Consumer complaint received 2025-07-23 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: NC

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau I am submitting this complaint due to multiple serious violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), and related federal laws by credit reporting agencies and furnishers who have reported inaccurate, outdated, and unverifiable information on my credit report these errors have severely harmed my financial stability and creditworthiness despite my efforts to resolve them the following is a detailed list of all disputed items with explanation and relevant law references XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Issue : This address is completely inaccurate and has never been associated with me in any capacity. 
Law : FCRA Section 602 ( a ), 607 ( b ), and 609 ( c ) ( 2 ) Credit reports must contain only verifiable and accurate data.

Story : I have never resided at or been linked to this address. I suspect this may be a result of identity confusion or misfiled data from a third party. The inclusion of this address on my credit report is causing confusion and may cause lenders to deny my applications based on false information. I have submitted utility bills, lease agreements, and government-issued identification proving my actual address. I respectfully demand immediate removal XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Issue : False address reported without consent Law : FCRA Section 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) Consumers have the right to dispute and correct errors Story : I have never been to this residence, nor used it in any documentation. This mistake may be hurting my financial reputation, especially in mortgage or auto loan applications. I respectfully request a full reinvestigation and deletion of this data immediately, as it is harming my credit profile unjustly XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : Late payment being reported inaccurately Law : FCRA Section 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ), 1681s-2 Furnishers must not report inaccurate or incomplete data Story : I enrolled in a self-credit builder account and ensured regular payments. I was informed my payments were on time. However, a late mark appeared which I was not notified of. This severely impacted my credit score during a period where I was actively seeking housing. I contacted the creditor but was met with vague responses. I request this be verified with full payment history and if unverified, it must be removed from my file XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Balance : {$690.00} * * Issue : Charge-off reported but account was disputed and partially paid Law : FCRA Section 623 ( b ), FDCPA 807 ( 8 ) Debt collectors and furnishers can not misreport disputed debts Story : I had a dispute with this account due to unexpected fees and aggressive terms. I attempted to settle the account, and partial payment was made. However, they went ahead and charged off the full balance. This was done during a time of financial hardship when I had contacted them seeking accommodation. This reporting is unfair, misleading, and damaging to my credit score. I request this be removed or corrected with proof of resolution XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Issue : Charge-off remains even though balance is zero Law : FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ), 623 ( a ) ( 2 ) Inaccurate and outdated information must be corrected or removed Story : I voluntarily surrendered the vehicle during a difficult financial period and cleared the balance through a settlement. Yet, the account continues to report as charged-off, which misrepresents the current status. This is misleading and severely affects my creditworthiness. I demand correction or removal of this derogatory entry immediately XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$4600.00} * * Issue : Charge-off after voluntary surrender, no updated status Law : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ), 1681s-2 ( b ) Information must be complete and accurate Story : This account was settled after a voluntary surrender. I was transparent with the lender and returned the vehicle during COVID-related hardship. The lender failed to update the account accurately and is still showing the original charge-off. This gives the false impression that the debt is unresolved. I request the charge-off be removed or at least marked as " Settled in Full '' XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Balance : {$0.00} * * Issue : Charge-off still showing after zero balance Law : FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 5 ), 623 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( A ) Data must be updated when it changes Story : This account has had a zero balance for years. Continuing to list it as a charge-off is deceptive and unfair. It reflects negatively on my credit profile even though the debt has been settled. I request immediate correction or removal of this derogatory information XXXX  Inquiry on XX/XX/XXXX Issue : Unrecognized hard pull Law : FCRA 604, 615 Permissible purpose must exist Story : I never applied for credit from this institution. No signed authorization exists, and I suspect this may be a result of pre-screening or misused data. This inquiry was not authorized by me and must be removed from my file I have suffered significant financial distress due to these errors including being denied housing and loans and experiencing emotional and psychological pressure from poor credit reporting I am requesting that the CFPB investigate each of these items and direct the credit bureaus and furnishers to correct or delete all inaccurate unverified or unauthorized data listed above I am also requesting that all supporting documents from each furnisher and bureau involved in these accounts inquiries and addresses be reviewed and provided to me as per my rights under the FCRA please ensure a full response within the 30-day investigation window as legally required thank you for your assistance in correcting these ongoing injustices XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX : Wrong Address Law : FCRA 609 ( c ) ( 2 ), 602 ( a ) All reported information must be accurate and verifiable.

Story : I have never lived at this address. I have no ties to this residence, and it does not reflect any part of my life history. The presence of this incorrect address on my report has caused multiple disruptionsmy bank flagged my account for possible fraud due to inconsistencies, and I was required to submit extra identity documents to validate who I am. This incorrect reporting has also made it difficult to apply for a job, as an employer background check came back with mismatched address history. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, FL XXXX Issue : Wrong Address Law : FCRA 610 ( a ), 611 ( a ) Furnishers must investigate and remove unverifiable information.

Story : I have never lived at this address, rented a unit here, nor used this address for any purpose. Because of this inaccurate entry, my rental application for an apartment was denied. The leasing office stated that my residence history was inconsistent and appeared suspicious, leading to a denial that affected my living situation and forced me to pay extended hotel costs for temporary housing. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NC XXXX Issue : Wrong Address Law : FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) Story : I have never lived in the state of North Carolina. I have never traveled to this location, rented here, nor had any contact in XXXX. This false address has triggered alerts on multiple platforms suggesting potential identity theft. I have received fraud alerts and lost access to my mobile payment app temporarily because it could not verify my address due to this wrong listing. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$460.00} * * Issue : Charge-Off Law : FCRA 611 ( a ), FDCPA 807 ( 2 ) ( A ) Story : This account does not belong to me. I have contacted XXXX XXXX and they have no matching account on file with my personal information. Despite this, the charge-off is still reporting and harming my credit. I was denied a secured credit card and forced to rely on expensive payday loans for an emergency because this account drastically reduced my credit score. It is extremely unfair that I am being penalized for something I have nothing to do with. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$9300.00} * * Issue : Charge-Off Law : FCRA XXXX ( a ) ( 1 ), FDCPA 805 ( b ) Story : I never opened any account with XXXX. Ive contacted them directly, and they were unable to find my name, Social Security Number, or any other personal data associated with this loan. Yet, this massive debt continues to appear on my credit report. As a result, I have been denied financing for a vehicle I desperately needed to commute to work. I lost out on a job because I had no transportation, and this all stems from this false entry. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$12000.00} * * Issue : Charge-Off Law : FDCPA 807, FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 5 ) Story : This debt is not mine. I never had any dealings with XXXX XXXX XXXX. Ive asked for debt validation and was ignored. I believe this is a fraudulent account that was opened without my knowledge. It has caused major problems with trying to secure housing. A landlord informed me that the debt history created too high of a risk, and I was denied even though I provided proof of employment and sufficient income. I feel targeted and defamed. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$1600.00} * * Issue : Collection Law : FDCPA XXXX ( a ), FCRA XXXX ( a ) Story : Ive never received any collection notice or bill for this amount. I do not know what the debt is for or who is trying to collect it. I suspect identity theft or misreporting, yet it was placed on my report without any chance to verify or dispute. This has ruined my chance to consolidate my student loans, as the servicer flagged me as high-risk due to active collections. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Balance : {$51.00} * * Issue : Collection Law : FCRA 602 ( b ), FDCPA 807 ( 8 ) Story : Ive never had any account with this agency or debt associated with this collector. A {$51.00} debt may seem small, but its impact has been devastatingI was denied a secured credit card, lost access to BNPL ( Buy Now Pay Later ) services, and even had my utility company request a security deposit due to the existence of a reported collection on my file. This is not my debt and it must be removed. 
I demand that all erroneous and unverified information be permanently removed from my credit file without delay. Continued reporting of unsubstantiated items is not only reckless but unlawful under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If the agency fails to take immediate action, I will pursue all available legal remedies. I also request a written summary confirming the resolution and deletion of the disputed data.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief