Consumer complaint received 2024-10-07 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: NC

Complaint narrative:
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report that a fraudulent collection account has appeared on my credit report. This account, being reported by XXXX XXXX XXXX does not belong to me and is the result of identity theft. I have never opened, authorized, or had any affiliation with the debt associated with this collection account. 
Reported by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ACCOUNT # : XXXX Request for Immediate Action Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), I am exercising my right to have this fraudulent account removed from my credit reports. The following consumer protection laws govern how fraudulent collection accounts must be handled : FCRA XXXX ( XXXX U.S.C. XXXX ) Blocking Information Resulting from Identity Theft : This section of the FCRA mandates XXXX, once a consumer provides an identity theft report, the credit reporting agencies must block the fraudulent information from appearing on the consumers credit report. No further communication or verification from the creditor or collection agency is required. 
Request : I hereby request that the fraudulent collection account be immediately blocked and permanently removed from my credit reports under this provision. 

FCRA XXXX ( XXXX U.S.C. XXXX ) Dispute of Inaccurate Information : This section gives me the right to dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information on my credit report. Upon receiving this dispute, the credit bureaus must conduct a reasonable investigation, and if the disputed information is determined to be unverifiable, it must be corrected or deleted from the report. 
Request : Please initiate an investigation into this fraudulent collection account and remove it from my credit reports as it can not be verified as legitimate due to its fraudulent nature. 


FCRA XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) Obligation to Not Report Information Resulting from Identity Theft : Furnishers ( such as collection agencies ) are prohibited from reporting information to credit bureaus if they know or have reason to believe that the information stems from identity theft. Once they receive notice of identity theft, they are required to cease reporting the fraudulent debt. 
Request : I demand that the collection agency cease reporting this fraudulent account and correct its records accordingly. 


FDCPA XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) False or Misleading Representations : Debt XXXX are prohibited from using false, deceptive, or misleading practices to collect a debt, including attempting to collect a debt that is not owed by the consumer. 
Request : I request that all collection efforts regarding this fraudulent account be immediately stopped under this provision of the FDCPA. 

Enclosed Documentation To support my claim, I am enclosing the following documents : A copy of my Identity Theft Report filed with the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ). 
Conclusion As this account is fraudulent, I DEMAND the request the immediate and permanent removal of this collection from all my credit reports. The continued reporting of this false debt is damaging my credit and causing undue financial harm. 
Please acknowledge receipt of this report and confirm in writing that the fraudulent account has been blocked and removed from my credit file as required by law. I expect all parties to comply with the legal mandates as outlined under the FCRA and FDCPA. 
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief