Consumer complaint received 2025-03-09 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
Formal Complaint AgainsXXXX Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX for FCRA and FDCPA Violations Dear Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Im filing a formal complaint against Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX for their violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). Despite my legitimate disputes, Equifax has failed to conduct a proper investigation, and XXXX, XXXX has not provided the legally required validation of the alleged debt. 
Unauthorized Reporting & Identity Theft ( FCRA 1681 ) Equifax and XXXX, XXXX are reporting information about me without my consent. Under FCRA 1681b, credit bureaus may only report information when there is a legally permissible reason. I never authorized this account to be placed on my credit report, meaning it was added without my consent. This constitutes identity theft under FCRA 1681c-2. Since I never approved this reporting, Equifax and XXXX, XXXX are unlawfully using my personal information in violation of my rights. 
Furthermore, FCRA 1681a specifies that certain transactions or experiences should not be included on a consumer report unless explicitly authorized. A collection account falls under this definition. Since I never consented to this, it should not appear on my credit file. Lack of consent equals identity theft, and under FCRA 1681c-2, Equifax must block and remove this account immediately. 
Failure to Properly Verify & Validate the Debt ( FCRA 1681i & FDCPA 1692g ) I disputed the XXXX, XXXX account related to XXXX XXXX XXXX. Below are the details : Debt Collector : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX Balance : {$12000.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Status : Collection account, past due as of XX/XX/XXXX Under FCRA 1681i, Equifax is legally required to conduct a genuine investigationnot merely accept whatever the debt collector reports. Proper verification includes : Independent third-party validation A review of original signed contracts Personal interviews and supporting documentation Instead, Equifax relied solely on information provided by XXXX, XXXX XXXX which does not satisfy the legal requirements. This is a clear violation of FCRA 1681i. 
Similarly, under FDCPA 1692g, XXXX, XXXX was required to provide the following within 30 days : A signed contract proving I agreed to this debt. 
A detailed breakdown of the amount owed. 
Legal documentation establishing their authority to collect this debt. 
Neither Equifax nor XXXX XXXX XXXX has met these legal obligations. Because of this failure, this account remains inaccurate and unverified, and per federal law, it must be deleted. 
Reporting False or Unverified Information ( FCRA 1681e ( b ) ) Under FCRA 1681e ( b ), credit bureaus must ensure maximum accuracy when reporting consumer information. Since Equifax has not provided sufficient proof that this account is valid, they are in direct violation of this law. 
Additionally, by continuing to report this account without valid verification, Equifax is damaging public trust in the credit system. Credit reports are essential for financial decisions, and inaccuracies can prevent consumers like me from accessing fair financial opportunities. 
Credit Reports Should Be Handled with the Same Care as Bank Accounts It is imperative that the CFPB enforces credit reporting standards with the same scrutiny used in banking regulations. Just as I monitor my financial accounts regularly, I should be able to trust that my credit report is accurate and fair. The FCRA was enacted to protect consumers from unfair credit practices, yet Equifaxs failure to properly investigate disputes continues to undermine these protections. 
The CFPBs Role in Enforcing Fair Credit Reporting Practices The FCRA clearly establishes that credit bureaus must act impartially and with respect for consumer privacy. Since I did not authorize this account to be reported, Equifax is in violation of my federally protected privacy rights. 
Additionally, Congress has identified consumer reporting agencies as essential to the economy. However, by failing to ensure proper reporting standards, Equifax is not fulfilling its legal obligations under federal law. I am demanding accountability. 
E-OSCAR Dispute Processing Violation Equifax does not have my consent to process my disputes using E-OSCAR. The law requires a real, independent investigation under FCRA 1681i. Automated systems such as E-OSCAR do not satisfy this requirement because they rely entirely on the furnishers word instead of conducting a thorough verification. Equifaxs continued use of E-OSCAR in this case violates my rights under the FCRA. 
Identity Theft Report is Attached To further substantiate my dispute, I have attached my Identity Theft Report, proving that this account was added to my credit report without my authorization. Under FCRA 1681c-2, once a credit bureau receives an identity theft report, they must block and remove the disputed account immediately. Equifax and XXXX, XXXX have no legal grounds to continue reporting or verifying this debt. 
What I Am Demanding I request that the CFPB take the following actions : 1. Order Equifax to delete this collection account immediately for failure to properly verify it. 
2. Order XXXX, XXXX to stop all collection attempts and remove the account due to lack of legal validation. 
3. Hold Equifax and XXXX, XXXX accountable by imposing financial penalties for knowingly violating the FCRA and FDCPA. 
4. Provide written confirmation that this account has been permanently removed from my credit file. 
If this issue remains unresolved, I am prepared to escalate further, including legal action under FCRA 1681n, which allows me to seek {$1000.00} per violation in damages. 
Please confirm receipt of this complaint and provide an update on the next steps in the investigation. I expect a timely resolution of this matter. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief