Consumer complaint received 2024-12-26 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: MO

Complaint narrative:
Re : Violations of Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) I recently got a copy of my consumer file and noticed that there was inaccurate information. According to the FCRA you must be reporting 100 % correct information at all times and that is not what my credit file reflects at this time. You have 30 days to remove the personal information listed in this letter. I am also requesting you to provide me with the furnisher of this information or where you got this information from. Please PERMANENTLY REMOVE the following. 
This letter serves as a demand for immediate corrective actions, including the removal of inaccurate information from my credit report and the imposition of appropriate fines and penalties for your non-compliance.the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S. Code 1681, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), 15 U.S. Code 1692. I demand immediate corrective actions, including the removal of inaccurate information, imposition of fines, and enforcement of compliance with relevant laws You are referring to a portion of 15 U.S. Code 1681c ( a ), which outlines restrictions on the inclusion of certain types of information in consumer reports. Here 's a rewritten version of the relevant clause with clarity on what consumer reporting agencies can not include : Consumer reporting agencies are prohibited from including in a consumer report any adverse items of information ( other than records of convictions of crimes ) that are older than 7 years. This includes adverse financial data such as : Accounts sent to collections. 
Charged-off accounts. 
Any other negative financial information. 
However, records of convictions of crimes are an exception to this rule and may be reported beyond the 7-year limitation.

This provision ensures that outdated and irrelevant negative information ( except criminal convictions ) does not unfairly impact a consumer 's creditworthiness or access to opportunities.

15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) pertains to the responsibilities of entities that furnish information to consumer reporting agencies, ensuring accuracy in the information they provide. Here 's a clear summary : 15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) - Duty of Furnishers to Provide Accurate Information Prohibition on Reporting Inaccurate Information : A furnisher ( such as a creditor or lender ) can not knowingly furnish information to a consumer reporting agency if : The information is inaccurate. 
The furnisher has reason to believe the information is inaccurate. 
Obligation to Update and Correct Information : If the furnisher discovers that previously provided information is inaccurate or incomplete, they must : Promptly correct or update the information. 
Notify all consumer reporting agencies to which the inaccurate information was furnished. 

This section ensures that entities providing data to credit bureaus uphold accuracy and transparency, reducing the risk of harm to consumers due to incorrect information on their credit reports. Would you like further details or help crafting a notice or dispute related to this? 
Under 15 U.S. Code 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( B ), it is explicitly prohibited for any person to furnish information to a consumer reporting agency if : The information relates to a transaction or experience ( e.g., payment history ) that the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe involves an illegal activity. 
This includes any dealings or transactions, such as reporting payment history or account activities, that are associated with unlawful conduct. Reporting such information is considered a violation of federal law and undermines the integrity of consumer reporting. 
Let me know if you need help drafting this into a formal letter or document! 
Under 15 U.S. Code 1681b ( f ), the illegal reporting of inquiries refers to the prohibition of accessing or furnishing consumer reports for impermissible purposes. Here 's how this applies : Illegal Reporting of Inquiries : A consumer reporting agency or any person shall not obtain or use a consumer report unless : The report is requested for a permissible purpose as outlined in 15 U.S. Code 1681b ( a ) ( e.g., credit applications, employment, insurance underwriting ). 
The requester has a legitimate business need for the information, authorized by the consumer or required by law. 
If an inquiry appears on a consumer 's credit report without a valid permissible purpose or the consumer 's authorization, this constitutes illegal reporting of inquiries. Such unauthorized inquiries can harm a consumer 's credit score or appear as misuse of their personal information. 

Would you like help drafting a dispute letter to address unauthorized inquiries or further explanation of permissible purposes? 


Incorrect Information : Addresses 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 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Phone Numbers Incorrect Numbers ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX Unauthorized Reporting by Debt Buyers Violations of 15 U.S. Code 1681b Under 15 U.S. Code 1681b, consumer reports may only be accessed for permissible purposes, such as when there is a direct contractual relationship. The third-party debt buyers, XXXX XXXX, have no valid contractual agreement with me, and yet they continue to report my charged-off accounts, violating the FCRA and FDCPA. These entities must cease all reporting activities and remove these debts from my credit report immediately. 

Under 15 U.S. Code 1681c, adverse information, including late payments, can not be reported inaccurately. Additionally, the improper reporting of these late payments also violates 15 U.S. Code 1666, which governs the accurate reporting of financial transactions. 

INCORRECT ACCOUNT 4. Violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 15 U.S. Code 1692 Attempting to collect on charged-off debts without valid contracts ( in violation of 15 U.S. Code 1692f ). 
Harassment and continued misreporting of inaccurate debt information ( in violation of 15 U.S. Code 1692d ).

Failing to report the debts as disputed, despite receiving my disputes ( in violation of 15 U.S. Code 1692e ( 8 ) 1. Unauthorized Hard and Soft Inquiries Violations of 15 U.S. Code 1681b Under 15 U.S. Code 1681b, a consumer report may only be furnished for specific permissible purposes, such as when there is a valid contract, a written authorization from the consumer, or for purposes specifically outlined in the statute. The following hard and soft inquiries were made without my authorization or any legally valid reason : INCORRECT INQUIRIES XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX Phone ( XXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Location XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX Phone ( XXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Location XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX Phone ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX Phone ( 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 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 XXXXXXXX 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 XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XXXX via XXXX XXXX IN Location XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX Phone ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX via XXXX XXXX  Location XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX  XXXX Requested XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Location XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Requested On XX/XX/XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX I did not initiate these inquiries, nor did I provide any explicit consent for these companies to access my credit file. The continued presence of these inquiries violates the FCRA and damages my credit standing by lowering my credit score and creating inaccurate information. 
XX/XX/XXXX EQUIFAX XXXX ( XXXX ) ID Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXX EQUIFAX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXX EQUIFAX XXXX ( XXXX ) ID Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX Account Review Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX Account XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX Account XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Credit Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Account XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX Credit Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX Account XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Account Review Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XXXX XXXX, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Promotional Inquiry XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX to XXXX Report XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX Promotional Inquiry XX/XX/XXXX EQUIFAX Automated Consumer Interview System XX/XX/XXXX EQUIFAX UPDATE Automated Consumer Interview System XX/XX/XXXX EQUIFAX Automated Consumer Interview System 2. Impact of Unauthorized Inquiries Hard inquiries, in particular, can significantly lower a consumers credit score, and soft inquiries, while not always visible to other creditors, still reflect improperly on my credit history. The presence of unauthorized inquiries misrepresents my financial activity and negatively affects my ability to obtain credit on favorable terms. 


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6. Remedies and Legal Actions Violations of FCRA and FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1681n and1681o Due to your willful and negligent non-compliance with the FCRA and FDCPA, I am entitled to the following remedies under 15 U.S.C. 1681n ( Willful Non-Compliance ) and 15 U.S.C. 1681o ( Negligent Non-Compliance ) : Statutory Damages : Up to {$1000.00} per violation.

Actual Damages : Compensation for harm caused to my credit standing and financial well-being.

Punitive Damages : For willful violations of federal law. 
Attorneys Fees and Costs : Recovery of legal expenses incurred in addressing these violations. 
7. Demands for Corrective Actions In light of the aforementioned violations, I hereby demand the following actions be taken immediately : Immediate Removal of All Inaccurate and Unauthorized Loan Entries : Delete all XXXX  loan accounts reported by XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that lack a valid contractual relationship, have been re-aged, or are falsely reported as active debts or income. 
Cessation of Unauthorized Reporting : Cease all further reporting of my XXXX  loans to any credit reporting agencies without a legitimate contractual basis.

Correction of Misrepresented Loan Details : Correct any misrepresented details of my XXXX  loans, including the removal of altered delinquency dates and proper classification of charge-offs as income. 
Written Confirmation : Provide written confirmation within 30 days that the inaccurate entries have been removed and that [ XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ] will no longer engage in unauthorized reporting of my XXXX  loans. 
Notification of Compliance Actions : Inform me of the steps taken to ensure compliance with the FCRA and FDCPA, preventing future violations. 
8. Notice of Potential Legal Actions Failure to comply with these demands will result in further actions, including : Filing formal complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and your states Attorney Generals office.

Pursuing legal remedies for damages incurred due to your unlawful practices.

9. Enclosures Copies of my credit report highlighting the unauthorized entries. 
ID I am deeply concerned about the potential impact these inaccuracies may have on my creditworthiness and financial well-being. Therefore, I kindly request that you update and verify the information associated with my credit profile to reflect the correct and accurate details.In light of this identity theft incident, I also request your assistance in investigating the matter thoroughly and taking the necessary steps to rectify any erroneous information caused by the fraudulent activities. I would greatly appreciate your prompt action to ensure that my credit report accurately reflects my financial history and identity. To support my claim of identity theft, I have attached the following documents for your review : A copy of my government-issued identification ( driver 's license/passport ) Proof of my current residence ( e.g., utility bill, bank statement ) Copies of any relevant documents or correspondence related to the fraudulent activities I kindly request that you conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and provide me with a written response within the timeframe stipulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). Please keep me informed of the progress and any updates regarding the resolution of this issue. I understand the importance of accurate credit reporting, and I trust that you will handle this matter with the utmost professionalism and efficiency. If necessary, I am willing to cooperate fully with any further investigations and provide any additional information required to resolve this situation promptly. 

I expect a prompt and thorough resolution to this matter. Thank you for your immediate attention to these serious violations of my consumer rights. 
Sincerely, XXXX : XXXX BENEFICIARY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief