Consumer complaint received 2025-03-11 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Formal Complaint Regarding Failure to Investigate Credit Reporting Errors in Violation of FCRA To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to formally demand immediate corrective action regarding Equifaxs failure to investigate and accurately report my credit report and profile in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Despite providing several IRS Form 1099-C 's , which legally confirms the discharge of certain debts and nullifies any remaining balance, Equifax continues to report inaccurate, false, and misleading information regarding several charged-off trade lines. This continued negligence is a clear violation of the FCRA and demonstrates Equifaxs well-documented pattern of failing to conduct proper reinvestigations, as evidenced by the recent lawsuit filed against Equifax by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) ( Case No. 2025-CFPB-0002, filed XX/XX/year> ). Equifaxs Documented Pattern of Violations The CFPB lawsuit against Equifax outlines systemic failures in its dispute resolution process, including : Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Reinvestigation ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ) Equifax fails to properly investigate consumer disputes by uncritically accepting furnishers responses without verifying supporting documentation or conducting a good-faith analysis of the dispute. Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) Equifax has repeatedly allowed inaccurate and outdated information to remain on consumer credit reports, despite having evidence to the contrary. In my case, the reporting of a balance over {$0.00} contradicts legally binding IRS Form 1099-C, which conclusively proves debt cancellation. Failure to Provide Notice of Reinvestigation Results ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ) Just as detailed in the CFPB lawsuit, Equifax has provided inadequate and misleading results regarding my dispute, failing to specify the exact findings of their reinvestigation, if any, and failing to correct the errors in my credit profile. Unfair and Deceptive Practices ( 12 U.S.C. 5531, 5536 ) Equifaxs pattern of negligence and bad-faith handling of disputes constitutes an unfair and deceptive act under the Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA ). The CFPB lawsuit has already established Equifaxs liability for these actions, which have caused widespread harm to consumers. My Case and Equifaxs Ongoing Noncompliance Equifax has continued to report inaccurate charge-off trade lines on my credit profile, even though : I have provided several IRS Form 1099-C 's, proving that these debts were legally discharged and forgiven. Any balance reported over {$0.00} is false, misleading, and legally inaccurate. Equifax has ignored my repeated attempts to have these errors corrected. This failure to investigate and correct inaccuracies mirrors the allegations in the recent CFPB lawsuit and further confirms that Equifax is not operating in good faith. Demand for Immediate Action In light of these clear violations and Equifaxs history of systemic noncompliance, I formally demand that Equifax : Immediately remove all inaccurate and misleading charge-off trade lines that should reflect a {$0.00} balance ( Paid in Full ) in accordance with IRS Form 1099-C. Provide a detailed written explanation of the reinvestigation process and all actions taken to correct these errors. Confirm in writing that these inaccuracies have been corrected and provide an updated copy of my credit report reflecting these changes. Failure to comply with these demands within 30 days will result in legal action to the fullest extent of the law, including : Filing a formal complaint with the CFPB, the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and my states Attorney Generals office. Pursuing civil litigation for damages, including statutory, actual, and punitive damages, as Equifaxs conduct is causing harm to my financial standing, injury to my reputation, and defamation of character. Equifax Must Be Held Accountable The CFPBs XXXX  lawsuit against Equifax has already established a pattern of misconduct, and my experience further confirms that Equifax is willfully violating its obligations under federal law. I will not hesitate to escalate this matter to the courts and regulatory authorities if Equifax fails to take immediate corrective action. I expect Equifax to fulfill its legal obligations and respond to this complaint promptly. Please confirm receipt of this letter and provide a written response addressing my concerns within the statutory timeline.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation