Consumer complaint received 2025-06-15 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Subject : Formal Complaint and Dispute Debt Buyer Reporting Violations of FCRA and FDCPA ( XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) Dear CFPB Representative, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a debt buyer tradeline reported on my consumer credit report. This account is listed as a collection account with the original creditor being XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  and currently managed by a debt buyer whose full identity and ownership details are not provided in the tradeline. This violates several provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and is part of a known pattern of legal abuse and misreporting by debt buyers that has resulted in federal lawsuits. 

Account Information : Account Number : XXXX Creditor/Originator : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Current Owner : Not Disclosed ( Debt Buyer Account ) Date Opened ( Reported ) : XX/XX/XXXX Date of First Delinquency : XX/XX/XXXX Status : Collection Balance : {$170.00} High Balance : {$170.00} Date Reported : XX/XX/XXXX Activity Designator / Terms / Payment History : Not provided Legal Issues and Violations : Re-Aging of Debt ( FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ) ) : The date of first delinquency is shown as XX/XX/XXXX, but the account is listed as " opened '' on XX/XX/XXXX more than two years after delinquency, suggesting illegal re-aging of the debt. This deceptive practice is prohibited under federal law and was challenged in the case FTC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, where a debt buyer was found guilty of similar FCRA violations. 

Incomplete and Unverifiable Reporting ( FCRA 1681e ( b ), 1681s-2 ( b ) ) : The tradeline fails to include : The name of the debt buyer who owns the account Payment history Chain of title Any indication of validation Without this, the account is incomplete, inaccurate, and unverifiable, making it unfit for continued reporting. 

Failure to Provide Debt Validation ( FDCPA 809, 15 U.S.C. 1692g ) : If the current furnisher is a third-party debt collector ( which the " debt buyer '' classification implies ), they are legally obligated to provide full validation upon request and before reporting to CRAs. Failing to identify themselves or provide any such documentation violates the FDCPA.

Misleading Status Designation ( FCRA 1681i and FDCPA 1692e ) : The account is labeled " collection '' and open, while there is no disclosed payment schedule, agreement, or activity. This creates a false impression of a valid, actively due debt, which is misleading and potentially damaging to my financial reputation. 

Pattern of Legal Abuse : Accounts of this type specifically XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  debts sold to unknown debt buyers have been the subject of multiple class action lawsuits and regulatory fines due to improper credit reporting practices, inaccurate balances, and lack of documentation. The CFPB has previously taken enforcement action in such cases, and I request that this account be reviewed under similar scrutiny. 

Requested Actions : I respectfully request the following : Immediate investigation into the debt buyers identity, ownership rights, and the legal accuracy of the tradeline.

Enforcement of FCRA compliance by requiring the deletion or correction of this tradeline due to improper re-aging, unverifiable ownership, and missing account details.

Confirmation that no further reporting will occur without proper documentation, including the original agreement, proof of assignment, and a payment history. 

That CFPB considers potential action against the furnisher and any related entity if this is found to be part of a pattern of consumer harm. 

This inaccurate, incomplete, and possibly unlawful reporting is having a negative impact on my credit file. I am asserting my rights under FCRA and FDCPA, and I request CFPB intervention to ensure compliance and prevent further damage. 

_____________________________________________________________________ To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Subject : Dispute of Collection Account Reported by XXXX XXXX Legal Violations Under FCRA and FDCPA Dear CFPB Representative, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding a collection account reported by XXXX XXXX on my consumer credit report. After reviewing the tradeline, I have identified multiple violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and potentially the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), which affect the accuracy, completeness, and legality of this entry. 

Account Details : Account Number : XXXX Creditor : XXXX XXXX Reported Balance : {$1700.00} Date Opened : XX/XX/XXXX Date of First Delinquency : XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported : XX/XX/XXXX Status : Collection Type : Telecommunications/Cellular Payment History : Not Provided Contact : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, TX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Legal Issues with This Reporting : 1. Violation of FCRA 1681e ( b ) : Inaccuracy & Incompleteness This tradeline provides no payment history, no activity record, no validation documentation, and no details of account ownership, despite being labeled a collection account. Per FCRA, credit furnishers and reporting agencies must ensure all reported information is accurate, complete, and up to date. The absence of these critical elements renders the tradeline incomplete and unverifiable. 

XXXX. Failure to Identify Ownership or Collection Authority This account is listed as a collection, but XXXX XXXX is a service provider, not a third-party debt collector. If XXXX sold or assigned the debt to a collection agency, that information must be disclosed. If a third party is reporting this account on XXXX behalf, they are subject to FDCPA 809 ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ) and are required to provide debt validation.

3. Reporting Without Full Validation ( FDCPA 809 ) If this account is being collected or reported by any party other than the original creditor, I am entitled to receive : Verification of the debt The name of the original creditor The full breakdown of charges leading to the {$1700.00} balance Confirmation that the entity reporting this debt has legal standing to collect it None of this information has been provided or made accessible. Reporting this debt without validation violates FDCPA requirements. 

XXXX. Potential Re-Aging or Misclassification of Telecommunications Debt The " Date Opened '' is XX/XX/XXXX, with a " Date of First Delinquency '' in XX/XX/XXXX. If this debt is older or was incurred earlier than this, it may have been re-aged a tactic that unfairly extends the time it remains on my report, which violates FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ) and 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ).

My Request to the CFPB : I respectfully request the following : Initiate an investigation into this account and its reporting accuracy, validation, and legal compliance. 

Confirm whether XXXX XXXX still owns this debt or if it has been sold or assigned to a third-party collector. If so, require disclosure of the current debt owner. 

Require that this account be verified with supporting documentation, including : Original contract or service agreement Billing statements Proof of ownership/assignment Chain of title, if sold If the furnisher or CRA can not verify the completeness and accuracy of this tradeline, request its permanent deletion under FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ). 

This account is causing harm to my creditworthiness. Under both FCRA and FDCPA, I am asserting my rights to full, accurate, and verifiable reporting and request your assistance in resolving this matter appropriately. 
________________________________________________________________ To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Subject : Dispute of Medical Collection Account XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

Dear CFPB Representative, I am submitting this formal complaint and dispute regarding a medical debt collection tradeline being reported on my credit file by XXXX XXXX for services allegedly provided by XXXX XXXX  XXXX. 

This entry is inaccurate, incomplete, and being reported in a manner that violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), and recent changes in federal medical debt reporting policy as directed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and implemented through the National Consumer Assistance Plan ( NCAP ). 

Account Information : Original Creditor XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX. 

Balance Owed : {$680.00} Date Assigned : XX/XX/XXXX Date Reported : XX/XX/XXXX Date of First Delinquency : [ Not Provided ] Date of Last Payment : [ Not Provided ] Current Status : Unpaid Account Type : XXXX XXXX Comments : Consumer Disputes This Account Information Legal Concerns and Violations : 1. Violation of Medical Debt Reporting Rules ( Effective XX/XX/XXXX ) Under the updated Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion policies, paid medical collections must be deleted from credit reports, and unpaid medical debt under {$500.00} is no longer allowed to be reported. If this account qualifies under either, it should be removed immediately. I am requesting full verification that : The account is still legally reportable It meets the dollar threshold for continued reporting Insurance payment status has been verified 2. Violation of FCRA 1681e ( b ) : Accuracy and Completeness The tradeline does not include essential details required by law, such as : A full billing breakdown or explanation of services The date of first delinquency Whether insurance was billed or pending Without this information, the tradeline is incomplete and unverifiable, and thus a violation of the FCRA. 

XXXX. Potential FDCPA Violations Medical Debt Not Properly Validated If XXXX XXXX is acting as a debt collector, they must provide full validation of the debt under 15 U.S.C. 1692g. I have not received any documentation validating this account including proof of treatment, billing statement, or insurance adjudication results and yet it continues to be reported, harming my credit profile. 

4. No Notice Prior to Reporting FCRA 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ) There is no evidence that proper notice was sent 30 days before reporting this debt to the credit bureaus, as required by the FCRA for medical debt. This failure makes the reporting action unlawful. 

XXXX. Unfair Reporting of Time-Barred Debt If this debt is from early XXXX or earlier, depending on Georgias statute of limitations for medical debt ( typically 46 years ), this may now be time-barred from collection or credit reporting, unless re-aged which is also a violation of FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ). 

Request for Relief : I am requesting the CFPB investigate this account and require XXXX XXXX and the credit bureaus to : Verify the debts accuracy and legal eligibility for reporting under current medical debt regulations. 

Provide full validation of the debt, including : Insurance billing details Service date and type Billing and patient statements Delete the account if it can not be validated or is improperly reported under new guidelines. 

Confirm whether the account was ever paid or settled, and if so, ensure deletion in compliance with current CFPB and credit bureau policies. 

This collection entry is negatively affecting my credit standing and was reported without adequate verification or legal compliance. I am asserting my rights under the FCRA and FDCPA and request the XXXX assistance in resolving this matter fairly. 
______________________________________________________________________ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Subject : Dispute of Medical Collection Account Reported by XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Dear CFPB Representative, I am filing a formal dispute regarding a medical collection tradeline being reported on my credit profile by XXXX, on behalf oXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, in the amount of {$720.00}. This debt is reflected as : Original Creditor : XXXX Georgia XXXX XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX : {$720.00} Date Assigned : XX/XX/XXXX Date of First Delinquency : XX/XX/XXXX Status Date : XX/XX/XXXX Creditor Classification : Medical/Health Care Account Type : Individual Account Comments : Medical Dispute Basis & Legal Violations This medical debt is being reported in a manner that violates current federal guidelines regarding the reporting of medical collections on consumer credit reports. I am invoking my rights under : 1. FCRA 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ) Obsolete Debt Reporting The date of first delinquency is XX/XX/XXXX, which means this account is over XXXX years old. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), adverse information including collections can not be reported more than 7 years from the date of first delinquency. This item is at or beyond the legal reporting limit and must be removed if it exceeds the XXXX window. 

XXXX. Medical Debt Reporting Reform Effective XX/XX/XXXX The three major credit bureaus ( Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion ) implemented policy changes per CFPB pressure, stating : Medical debt under {$500.00} is no longer reportable.

Paid medical collections must be removed.

Medical collections can not be reported until 365 days after being sent to collections to allow insurance payment and resolution. 

It is unclear from the reporting if this account was ever billed to insurance, paid in part, or resolved. If any of the following apply, the account is in violation of CFPB policy and should be deleted : The account was paid or settled The balance is under {$500.00} The debt was reported before 365 days from assignment 3. FCRA 1681e ( b ) Inaccurate/Incomplete Reporting This account lacks key information required to ensure accuracy : No date of last payment No evidence of itemized charges No documentation showing patient responsibility vs insurance denial Without this information, the debt can not be fully verified and should not be included in my consumer file. 

4. FDCPA 809 ( 15 USC 1692g ) Failure to Validate Debt I have not received any validation or itemized statement regarding this debt. If XXXX is acting as a third-party collector, they are required to send validation of the debt upon request, which includes : Itemized charges Insurance billing outcomes Signed consent to treatment Action Requested I request the CFPB investigate this collection tradeline and take corrective action against improper reporting. Specifically, I ask : Immediate removal of the tradeline if the account is beyond the legal reporting period.

Verification and validation of the medical debt in compliance with FCRA and FDCPA.

Confirmation that the debt meets CFPB and credit bureau policy for reporting, especially concerning the dollar amount and age of the debt.

Documentation of whether this debt was ever billed to and denied by insurance. 

This item is damaging my credit and is not being reported in compliance with current consumer protection laws and reporting standards. 
______________________________________________________________________ Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Subject : Dispute of Medical Collection Account Reported by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Dear CFPB Representative, I am submitting a formal dispute regarding a medical collection account being reported by XXXX XXXX XXXX, assigned from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, in the amount of {$640.00}. The account details are as follows : Original Creditor : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Amount Owed : {$640.00} Date Assigned : XX/XX/XXXX Date of First Delinquency : XX/XX/XXXX Status : Unpaid Creditor Classification : Medical/Health Care Status Date : XX/XX/XXXX Legal Basis for Dispute I am disputing this account based on the following legal grounds and federal protections applicable to the reporting of medical debt on consumer credit reports : 1. CFPB Medical Debt Reporting Rules ( Effective XX/XX/XXXX ) Under updated guidelines announced by the CFPB and implemented by the credit reporting agencies ( Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion ), the following rules apply : Medical debts under {$500.00} must not be reported on credit reports. 

Paid medical debts must be removed from credit reports. 

Medical debt can not be reported until XXXX full year ( 365 days ) after it was sent to collections to allow time for insurance claims and billing resolution. 

Dispute Justification : It is unclear whether this {$640.00} debt was submitted to insurance, paid in part, or subject to billing errors. If it was ever paid, disputed with the provider, or not aged 365 days from the date of assignment, its reporting violates the current CFPB and credit bureau policy and must be deleted. 

XXXX. Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) XXXX ( b ) : Accuracy and Completeness The FCRA mandates that information furnished to consumer reporting agencies must be accurate and complete. This debt lacks essential information such as : Date of last payment Itemization of charges Whether the balance reflects insurance adjustments or billing errors Dispute Justification : Without clear documentation or validation of this debt, its accuracy is in question and it must be removed until proven with complete and accurate records. 

3. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) 809 ( 15 U.S. Code 1692g ) : Debt Validation I have not received any validation or documentation from XXXX XXXX XXXX verifying the origin, legitimacy, or details of this debt. The FDCPA requires that any debt collector must provide proper validation upon request. 

Dispute Justification : No validation has been provided. Until full debt verification ( including itemized billing, insurance status, and treatment consent ) is received, this debt must not be reported. 

Requested Resolution I am respectfully requesting that the CFPB investigate this medical collection tradeline and take appropriate action to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws. I specifically request : Removal of this account from all credit reports if it is unverified, inaccurate, or reported in violation of federal guidelines. 

Documentation from XXXX XXXX XXXX proving the legitimacy and reporting accuracy of this account. 

Confirmation that this debt meets all CFPB and credit bureau requirements, including the {$500.00} threshold and the one-year delay rule. 

This account is negatively affecting my credit profile, and I am exercising my rights under the FCRA and FDCPA to ensure fair, accurate, and lawful reporting of consumer information. 

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation