Consumer complaint received 2025-08-20 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:
I am filing this complaint because Equifax and Experian have refused to comply with federal law regarding the accuracy, completeness, and reinvestigation of disputed credit information. Despite multiple disputes that I have filed in writing, these credit bureaus continue to report an account identified as XXXX XXXX, falsely labeling it as a charged-off collection. XXXX has already deleted this exact same account after determining it could not be verified, yet Equifax and Experian continue to retain and display it. 

This is a serious and ongoing violation of my consumer rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and industry standards under Metro 2 reporting guidelines. 

Inaccurate and Misleading Reporting Both Equifax and Experian are showing this account as a current charge-off with derogatory codes, even though their own reporting admits the balance is {$0.00}, no payment obligation exists, and the account was closed more than a year ago. Continuing to list an account as charged-off when the balance is XXXX and there is no monthly obligation is materially misleading to lenders. This misrepresentation causes lenders to believe I currently owe money or failed to satisfy an account that in reality has been closed and carries no balance. 

The reporting also shows incomplete and inconsistent payment history data, including late payments posted after the last known activity date. This is not possible and demonstrates that the data being reported has not been verified. 

FCRA Violations The bureaus conduct violates multiple sections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including but not limited to : FCRA 1681e ( b ) Failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. Both Equifax and Experian continue to display this account in a way that is factually wrong and materially misleading. 

FCRA 1681i ( a ) Failure to conduct a proper reinvestigation after receiving my disputes. Despite my formal disputes, both bureaus failed to provide documentation or verification proving the accuracy of the account. Instead, they kept the false information without substantiating it. 

FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 3 ) Furnisher duty to report an account as disputed. Even after my disputes, neither Equifax nor Experian flagged this tradeline as being in dispute. This is a direct statutory violation.

FCRA 1681c-2 As a victim of the Equifax Data Breach where my Non-Publ
ic Personal Information was compromised, I am entitled to additional protections. Continuing to report unverifiable debt after my data was exposed places me at further risk of identity theft and financial harm.

FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) Reinserted information requires 5-day written notice. No such notice was ever provided to me, even though this item appears to have been re-reported after being removed. 

Metro 2 Reporting Violations The bureaus are also in violation of Metro 2 compliance standards, which are the industrys required format for reporting credit information. Their reporting errors include : Listing a XXXX account as an active charge-off. 

Failing to update the tradeline after the account was sold or transferred to another lender. 

Misrepresenting the status and age of the account. 

Displaying payment history data beyond the last date of activity. 

Omitting the required dispute compliance condition code after I challenged the account. 

Experians own comments even admit that the account was purchased by another lender and charged off as a loss. Once a debt has been sold, the original creditor no longer has legal authority to report the tradeline. This makes the continued reporting not only inaccurate, but also potentially unlawful. 

Inconsistent Treatment Across Bureaus The fact that XXXX deleted the exact same account while Equifax and Experian continue to report it proves that the information is either unverifiable or not being handled consistently across the credit reporting agencies. If one bureau has determined it can not be verified, there is no legal or factual basis for the others to continue reporting it. 

Harm and Damages The continued presence of this derogatory and unverifiable account has caused me direct harm. My credit reports are being presented to lenders in a false and damaging manner, lowering my creditworthiness and preventing me from obtaining fair credit opportunities. This account should have been permanently deleted after the first dispute, yet both Equifax and Experian are willfully choosing to retain it in violation of the law. 

Escalation and Remedies I have repeatedly asked for proof of accuracy, lawful permissible purpose, and full compliance with FCRA and Metro 2 standards. Neither Equifax nor Experian has provided any verifiable documentation, only form responses or partial updates that fail to address the violations. 

This is not a matter of oversight. It is willful noncompliance under FCRA 1681n and negligent noncompliance under FCRA 1681o. Their refusal to delete unverifiable and damaging data despite multiple disputes demonstrates a reckless disregard for my rights as a consumer. 

I am requesting the immediate and permanent deletion of the XXXX account from both Equifax and Experian, as well as any other unverifiable information tied to this account. If these bureaus fail to comply, I am prepared to escalate further to the Federal Trade Commission, my state Attorney General, and to pursue private legal action.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation