Consumer complaint received 2025-01-22 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Account status incorrect
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
This complaint addresses Equifaxs repeated and egregious failures to comply with federal consumer protection laws, specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), as well as industry standards governed by Metro 2 and the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) guidelines. Equifaxs inadequate handling of the XXXX account ( Account # XXXX ) and its persistent inaccuracies demonstrate a systemic disregard for its legal obligations and the harm caused to consumers like me. 

I urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) to take immediate action to hold Equifax accountable for these violations and compel the deletion of the disputed account. 

Detailed Violations 1. FCRA 1681e ( b ) : Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy Under FCRA XXXX ( b ), Equifax is legally obligated to ensure that information reported in my credit file is accurate and complete. Despite this, Equifax continues to inaccurately report the XXXX account as a charge-off, even though the account was resolved. 

According to XXXX XXXX standards, a resolved account should reflect : Compliance Condition Code XA to suppress further reporting.

Account Status Code 13 to indicate that the account has been paid in full or settled for less than the full balance. 
Special Comment Code AU, which confirms that the account has been paid in full or closed at the consumers request. 
XXXX failure to update the account in compliance with these reporting standards directly violates its obligations under the FCRA to maintain accurate records. 

This ongoing inaccuracy undermines the purpose of the FCRA, which is to ensure the integrity of consumer credit files. XXXX negligence has materially harmed my creditworthiness, leading to potential denials of credit, higher interest rates, and reputational damage. 

XXXX. FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Failure to Conduct Meaningful Investigations XXXX response to my previous disputes has been superficial and automated, relying heavily on the e-Oscar system, which courts and regulators have criticized for failing to provide meaningful investigations. 

Legal Precedent : In XXXX XXXX XXXX Banking XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ), the court emphasized that credit reporting agencies must conduct a thorough reinvestigation of disputed information, not rely solely on automated verification by data furnishers. Equifax has violated this requirement by dismissing my disputes without reviewing the specific inaccuracies I highlighted. 
CFPB Lawsuit Against Equifax ( XXXX ) : The CFPBs enforcement action against Equifax for inadequate dispute investigations further highlights systemic failures in their dispute-resolution processes. This recent lawsuit demonstrates that Equifax is aware of its obligations yet continues to fail consumers by prioritizing expediency over accuracy. 
XXXX failure to conduct a meaningful investigation of my disputes violates FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) and deprives me of my right to accurate reporting. 

XXXX. Violations of XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX reporting practices are also inconsistent with Metro 2 standards and CDIA guidelines, which set the industry baseline for accurate credit reporting. Specifically : Field 41 ( Compliance Condition Code ) : Equifax failed to apply the correct compliance condition code ( XA ) to suppress reporting of this resolved account.

Payment History Profile : Despite the resolution of the account, Equifax has continued to report derogatory payment history ( " CO '' for charge-off ), further violating Metro 2 guidelines.

Date of First Delinquency ( DOFD ) : Any reporting beyond the statutory seven-year window for negative information under FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ) must be suppressed. Equifax has failed to ensure compliance in this regard.

By failing to adhere to these standards, Equifax has undermined the accuracy and integrity of my credit file, rendering the account legally unreportable. 

Legal Precedent Supporting My XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : This case established that credit reporting agencies must go beyond automated processes when investigating disputes and engage in meaningful investigations. Equifaxs reliance on automated systems like e-Oscar violates this precedent. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. XXXX ) : Reinforces that credit bureaus are responsible for investigating disputed accounts independently, rather than deferring entirely to furnishers. 
CFPB v. Equifax ( XXXX ) : The CFPB found Equifax guilty of inadequate dispute handling, including sham investigations and failure to correct inaccuracies. This case highlights Equifaxs ongoing disregard for its legal obligations, directly relevant to the failures in my case. 
Requested Resolutions To rectify these violations and restore the integrity of my credit file, I request the following resolutions : Immediate Deletion of the XXXX Account : Permanently delete this account from my credit file. Its inaccuracies, coupled with violations of Metro 2 standards and the FCRA, render it unreportable. 
Updated Credit Report : Provide a corrected credit report reflecting the deletion of this account and removal of all associated derogatory notations, including Charge-Off status and negative payment history.

Audit and Process Improvements : Conduct a comprehensive internal audit of Equifaxs dispute-handling procedures, focusing on its reliance on e-Oscar. Implement corrective actions, including : Training for personnel to ensure compliance with FCRA and Metro 2 standards.

Enhancements to dispute resolution processes to include manual reviews.

Formal Written Acknowledgment : Issue a formal acknowledgment of these errors, with an explanation of corrective measures taken and assurances that such failures will not recur.

Financial Compensation ( if applicable ) : If the inaccurate reporting resulted in financial harm ( e.g., denial of credit, increased interest rates ), Equifax must provide appropriate compensation.

Commitment to Future Compliance : Equifax must demonstrate ongoing compliance with FCRA, Metro 2, and CDIA standards by submitting to regular compliance reviews and reporting the results to the CFPB. 
Conclusion Equifaxs repeated failures to ensure the accuracy of my credit report and its reliance on sham investigations represent gross violations of its statutory duties under the FCRA and industry standards. These failures have caused material harm to my financial standing and creditworthiness. 

As established in XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and reinforced by the CFPB v. Equifax ( XXXX ) lawsuit, Equifax is legally obligated to provide accurate reporting and conduct meaningful investigations into consumer disputes. The systemic issues highlighted in this complaint render the XXXX account unreportable under both federal law and industry standards. 

I respectfully request that the CFPB compel Equifax to : Immediately delete the XXXX account, Issue a corrected credit report, Conduct an internal audit, and Ensure future compliance to prevent similar violations.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief