Consumer complaint received 2025-08-08 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: NV

Complaint narrative:
CFPB COMPLAINT I am filing this complaint because my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) have been repeatedly violated through the reporting of unauthorized, inaccurate, and fraudulent inquiries on my credit file. These inquiries have been placed without my knowledge, authorization, or permissible purpose under federal law. I have suffered emotional distress, denial of credit opportunities, higher interest rates, and reputational harm as a result of these unlawful actions. I am demanding the immediate removal of these inquiries, a thorough investigation, and written confirmation of compliance with all applicable laws. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX Issue : Address inconsistency detected in records. The use of this address in reporting fails to correspond with my current or former places of residence, raising concerns about identity verification and fair reporting as per the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681 ). 
Law : FCRA 609 ( a ) provides the right to dispute any inaccuracy. Section 611 obligates the consumer reporting agency to conduct a reasonable investigation. 
Story : My credit report began showing this XXXX XXXX address unexpectedly. Ive never lived there, nor have any accounts officially tied to this location. This error makes me vulnerable to identity confusion and hampers my access to credit. This misreporting echoes the widespread issue of incorrect records misused within the financial sector, impacting consumer rights nationwide. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Address formatting error and possible wrong ZIP code entry. 
Law : FCRA 611 requires accuracy ; the FTCs enforcement actions highlight that even typos can have real-world effects. 
Story : This entry includes a ZIP code that blurs with the actual address. A simple digit error blocks my ability to pass address verification at banks, which delays account openings and damages my credit reputation. My experience mirrors those reported in major lawsuits for sloppy data entry. 

XXXX Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$1100.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX Issue : Account marked as chargeoff despite several dispute attempts. No valid proof of debt provided. 
Law : FCRA 611 and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 809 ( a ), 808 ( 8 ) demand verification and accuracy. 
Story : My repeated requests for validation went unanswered, violating my rights under FDCPA. This account appeared suddenly, bringing my score down and causing emotional distress, reflecting the systemic problems in debt validation practices CFPB is investigating. 

XXXX XXXX Account # XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$670.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX Issue : Chargeoff listed without prior notification or opportunity for resolution. 
Law : FCRA 604, FDCPA 807 ( 8 ) misrepresentation protection. 
Story : I was shocked to find this account listed as charged off after a missed payment due to an address error. Companies often use outdated records, and their failure to reach me cost me hundreds, further perpetuating the cycle of bad credit. 

XXXX XXXX Account # XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$930.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX Issue : Duplicate XXXX XXXX accounts indicated with differing balancespotential reporting mistake. 
Law : FCRA 609, FDCPA 808 ( 8 ) forbids duplicative or inaccurate reporting. 
Story : Credit report duplication creates artificial debt inflation. This double trouble unfairly diminishes my creditworthiness and is a leading issue in modernization recommendations from CFPB. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$26000.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX Issue : Large balance chargeoff with no supporting records or payment history attached. Error-prone reporting on high-value accounts may indicate negligence. 
Law : FCRA 611, FDCPA 809 ( b ) right to debt validation. 
Story : When my credit history was reviewed, this enormous chargeoff appeared suddenly. Without proper investigation or verification, this single entry has limited access to critical lending resourcesa problem CFPB and FTC have both raised in consumer protection campaigns. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account # XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$26000.00} Late Payment XXXX XXXX Issue : Serial late payment records, possibly accidental or unverified. 
Law : FCRA 609 ( b ), FDCPA 807 ( a ) prohibits false or misleading representations. 
Story : Double-recording late payments on my XXXX XXXX accounts warped my credit capacity, demonstrating failures in internal data synchronization. My story joins thousands mistreated by back-end banking errors, as documented by CFPBs Listen and Learn sessions. 

XXXX  XXXX Account # XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$740.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX Issue : Chargeoff due to single missed installment, which was later paid. No record correction made. 
Law : FCRA 611 dispute rights ; FDCPA 808 ( 8 ). 
Story : At XXXX, one skipped payment, quickly resolved, produced a lingering chargeoff entry. Routine corrections are rare, leaving many consumers with decades-old scars on their reports. I am one of those affected. 

XXXX  XXXX Account # XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$580.00} Late Payment XXXX XXXX Issue : Late payment posted despite bank technical error. 
Law : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) requires accuracy ; FTC actions against XXXX  highlight this problem. 
Story : My XXXX late payment resulted from a system crash, not negligence. Thousands face similar issues due to new fintech payment systems, driving consumer complaints higher. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX Account # XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX High Balance : {$590.00} Chargeoff XXXX XXXX  Issue : Third-party debt transfer, unclear verification. 
Law : FDCPA 809, FCRA 611 investigation rights. 
Story : Debt buyers like XXXX often report without validation. My balance appeared overnight, with no notice, and no original contract provided, echoing larger problems of unregulated debt purchase practices. 

XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX Inquiry Issue : Unexplained inquiry damaging my credit profile. 
Law : FCRA 604 restricts permissible inquiries ; CFPB rules reinforce consent necessity. 
Story : I was unable to recognize the source of this inquiry. Such unverifiable entries cause confusion, delaying important financial decisionsan all-too-common problem for consumers countrywide. 

XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry Issue : Inquiry with no connection to my application or transaction. 
Law : FCRA 604 ( a ). 
Story : XXXX  entry on my report is concerningI never sought credit from them at that time. Similar stories from around the country show that many consumers face unauthorized credit checks, making them vulnerable to fraud and poor ratings. 

XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry Issue : Inquiry without my application.

Law : FCRA 604.

Story : Discovers inquiry harmed my score. Unauthorized hard pulls are common and distressing, making it essential for better reporting protocols. 

XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Inquiry Issue : Inquiry included without my consent.

Law : FCRA 604 ( a ).

Story : My score dropped due to XXXX unsolicited inquiry, reflecting a widespread disregard for proper consumer notification among credit issuers. 

Relief Requested : Immediate deletion of all the above unauthorized inquiries from my credit report, a thorough investigation into each furnishers request for my credit file, and written proof that the inquiry had a permissible purpose as required by FCRA. If no proof exists, the inquiry must be permanently deleted. I also request that the CFPB take enforcement action to prevent such violations from recurring.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief