Consumer complaint received 2025-08-21 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: MI

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB, I am submitting this complaint to formally dispute multiple inaccuracies on my credit report that have caused substantial financial harm and undue stress. Despite my repeated attempts to resolve these issues directly with the creditors and credit reporting agencies, these errors persist, violating my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq. 
I am formally requesting the reinvestigation, verification, and removal of the following items. 

Wrong Address ( Identity Errors ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Issue : These addresses do not belong to me and are being wrongfully associated with my profile.

Law : FCRA 607 ( b ) requires accurate reporting ; identity misattribution is a violation. 
Story : Having the wrong addresses attached to my credit file suggests either possible fraud or mistaken identity. This creates a serious danger that creditors may think I have lived in places I never resided, leading them to assume I might be connected with debts or contracts I never signed. Furthermore, the reflection of multiple false addresses lowers trustworthiness during background checks for jobs and rental applications. In todays digital world, wrong addresses can be easily exploited by identity thieves, putting me at high risk of fraudulent activity. My genuine residence history is very limited and straightforward, which makes the reporting of these false addresses highly damaging and misleading. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$36000.00} Opened XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Reported with Late Payments inaccurately.

Law : FCRA 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) provides me the right to request verification of each late payment entry. If unverifiable, it must be deleted. 
Story : Having a large balance account like this with reported late payments portrays me as irresponsible, when in fact, such reporting may not even be based on valid records. This creates severe difficulties for me in obtaining financing for critical needs like home loans or auto loans. I have already experienced humiliation when denied credit and forced to explain inaccurate late reports. Such wrongful notations create an unjustified negative picture and push me into higher interest rates even when I may qualify for better terms based on my actual history. 

XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Balance {$14000.00} Opened XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : Reported as a Charge-Off without proper validation.

Law : FDCPA 809 ( a ) requires validation before reporting or collecting.

Story : A charge-off is one of the most damaging items that can appear on a credit report. It wrongly signals that I defaulted in such a serious way that the creditor had to write off the account as a total loss. This paints me unfairly as an extremely high-risk consumer. Because of this, I have faced emotional stress, embarrassment, and denial of even basic financing. It has also impacted my opportunities to rent housing and apply for professional roles. Without full legal documentation of this debt, reporting a charge-off is an act of defamation against my financial character. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Balance {$22000.00} Opened XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Reported Late Payments.

Law : FCRA 607 ( b ). 
Story : As with the other late payment entries, this significantly lowers my score and creates a narrative of repeated irresponsibility which does not reflect my reality. Each inaccurate late mark multiplies the negative impression, exaggerating the risk to lenders and causing me financial harm in the form of higher loans costs, denials, and damaged reputation. These inaccuracies are extremely harmful and must be deleted unless 100 % verified through lawful records. 

XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX {$2000.00} Opened XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX Issue : Collection account reported without validation.

Law : FDCPA 809.

Story : Collections are highly damaging entries. This particular collection reporting has no supporting validation provided, meaning it could easily be attached to my file in error or fraud. The existence of this record causes creditors to believe I have abandoned debts, which is not true. This has real-life consequences in my applications for apartments, insurance, and other essential services. Carrying a false collection damages dignity, credibility, and opportunity. 

Hard Inquiries ( Multiple Unverified Credit Pulls ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : Unauthorized / Unverified Inquiries.

Law : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) requires permissible purpose for accessing my report. 
Story : These repeated inquiries are extremely harmful. Many were not authorized by me, and excessive inquiries lower my credit score substantially. When I apply for legitimate credit, it appears as though I am desperate and constantly applying, which is untrue. Employers, landlords, and insurers who see multiple inquiries may wrongly assume instability or fraud. Such inquiries, if unauthorized, are essentially unlawful intrusions into my private financial history. Their presence is unfair, damaging, and must be deleted immediately.

Legal Basis for Complaint : FCRA 1681i ( a ) : Requires credit reporting agencies to investigate and correct inaccurate information. 
FCRA 604 ( a ) : Unauthorized inquiries are prohibited.

FDCPA 1692e & 1692f : Prohibits false or misleading representations by debt collectors.

FDCPA 1692c ( b ) : Prohibits disclosure of consumer information to unauthorized third parties.

Requested Action : 1. Correct all inaccurate addresses on my credit report.

2. Investigate and remove all false late payments, charge-offs, and collections.

3. Remove all unauthorized hard inquiries.

4. Provide written confirmation of corrections to me and all major credit bureaus. 
I urge the CFPB to intervene to ensure compliance with federal law and the protection of my rights. If these violations continue unaddressed, I am prepared to pursue further legal remedies under FCRA and FDCPA, including filing complaints with the FTC. 
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief