Consumer complaint received 2024-08-24 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: IL

Complaint narrative:
**Subject : Revocation of Consent and Opt-Out Request** Dear [ Recipient 's Name ], I am writing to assert my rights under various sections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other relevant laws. As a consumer, I have the right to ensure that my private information is not shared without my explicit consent. 

1. **Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 USC 1681, Section 602 ( a ) ) ** : This section emphasizes the need for consumer reporting agencies to exercise their responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and respect for the consumers right to privacy. It states, " There is a need to insure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumers right to privacy. '' Equifax and XXXX, as consumer reporting agencies, must adhere to these principles. 

XXXX. XXXX XXXX ( 15 USC 6801 ) ** : This act states that financial institutions have an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of their customers and to protect the security and confidentiality of their nonpublic personal information. Specifically, it declares, " It is the policy of the Congress that each financial institution has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality of those customers nonpublic personal information. '' As a furnisher of information to credit agencies, you are defined as a financial institution under this title. 

3. **FCRA ( 15 USC 1681, Section 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) ) ** : This section specifies that a consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report only with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. It states, " Subject to subsection ( c ), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other : in accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates. '' I have not provided such consent to Equifax, XXXX, or any furnisher of information to credit agencies. Any and all consent, whether verbal, non-verbal, written, implied, or otherwise, is hereby revoked. 

XXXX. XXXX XXXX ( 15 USC 6802 ( b ) ( c ) ) ** : This section states that a financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unless the consumer is given an explanation of how to exercise the nondisclosure option. It specifies, " A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party unlessthe consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can exercise that nondisclosure option. '' I was never informed of my right to exercise this option. 

5. **FCRA ( 15 USC 1681c ( a ) ( 5 ) ) ** : This section prohibits consumer reporting agencies from including any adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes, which antedates the report by more than seven years. It states, " Except as authorized under subsection ( b ), no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information : Any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the report by more than seven years. '' The adverse item being reported without my permission is against the law.

6. **FCRA ( 15 USC 1681s-2 ( A ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) ** : This section states that a person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate. It declares, " A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate. '' 7. **FCRA ( 15 USC 1681e ) ** : This section requires every consumer reporting agency to maintain reasonable procedures to avoid violations of section 1681c and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b. It states, " Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 1681c of this title and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 1681b of this title. '' Equifax and XXXX are not maintaining reasonable procedures. 

8. **12 CFR 1016.7** : This regulation states that a consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time. It specifies, " A consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time. '' I am hereby opting out of your reporting services. 

Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and confirm that my information will no longer be shared or reported without my explicit written consent.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation