Consumer complaint received 2024-07-04 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am lodging a complaint against the consumer reporting agencies : XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX. These agencies have repeatedly engaged in unlawful practices by updating accounts that are in the middle of being disputed, including disputes currently under review by the CFPB. This blatant disregard for consumer rights and legal obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and other applicable consumer protection laws must be addressed with immediate and decisive action.

As a consumer, my rights are clearly defined under the FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ), which mandates that consumer reporting agencies must conduct a reasonable investigation of disputed information and refrain from updating or altering disputed items until the dispute is resolved. Despite these clear legal requirements, XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX have continuously updated my credit reports during ongoing disputes, demonstrating a willful disregard for their legal obligations and consumer rights.

Violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) : This section requires consumer reporting agencies to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information and to refrain from making any changes to the disputed items until the investigation is complete. The repeated updates by XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX during the pendency of my disputes clearly violate this provision. 

Violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( f ) : This section requires that any information that is disputed by a consumer must be noted in the consumer 's file until the dispute is resolved. The updating of disputed accounts without proper notation or resolution is a direct contravention of this legal requirement. 

Negligent and Willful Non-Compliance : The continuous unauthorized updates indicate a pattern of negligent and willful non-compliance with the FCRA, constituting grounds for legal action under 15 U.S.C. 1681n and 15 U.S.C. 1681o, which provide for actual damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, and attorney 's fees. 


The actions of XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX have caused substantial harm to my creditworthiness and have violated my rights as a consumer. As someone whose information was already compromised in the Equifax data breach, this additional disregard for my consumer rights exacerbates the harm done to me. The continuous unlawful updates during disputes demonstrate a lack of care and due diligence by these agencies, raising serious questions about their trustworthiness and commitment to lawful conduct. 

Therefore, I demand the following immediate actions : Immediate Removal of All Unlawfully Updated Information : All information that was updated during the pendency of my disputes must be removed from my credit reports immediately. 

Comprehensive Investigation and Penalties : The CFPB must conduct a thorough investigation into these practices and impose appropriate penalties on XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX for their continuous violations of consumer protection laws. 

Permanent Injunction Against Unlawful Practices : The CFPB should seek a permanent injunction preventing these agencies from updating or altering any disputed information until the resolution of the dispute, as required by law. 

Restoration of Creditworthiness : My credit reports must be restored to their status prior to the unlawful updates, and all derogatory marks added during the disputes must be expunged. 

The CFPB 's ongoing legal actions against these agencies for unlawful practices further underscore the need for stringent enforcement and protection of consumer rights. The willful and repeated nature of these violations demonstrates a systemic issue that requires immediate and forceful intervention. 

I trust that the CFPB will act swiftly to address these egregious violations and protect consumers from further harm. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation