Consumer complaint received 2024-10-01 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report — Information belongs to someone else
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
In XXXX, my daughter asked me to cosign a {$7000.00} student loan, which I explicitly refused. Despite my refusal, she used my personal information without my knowledge or consent to apply for the loan through XXXX XXXX online on XX/XX/XXXX. She fraudulently e-signed the loan documents and forged my signature as the cosigner. This signature provided does not match the way I would sign and the time stamps on the signatures are XXXX minutes apart indicating they were provided at the same time by the same person. 

I only became aware she had this loan, when started I receiving notifications from XXXX XXXX about late payments. Upon contacting XXXX XXXX, I corrected the contact information and instructed them to contact my daughter. At the time, I was unaware that I was listed as a cosigner and XXXX XXXX did not state this when I called. The apologized and corrected the contact information to my daughter. In XX/XX/XXXX, the loan was transferred from XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX, again without my knowledge or consent. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I received a late payment notification via XXXX and discovered I was listed as a cosigner on a Student Loan through XXXX XXXX. I immediately contacted XXXX and began their identity theft dispute process. XXXX provided me with specific instructions to submit a formal claim, which required supporting documentation. I complied by submitting : - A detailed personal statement explaining my lack of consent, - Notarized Affidavit - Filing and providing copies of both FTC and Police Identity Theft reports, - Signature samples demonstrating the discrepancies between my legitimate signature and the e-signature on the loan, - A timeline of events showing my consistent rejection of cosigning the loan. 

Despite my compliance with their requests, on XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX prematurely denied my claim before I had submitted any of the required documents. I followed up with XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, questioning their denial without a full review of the necessary evidence. They responded on XX/XX/XXXX, restating their denial based on " additional documents '' allegedly showing my acknowledgment of the loan, without providing any of the evidence supporting this claim. 

I continued to provide them with all requested documentation, including signature samples and a formal affidavit. On XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX once again denied my identity theft claim without offering any substantial evidence, despite my diligent efforts to comply with their procedures. 

Loan Details : Original Loan Amount : {$7000.00} ( XXXX XXXX ) Outstanding Amount : {$6800.00} ( at the time of transfer to XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX ) Current Loan Balance : {$5800.00} ( as of XX/XX/XXXX ) Actions Taken by Me : - In XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted XXXX XXXX to correct contact information and question why I was receiving late payment notices. I instructed them to contact my daughter directly. 
- In XX/XX/XXXX, I initiated a dispute with XXXX XXXX upon discovering I was listed as a cosigner. 
- I provided XXXX with a formal statement, signature samples, a timeline of events, and all requested supporting documentation to dispute the fraudulent cosigner status. 
- I followed up after XXXX prematurely denied my claim without receiving the complete evidence, and I continued to comply with their requests for more information. 

Actions Taken by XXXX : - Transferred the loan from XXXX XXXX to XXXX XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX without notifying me or obtaining my consent. 
- Prematurely denied my identity theft claim on XX/XX/XXXX, even though I had not yet submitted all the required documentation. 
- Reiterated their denial on XX/XX/XXXX, despite receiving all requested evidence, and failed to provide any proof or documentation to substantiate their determination that I remain liable.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief