Consumer complaint received 2025-08-18 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: CA

Complaint narrative:
CFPB Complaint Letter Draft To the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, I am submitting this complaint because my credit report is filled with serious inaccuracies, duplicate charge-offs, wrong addresses, unverified collections, and unauthorized inquiries. These errors have created devastating consequences in my life. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. 1681 and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), I am entitled to accuracy, verification, and fairness in my credit reporting, yet these rights are being ignored.

The first issue is the repeated appearance of false addresses such as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX . I have never lived at any of these locations, and their presence creates confusion about my identity. FCRA Section 607 ( b ) requires consumer reporting agencies to assure maximum possible accuracy. Because of these wrong addresses, I have had lenders question my honesty, my applications delayed, and even mail misdirected. This has left me vulnerable to identity theft and humiliation when I try to apply for housing or credit. 
Address : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Issue : This address does not belong to me and was never a residence of mine. Its appearance is a misrepresentation of my identity.

Law : FCRA Section 607 ( b ) requires credit reporting agencies to maintain maximum possible accuracy.

Story : Because this false address appears on my file, I have faced suspicion from lenders who questioned whether I was attempting fraud or concealing my true identity. This has delayed credit applications, created embarrassment, and resulted in unnecessary denials. It has also left me vulnerable to identity theft, as my credit file appears inconsistent and unreliable. 
Address : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : False address reporting. 
Law : Under FCRA Section 602, Congress mandated accuracy and confidentiality of consumer information.

Story : This entry is highly damaging because it suggests I lived in Washington , DC, which is untrue. Creditors questioned why I appeared to have cross-country addresses, assuming possible criminal activity or unstable housing history. This error has harmed my personal and professional reputation. 
Account : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$1500.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported as a charge-off and duplicated on my report.

Law : FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) prohibits furnishers from reporting inaccurate or duplicate information.

Story : This single account being shown multiple times as derogatory unfairly magnifies the damage against me. Lenders assume I defaulted on multiple accounts, which is false. This duplication is misleading, damaging, and unlawful. 
Account : XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( duplicate entry ) Issue : Same account reported again as a separate charge-off.

Law : FCRA requires each account to be reported accurately, without duplication.

Story : This duplicate entry lowers my score, creates the appearance of repeated defaults, and makes it nearly impossible for me to obtain fair financing. My applications for credit cards and auto loans have been denied in part because of this wrongful duplication. 
Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$32000.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported as charge-off without proper verification.

Law : Under FCRA Section 609 ( a ), I have the right to receive documentation proving the validity of the account.

Story : This account is reported as if I defaulted on a massive loan, which is untrue. It makes me look irresponsible with large sums, leading to extremely high interest rates offered to me or outright denial of credit. This has caused me severe financial and emotional harm. 
Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$1300.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported as a charge-off.

Law : FCRA Section 611 requires reinvestigation when a consumer disputes an account.

Story : This reporting falsely portrays me as someone who defaulted on credit. As a result, I have been denied rental housing and lines of credit. My reputation has suffered with potential landlords and creditors who misinterpret my history. 
Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$500.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported as charge-off.

Law : FDCPA Section 809 ( b ) requires proper validation of debts if disputed.

Story : This inaccurate report has led to me being judged as financially unstable, even though no valid evidence has been provided to prove I owed or defaulted on this account.

Account : Soc Sec Admin Office O XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$4600.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported with late payments, inconsistently listed.

Law : FCRA Section 602 requires accuracy and confidentiality.

Story : Reporting a government-related account with false late payments is alarming. This suggests I neglected obligations tied to federal programs, which damages my reputation, jeopardizes opportunities, and suggests unreliability where none exists. 
Account : XXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$1100.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Reported as a collection.

Law : FDCPA Section 807 prohibits false representation of debt.

Story : I was never notified or validated on this alleged debt, yet it is harming my credit profile. This entry alone has caused multiple credit card denials and damaged my peace of mind. 
Account : Unknown Account XXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$3000.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Listed as a collection without my knowledge or validation.

Law : FDCPA Section 809 ( b ) requires a debt collector to validate.

Story : This account is entirely unfamiliar to me. Its presence suggests I am negligent with debts I never owed. I have been forced to explain myself repeatedly to lenders who assumed I was unreliable. This is humiliating and unfair.

Inquiry : Advantage 08/06/2025 Issue : Unauthorized hard inquiry.

Law : FCRA Section 604.

Story : This last inquiry is another example of harmful, impermissible reporting. Together, these inquiries have made my credit history appear reckless, leading to repeated denials and higher interest rates, all through no fault of my own.

These errors combined have severely impacted my life. I was denied an auto loan that I needed for reliable transportation. I was charged higher interest on a credit card, costing me hundreds of dollars extra each month. I have been rejected for rental housing, making it difficult to provide stability for myself and my family. I live in constant stress knowing that my reputation is being tarnished by false and unverified information. Every time I try to improve my financial situation, these errors block me and cause emotional distress, sleepless nights, and anxiety.

I am asking the CFPB to step in and hold the credit bureaus and furnishers accountable. The wrong addresses must be deleted, duplicate and unverifiable charge-offs removed, false late payments corrected, unknown collections eliminated, and unauthorized inquiries erased. I also request that all parties provide me with documentation verifying any information they continue to report. If they can not provide such evidence, the law requires deletion.

This situation has caused me real, measurable harm in both financial and emotional terms. I respectfully request that the CFPB take immediate action to enforce compliance with the FCRA and FDCPA, so I can finally have an accurate and fair credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief