Consumer complaint received 2025-01-21 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
Notice of Intent to Litigate Against Equifax for Violations of the FCRA, FDCPA, and False Claims Act To Whom It May Concern, This letter serves as my formal and final notice of intent to litigate against Equifax for its repeated, willful, and negligent violations of federal laws and consumer protection statutes, including but not limited to the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) Act, and the False Claims Act. 

Equifaxs actionsspecifically its false reporting, mishandling of my credit file, and unauthorized adjustments to tradelinesconstitute a deliberate breach of my rights as a consumer under these statutes. Despite my repeated demands for proper investigation and verification, Equifax has engaged in unauthorized disputes, sham investigations, and misrepresentations of the dispute process, causing significant harm to my credit file and financial standing. 

Violations and Statutory Protections 1. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) Violations 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) : Equifax failed to follow reasonable procedures to ensure the maximum possible accuracy of the information in my credit file. This includes the negligent reporting of two XXXX XXXX accounts that were added nearly three months after their actual inception, resulting in unnecessary damage to my credit score. 
15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Equifax failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of the disputed information as required by law, particularly regarding complaints about the XXXX XXXX accounts. 
15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) : Equifax failed to promptly delete or modify inaccurate or unverifiable information after a dispute. 
15 U.S.C. 1681n : Equifax is liable for willful noncompliance with FCRA requirements, entitling me to statutory damages of {$1000.00} per violation, punitive damages, and attorneys fees. 
15 U.S.C. 1681o : Equifaxs negligent noncompliance has caused me actual harm, including financial losses and credit score damage. 
2. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) Violations 15 U.S.C. 1692e : Equifaxs reporting of the XXXX XXXX accounts constitutes false, deceptive, and misleading representations, particularly with respect to the timing and accuracy of their addition. 
15 U.S.C. 1692f : Equifax has engaged in unfair and unconscionable practices by mishandling disputes and failing to verify or remove inaccurate information. 
3. Federal Trade Commission Act ( FTC Act ) Section 5 ( a ), 15 U.S.C. 45 : Equifaxs actions amount to unfair and deceptive practices in commerce, as it has failed to provide transparency and accuracy in handling consumer disputes, thereby violating consumer protection standards established by the FTC. 
4. False Claims Act Violations Equifax has knowingly and willfully provided false certifications of accuracy to third parties, including creditors and potential lenders, in violation of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729-3733. Reporting unverified information as accurate constitutes a fraudulent claim that undermines the integrity of the consumer credit system. 

Specific Harms and Damages XXXX XXXX  Tradelines : Equifax willfully and negligently added two XXXX XXXX accounts to my credit file nearly three months after their actual opening. This resulted in a significant and unnecessary reduction of my credit score by XXXX points and a drop in my credit standing from Good to Fair. Despite my complaints, Equifax has failed to provide a resolution or explanation in over two weeks. 
Unauthorized Disputes : In response to my complaint, Equifax opened an unauthorized dispute and made unwarranted adjustments to information on my credit file, further compounding the issue. 
Score Loss and Mismanagement : Equifaxs actions caused a sharp and unjustified drop in my credit score and standing, with no meaningful corrective action taken. 
Failure to Respond to Complaints : I have filed numerous complaints with Equifax, the CFPB, XXXX, and FTC, detailing the mishandling of my credit file and reporting errors, yet no resolution has been provided. 

Demands To resolve this matter without litigation, I require the following : 1. Immediate Correction of the XXXX XXXX  Tradelines Provide a detailed explanation and correction of the two XXXX XXXX  tradelines, ensuring accurate reporting of their inception dates and resolving the XXXX drop in my credit score. 
2. Proof of Compliance with Statutes Submit documentation demonstrating compliance with FCRA, FDCPA, and FTC requirements for all actions related to the Kikoff Lending accounts and my credit file. 
3. Compensation for Damages {$1000.00} per XXXX XXXX tradeline for the negligent reporting. 
{$3000.00} for willful noncompliance and the failure to resolve these issues in a timely and lawful manner. 
Total compensation : {$5000.00}. 

Notice of Intent Failure to comply with these demands within 15 days of receipt of this letter will result in my initiation of legal proceedings to pursue full damages, injunctive relief, and any other remedies available under the law. Equifaxs deliberate and systemic misconduct, as demonstrated in this case and others, will not be tolerated. 

Sincerely, [ XXXX XXXX XXXX ] [ XXXX ]

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation