Consumer complaint received 2025-09-24 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am a documented victim of identity theft and the Equifax data breach, which publicly confirmed that my personal information had been compromised. Since that event, my credit files across all three major credit reporting agenciesEquifax, Experian, and XXXXhave contained serious inaccuracies that remain unresolved despite multiple rounds of disputes. These inaccuracies include unauthorized hard inquiries, inconsistent and unverifiable account reporting, and the attachment of false personal identifiers. Collectively, these errors demonstrate systemic noncompliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the XXXX Metro 2 reporting standards, both of which require strict accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and consistency in consumer reporting. 

First, my reports list numerous unauthorized inquiries by companies with which I have no relationship and from which I never sought credit. Examples include XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, and Informative. These inquiries were made without my consent and without permissible purpose, in direct violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681b. I have repeatedly disputed these entries and demanded validation, yet the bureaus have either ignored my requests or failed to provide lawful documentation. Their refusal to delete or verify these inquiries continues to harm my creditworthiness. 

Second, my credit files contain false and unverified personal identifiers. Examples include the listing of names such as XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX And XXXX, which are not my legal name, an incorrect date of birth ( XX/XX/year> instead of my correct XX/XX/year> ), and addresses such as XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX, which are either not my deliverable address or were improperly merged into my file. These identifiers not only misrepresent my identity but also suggest that my file has been improperly co-mingled with other individuals, further compromising the integrity of my consumer record. Despite disputes, these inaccurate identifiers remain, and the agencies have failed to provide any lawful justification for their retention. 

Third, the reporting of my XXXX credit card account ( # XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) is inconsistent and contradictory across all three bureaus. The account is reported with conflicting opening dates, false high credit amounts, and, most significantly, derogatory late payment remarks while simultaneously being marked as current and open. Reporting an account as current and paid as agreed while simultaneously attaching derogatory information is not only misleading but also expressly noncompliant with Metro 2 guidelines and FCRA requirements for accuracy and consistency. These errors have appeared even after multiple disputesincluding a fourth-round disputeyet the account remains misreported, demonstrating willful disregard of my rights under 15 U.S.C. 1681i. 

Finally, in response to my disputes, all three bureaus have repeatedly issued generic form letters instead of conducting a meaningful reinvestigation based on the evidence provided. The FCRA requires that each dispute be investigated independently and on its merits. Instead, the bureaus have engaged in practices that suggest automated or perfunctory reviews, with no real effort to validate or correct the inaccurate data. This repeated failure to conduct proper reinvestigations not only violates federal law but also shows a pattern of willful noncompliance. 

As a result of these failures, I have suffered measurable harm, including lowered credit scores, denial or impairment of access to credit opportunities, reputational injury, and significant financial and emotional stress. I have been forced to spend considerable time and resources documenting these errors and filing multiple disputes that have gone largely ignored. 

I respectfully request that the CFPB compel Equifax, Experian, and XXXX  to : ( 1 ) permanently delete all unauthorized inquiries ; ( 2 ) remove or correct all unverifiable or contradictory accounts, including the XXXX account ; ( 3 ) delete all false personal identifiers ; ( 4 ) implement full compliance with the FCRA and Metro 2 reporting standards ; and ( 5 ) provide me with written confirmation that these corrections have been made and will not be reinserted without lawful validation. Without such intervention, the ongoing harm to my creditworthiness will continue unchecked.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief