Consumer complaint received 2024-11-15 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau XXXX CFPB XXXX XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX Formal Complaint : Unauthorized Reporting and Deceptive Practices by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX, Equifax, XXXX and XXXX XXXX Whom It May Concern, This letter serves as a formal complaint against XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX Equifax, XXXX and XXXX for their unauthorized reporting of account information, deceptive practices, and violations of federal laws that protect my rights as a consumer. Additionally, I am filing this complaint to address the credit reporting agencies continued negligence in blocking this inaccurate information despite being obligated to do so under federal law. 

XXXX. XXXX XXXX Account XXXX : XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX  Account Number : XXXX Account Number : XXXX Account Number : XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX The credit reporting agenciesXXXX Equifax, and XXXX legally obligated under federal law to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information they report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), these agencies are required to adopt and follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of consumer reports. However, in this case, the credit reporting agencies have failed to meet these requirements by reporting unauthorized, false, and misleading information on my consumer report without my explicit written consent. As established in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ), reporting information without a legitimate permissible purpose or consumer authorization is a direct violation of federal law. The reporting of these accounts was not only against my will but has caused significant harm to my financial reputation, drastically misrepresenting my creditworthiness. By perpetuating the false reporting of unauthorized accounts, these credit bureaus have acted negligently, enabling deceptive practices by creditors, and are complicit in the violation of my consumer rights. 

Inaccurate Names The only name that should be reporting on my credit file is XXXX XXXX. However, my consumer report contains the following unauthorized and inaccurate names that I never provided or authorized for use : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX This excessive and unnecessary variation of names not only misrepresents my identity but creates confusion and diminishes the accuracy of my report, violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), which requires credit reporting agencies to maintain the maximum possible accuracy of consumer files. 

Unauthorized Addresses The only address that should appear on my credit report is : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX However, the following unauthorized and inaccurate addresses are being reported : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX The reporting of these addresses is not only a misrepresentation of my residential history but also constitutes a failure to accurately maintain my consumer file as required by the FCRA. Additionally, these inaccuracies open the door to potential fraud and misuse of my information, further damaging my credit profile. 

Unauthorized Phone Numbers No phone numbers should appear on my credit report. The following numbers are unauthorized and must be removed : ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX The presence of these phone numbers is a clear invasion of my privacy under the XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ), which mandates opt-out rights for nonpublic information. 


The following issues highlight the egregious and unlawful practices conducted by these institutions : XXXX XXXX XXXX : Unauthorized Account Closure and Account Access Denial Locked Out of Accounts : XXXX XXXX XXXX has locked me out of both my bank and auto loan accounts without proper notice or explanation. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : Despite denying access to my accounts, XXXX has not officially informed me that these accounts are closed or provided any explanation for their actions. 
Violation : These actions constitute deceptive practices and are in direct violation of my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ). 

XXXX XXXX : Deceptive and Misleading Practices Misrepresentation : XXXX XXXX promised to remove late fees and credit my account after admitting that I was not receiving statements through the mail. However, they instead closed my accounts and are now reporting them negatively. 
Violation : By closing my accounts without fulfilling their commitment or providing official notice, XXXX XXXX has engaged in fraudulent misrepresentation and deceptive practices, violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and the FCRA. 

XXXX : False Reporting of Late Payments Unauthorized Late Payment Reporting : XXXX has falsely reported my account as 60 days late In XX/XX/XXXX When I have records showing Ive been paying account since XX/XX/XXXX despite there being no actual late payments. I have maintained my payment obligations, and no evidence of a delinquency exists.

Violation : This false reporting is a direct violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ), which mandates that credit reporting agencies and furnishers ensure maximum accuracy of consumer reports. 


Failure to Notify of Account Closures All three institutionsSuncoast, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX failed to provide me with official notifications regarding account closures. This constitutes a breach of good faith and fair dealing principles and a violation of my rights under the FCRA and 15 U.S.C. 6802 of the XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ). The unauthorized reporting of these accounts defames my creditworthiness, misleads creditors, and dramatically impacts my financial standing and future opportunities. 

Deceptive Practices and Misleading Actions The unauthorized reporting of these accounts and the institutions failure to inform me of account closures have resulted in the following : Misrepresentation of My Financial Standing : These actions have misrepresented my creditworthiness to creditors and potential lenders. 
Drastic Impact on My Financial Future : The inaccuracies on my credit report have led to denials of credit, higher interest rates, and undue financial stress.

Federal Obligation Disregarded : Despite submitting an FTC identity theft report and proper documentation, the credit reporting agencies have not blocked the unauthorized information within the required four business days under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2. 

XXXX Laws and XXXX XXXX XXXX. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 : Credit reporting agencies are required to block information resulting from unauthorized use or identity theft within four business days of receiving notice and proper documentation. 
XXXX  Law : XXXX XXXX Equifax, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Failure to correct inaccurate information after receiving notice violates the FCRA. 
XXXX. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) Prohibits deceptive and unfair practices by creditors and debt XXXX, including misrepresentation and failure to validate debts. 
XXXX XXXX : XXXX v. XXXX & XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. 2015 ) Failure to validate debts constitutes a violation of the FDCPA.

3. Truth in Lending Act ( TILA ) Lenders must provide clear, written disclosures of account terms and changes. Denying access to accounts without notice violates transparency requirements.

4. Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ( GLBA ) 15 U.S.C. 6802 Financial institutions are required to provide disclosures about information-sharing practices and obtain consumer consent for sharing nonpublic information.

5. Deceptive Practices Case Law FTC XXXX Equifax XXXX ( Civil Action No. XXXX ) : Emphasized the importance of accurate consumer data reporting and imposed penalties for failures to prevent harm caused by inaccurate or unauthorized information. 

Demands for XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Immediate Removal of All Unauthorized Accounts and XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, and XXXX must immediately remove all unauthorized and inaccurate information from my credit report, including late payment records and closed accounts.

2. Block All Unauthorized Reporting Credit reporting agencies must block all unauthorized accounts and personal information under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 and provide written confirmation of compliance. 
XXXX. Cease XXXX and XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX must cease all collection activities and reporting of these accounts immediately. 
XXXX. Written Confirmation of Actions Taken Provide written confirmation that all unauthorized and inaccurate accounts have been permanently removed. 

This is to clarify that any prior disputes regarding the accuracy of accounts on my consumer report were filed solely to highlight inaccuracies and misrepresentations of information. These disputes do not imply my acceptance of the accounts as valid, nor do they constitute consent for the reporting of these accounts. 

Additionally, under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, any unauthorized information on my credit report must be blocked upon submission of an FTC Identity Theft Report, irrespective of any prior disputes. This includes accounts that may have been previously disputed for inaccuracies but were never authorized to be reported in the first place.

The appearance of unauthorized accounts on my report represents a clear violation of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and misrepresents my financial standing.

Thank you for ensuring compliance with all relevant federal laws. 

Conclusion The deceptive practices, lack of notice, and unauthorized reporting by XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, and XXXX violate multiple federal laws and have caused irreparable harm to my credit and financial future. I demand immediate corrective action and compliance with all federal consumer protection laws. 

This complaint is submitted as a public record to ensure transparency and accountability. I expect All Unauthorized account information to be blocked with XXXX Business days Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief