Consumer complaint received 2025-03-30 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally dispute the reappearance of certain items on my credit report that were previously removed. These items are : Account Name : XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Account Type : Charge Card Responsibility : Individual Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$380.00} Account Name : XXXX XXXX Account XXXX : XXXX Account Type : Charge Card Responsibility : Individual Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX I previously filed a dispute for these accounts, which was processed and successfully removed from my credit report on XX/XX/XXXX. Attached is proof of the deletion for your reference. 
However, to my surprise, these accounts were reinserted on XX/XX/XXXX. 
This reinsertion violates several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically : FCRA XXXX XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( A ) : Requires the XXXX XXXX XXXX to complete an investigation when a consumer disputes an item and either confirm its accuracy or delete it. 
FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ) : Mandates that if the information is found to be inaccurate or can not be verified, the agency must remove or correct it.

FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) : Specifies that if an item previously removed is reinserted, the agency must notify the consumer within XXXX business days. 
The reinserted items on my report have appeared without proper notification or validation, directly violating the above provisions of the FCRA. I request that you immediately remove these reinserted items from my credit report. 
If this matter is not resolved promptly, I will pursue legal action, including seeking damages up to {$1000.00} as permitted under the FCRA for violations of the law. 
In addition, these accounts were flagged as potentially fraudulent due to identity theft. I followed all procedures, including submitting a valid identity theft affidavit, to initiate a thorough investigation. However, your agencys response simply stated that these accounts were " verified, '' without providing any details about the sources or evidence used during verification. This lack of transparency violates the FCRAs requirement for consumer reporting agencies to provide accurate and complete information regarding their verification process. 
Therefore, I formally request that your agency conduct a reinvestigation of these disputed items in accordance with FCRA Section 611. Specifically, I demand that you : XXXX. Provide the source ( XXXX ) of information used to verify the accounts in dispute, including identifying the furnishers or third-party entities contacted during the verification process. 
XXXX. Confirm whether your agency contacted the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) regarding the identity theft affidavit I submitted, as this is necessary to ensure the accuracy of the disputed items. 
Supporting Case Law for Compliance with FCRA Requirements Several legal precedents reinforce the need for thorough investigations by consumer reporting agencies when handling identity theft and disputes : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : The court held that consumer reporting agencies are required to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information. A superficial verification process violates the FCRA. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. XXXX ) : The court emphasized the obligation to verify disputed information in a manner that ensures maximum possible accuracy, which was violated by failing to validate the origin of the disputed information. 
XXXX v. Equifax XXXX. XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : Reaffirmed that credit reporting agencies must act transparently when handling identity theft disputes. 
XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. XXXX ) : Highlighted that failing to conduct a reasonable investigation after a consumer dispute exposes an agency to liability under the FCRA. 
Demand for Compliance and Notice of Potential Legal Action Given the above case law and statutory obligations under the FCRA, I demand that your agency : XXXX. Conduct a comprehensive reinvestigation of all disputed accounts related to my prior identity theft claim. 
XXXX. Provide documentation detailing the sources used in the verification process, including the furnishers or third-party entities involved. 
XXXX. Confirm whether the FTC was contacted and whether due diligence was observed according to my identity theft affidavit. 
Please confirm compliance with this request within XXXX  days of receiving this letter. Failure to comply with the FCRA and provide a satisfactory response will compel me to pursue all available legal remedies, including seeking damages in federal court for any harm resulting from inaccuracies on my credit report. 
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to resolving this issue fairly and expeditiously in accordance with the FCRA.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation