately. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry This inquiry is unauthorized and unlawful because I never applied for credit with XXXX XXXX  or XXXX XXXX on that date. Under FCRA 604, a permissible purpose must be established before pulling a consumers credit file. No signed authorization or written application exists to justify this hard inquiry. The presence of this inquiry lowers my credit score and makes me appear as if I am seeking unnecessary credit, which harms my financial standing. This is a direct violation of my consumer rights under the FCRA. The bureau has a legal obligation to remove unverifiable inquiries immediately upon dispute. By keeping this unauthorized entry, the bureau is failing its responsibility to maintain maximum accuracy. No creditor should be able to invade my privacy without lawful grounds. This inquiry must be removed immediately to comply with federal law and prevent further damage. 

XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry This inquiry is completely unauthorized and I never granted XXXX XXXX  permission to access my credit file. The FCRA strictly prohibits hard inquiries without consumer consent or a permissible purpose under 604. No application for credit, service, or account was made by me on that date. Reporting this inquiry is a negligent action that unfairly reduces my creditworthiness. The bureau must not allow companies to conduct unauthorized pulls without proof. Failure to remove this entry is a clear violation of 611, as unverifiable data can not remain on a consumers report. This inquiry misrepresents my credit behavior and creates an inaccurate file history. The continued reporting of this unauthorized inquiry subjects the bureau to liability for damages. I demand this inquiry be deleted immediately as required under federal law. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry This inquiry from XXXX XXXX XXXX is inaccurate and unauthorized, as I never provided consent for them to access my file. Under FCRA 604 ( A ) ( 3 ), permissible purpose is strictly required before a hard pull can be conducted. XXXX XXXX has failed to provide any documentation showing my authorization. This inquiry unfairly damages my score by lowering points and creating the appearance of unnecessary credit-seeking. The FCRA gives me the right to dispute and demand removal of unverifiable entries. The bureau has not fulfilled its duty to investigate with proper care under 607 ( B ). Keeping this inquiry on my file despite its unverifiable nature is negligent and unlawful. No consumer should have inquiries reported without valid consent. This inquiry must be removed immediately for compliance with federal law. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry This inquiry from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is unauthorized and reported in error. I did not apply for credit or financing at this dealership on the reported date. The FCRA requires that inquiries be supported by a verifiable permissible purpose under 604, which does not exist in this case. No signed credit application, written agreement, or consumer authorization has been provided. This false inquiry unfairly lowers my credit score and presents a misleading image of my credit usage. By keeping this unverifiable inquiry, the bureau is failing to comply with 611, which mandates removal of inaccurate data. My credit file must only contain factual and verified information, not baseless inquiries. Allowing such reporting damages my financial reputation and exposes the bureau to liability. I demand immediate removal of this unauthorized inquiry.

I request the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate these violations and hold the furnishers and credit reporting agencies accountable under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. My consumer rights are being violated and my livelihood is being harmed due to these unlawful and inaccurate reports. I expect immediate corrective action to ensure maximum possible accuracy and compliance with federal law.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief