Consumer complaint received 2025-01-08 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX for their continued violations of federal laws regarding consumer rights. Despite my attempts to resolve these issues directly with the credit reporting agencies ( CRAs ), I have not received any resolution. This negligence not only affects my financial health but also violates my rights under several key federal statutes and regulations.

1. Failure to Delete Late Payments The CRAs have failed to investigate and delete inaccurate late payments from my credit reports, violating : 15 U.S.C. 1666b : Timeframes for creditor responses and billing error corrections.

15 U.S.C. 1637 ( b ) : Mandate for accurate disclosure of credit account terms and conditions.

15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 : Duty of furnishers to provide accurate information.

15 U.S.C. 1681i : Obligations to reinvestigate disputed items.

These provisions clearly establish a framework for timely and accurate reporting, which the CRAs have failed to uphold.

2. Improper Retention of Hard Inquiries I have disputed unauthorized and outdated inquiries on my reports, yet they remain unaddressed. This violates : 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( 2 ) : Restrictions on permissible purposes for obtaining credit reports.

15 U.S.C. 1681 ( q ) : Prohibitions on obtaining credit reports under false pretenses.

15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 : Obligations for security freezes and fraud alerts.

Retention of unauthorized inquiries is damaging and undermines consumer protections meant to safeguard against misuse of sensitive information.

3. Failure to Delete Charge-Offs and Related Violations Charge-offs and related negative entries remain on my credit report despite being inaccurate or outdated, in direct violation of : 15 U.S.C. 1666b : Requirements for correcting billing errors.

15 U.S.C. 1681i : CRA duties to reinvestigate disputed items.

15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 : Responsibilities of furnishers to report accurate information.

Additionally, the reporting of charged-off accounts conflicts with 1099-C cancellation of debt requirements, which creates further inaccuracies in my reports.

4. Non-Compliance with Federal Regulations The CRAs are in violation of the following Consumer Financial Protection regulations : 12 CFR 1006.34 ( c ) : Disclosure standards for debt collectors.

12 CFR 1006.6 ( c ) : Prohibitions on misleading representations.

15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) : Requirements for maintaining maximum possible accuracy in credit reports.

15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) : Mandate for furnishers to prevent the reporting of inaccurate information.

Request for Immediate Action Given the CRAs ongoing non-compliance, I request that the CFPB take the following actions : 1. Investigate the CRAs Practices : Enforce compliance with federal laws and hold the CRAs accountable for violations.

2. Require Deletion of Inaccurate Information : Ensure that all late payments, inquiries, and charge-offs are deleted from my reports.

3. Impose Penalties : Impose appropriate penalties on XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX for their negligence. 
4. Audit CRA Compliance Processes : Assess the CRAs reinvestigation procedures to prevent future violations.

Supporting Documentation Enclosed, I have included the following : Copies of my disputes submitted to the CRAs.

Responses ( or lack thereof ) from the CRAs.

Evidence of inaccuracies and non-compliance.

I trust the CFPB will take swift and decisive action to address these violations and protect consumers from further harm. I look forward to your response and resolution of this matter.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent complaint.

Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX for numerous violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically regarding their failure to comply with 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( 2 ) ( A ) ( i ) and 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 regarding the accuracy of information reported to consumer reporting agencies.

Background As a consumer impacted by the actions of these credit reporting agencies, I have painstakingly attempted to correct inaccuracies in my credit report and have witnessed firsthand the failure of these agencies to adhere to statutory obligations under the FCRA.

Violations 1. Definition of Consumer Report ( 15 U.S.C. 1681a ( 2 ) ( A ) ( i ) ) : It is my understanding that according to this regulation, a consumer report does not include information solely related to transactions and experiences between the consumer and the entity making the report. However, I have found that inaccuracies concerning my transactional history have been reported by these agencies, despite these inaccuracies not being exempt reports. This misclassification directly violates the clear stipulation outlined in the FCRA.

2. Responsibilities of Furnishers of Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ) : According to subsection ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), furnishers of information have a duty to provide accurate information. I have documented occasions where both XXXX and Equifax have reported false information while having actual knowledge of errors. These inaccuracies have negatively impacted my credit score and my ability to obtain credit. Such actions are not only illegal but demonstrate a willful disregard for the law.

3. Timing of Payments ( 15 U.S.C. 1666b ) : The failures in reporting also extend to the timing of payments. There have been instances where my payments have been reported late despite the fact that my payments were made timely and in accordance with the agreements in place. This misreporting has not only caused harm but has also imposed undue stress and financial implications on my ability to secure financing.

Conclusion I demand a thorough investigation into the practices of XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX. Their continued failure to adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act is a violation of my rights as a consumer. I expect that the CFPB will take appropriate action to ensure that these agencies are held accountable for their violations. 

Additionally, I expect these agencies to rectify the inaccuracies on my reports immediately and provide me with a formal confirmation of the corrections made. 

Please inform me of the steps you will take regarding this complaint. I am prepared to take further action if necessary to enforce my rights. 











XXXX XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account # XXXX XXXX High Balance {$380.00} {$380.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$380.00} {$380.00} Closed Date -- -- Account Rating Derogatory Derogatory Account Description Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Other Collection Agencies Other Collection Agencies Account Status Closed Closed Payment Status Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Creditor Remarks Dispute resolved ; customer disagrees Subscriber reports dispute resolved - consumer disagrees. 
Original Creditor XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX  Payment Amount -- -- Last Payment -- -- Term Length -- -- Past Due Amount -- -- Account Type -- -- Payment Frequency -- -- Credit Limit -- -- XXXX  XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX Account # XXXX High Balance {$1000.00} Last Verified -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$520.00} Closed Date -- Account Rating Derogatory Account Description Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Creditor Type Personal Loan Companies Account Status Closed Payment Status Collection/Chargeoff Creditor Remarks Unpaid balance reported as a loss by the credit grantor. 
Original Creditor -- Payment Amount {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX Term Length 12 Month ( s ) Past Due Amount {$520.00} Account Type Unsecured loan Payment Frequency Credit Limit {$0.00} XXXX XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$31000.00} {$31000.00} {$31000.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX -- Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Closed Date XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Account Rating Closed Paid Paid Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account disputed Creditor Type Auto Finance Auto Financing Auto Financing Account Status Closed Closed Closed Payment Status Current Current Current Creditor Remarks Closed Customer disputed account - reported by subscriber. 
Consumer disputes this account information Closed or paid account/zero balance Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX -- Term Length 50 Month ( s ) 50 Month ( s ) 50 Month ( s ) Past Due Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Account Type Auto Lease Lease Payment Frequency Monthly ( every month ) Credit Limit {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} XXXX XXXX  Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$31000.00} {$31000.00} {$7800.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$7800.00} {$7800.00} {$7800.00} Closed Date -- -- -- Account Rating Derogatory Derogatory Derogatory Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Auto Finance Auto Financing Auto Financing Account Status Open Closed Closed Payment Status Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Creditor Remarks Charged off as bad debt Profit and loss write-off Unpaid balance reported as a loss by the credit grantor. 
Charged off account Auto Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Term Length 79 Month ( s ) 79 Month ( s ) -- Past Due Amount {$7800.00} {$7800.00} {$7800.00} Account Type Auto Loan Auto Loan Auto Loan Payment Frequency Monthly ( every month ) Credit Limit {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$160.00} {$160.00} {$100.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Closed Date XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Account Rating Paid Paid Paid Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Complete Department Stores - Clothing Miscellaneous Department and Variety Stores Complete Department Stores - Clothing Account Status Closed Closed Closed Payment Status Current Current Current Creditor Remarks Canceled by credit grantor Account has been closed due to inactivity.

Closed or paid account/zero balance Accounts closed by credit grantor Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Term Length -- -- -- Past Due Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Account Type Charge account Charge account Payment Frequency Credit Limit {$100.00} {$100.00} {$0.00} XXXX  Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$2200.00} {$0.00} {$2200.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$2200.00} {$2200.00} {$2200.00} Closed Date XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Account Rating Derogatory Derogatory Derogatory Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Credit Unions Credit Unions Credit Unions Account Status Closed Closed Closed Payment Status Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Creditor Remarks Charged off as bad debt Profit and loss write-off Unpaid balance reported as a loss by the credit grantor.

Charged off account Credit card Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Term Length -- -- -- Past Due Amount {$2200.00} {$2200.00} {$2200.00} Account Type Credit Card Credit Card Credit Card Payment Frequency Credit Limit {$2000.00} {$2000.00} {$0.00} XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$2800.00} {$0.00} {$2800.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Closed Date XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Account Rating Derogatory Derogatory Derogatory Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Bank Credit Cards Bank Credit Cards Bank Credit Cards Account Status Closed Closed Closed Payment Status Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Creditor Remarks Charged off as bad debt Purchased by another lender Purchased by a another lender. 
Unpaid balance reported as a loss by credit grantor. 
Charged off account Account transferred or sold Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Term Length -- -- -- Past Due Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Account Type Credit Card Credit Card Payment Frequency Credit Limit {$2400.00} {$2400.00} {$0.00} XXXX XXXX  XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # **** XXXX XXXX High Balance {$2800.00} {$0.00} {$2800.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$2800.00} {$2800.00} {$2800.00} Closed Date XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Account Rating Derogatory Derogatory Derogatory Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Bank Credit Cards All Banks All Banks Account Status Closed Closed Closed Payment Status Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Collection/Chargeoff Creditor Remarks Charged off as bad debt Dispute resolved ; reported by grantor Account was in dispute - now resolved - reported by subscriber.

Unpaid balance reported as a loss by the credit grantor.

Charged off account Accounts closed by credit grantor Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Term Length -- -- -- Past Due Amount {$2800.00} {$2800.00} {$2800.00} Account Type Credit Card Credit Card Payment Frequency Credit Limit {$2500.00} {$2500.00} {$0.00} XXXX XXXX Filters XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX Equifax Account # XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$2200.00} {$2200.00} {$1800.00} Last Verified XX/XX/XXXX -- -- Date of Last Activity XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Balance Owed {$2200.00} {$2200.00} {$2200.00} Closed Date -- -- -- Account Rating Open Open Open Account Description Individual Individual Individual Dispute Status Account not disputed Account not disputed Account not disputed Creditor Type Bank Credit Cards Bank Credit Cards All Banks Account Status Open Open Open Payment Status Current Current Current Creditor Remarks Dispute resolved ; reported by grantor Account was in dispute - now resolved - reported by subscriber.

Account previously in dispute - now resolved by data furnisher Credit card Original Creditor -- -- -- Payment Amount {$25.00} {$68.00} {$68.00} Last Payment XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Term Length -- -- -- Past Due Amount {$0.00} {$0.00} {$0.00} Account Type Credit Card Credit Card Credit Card Payment Frequency Credit Limit {$1800.00} {$1800.00} {$0.00}

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief