Consumer complaint received 2025-10-05 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Investigation took more than 30 days
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Whisperwillow Pl Spring, TX XXXX Email : XXXX XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX SSN ( Last XXXX ) : XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX To : TransUnion LLC XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
P.O. XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, GA 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  SUBJECT : FAILURE TO COMPLETE REINVESTIGATION WITHIN 30 DAYS / FORMAL DEMAND FOR DELETION OR METHOD OF VERIFICATION Account in Dispute : XXXX XXXX  | Account Nos. 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 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Dear Credit Bureau Representative, This is a formal dispute under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. I demand either * * deletion * * of the above-referenced tradeline or, if you assert it has been * * verified * *, the full * * Method of Verification ( XXXX. ) * * under FCRA, after your failure to complete a timely reinvestigation. 

On * * XX/XX/XXXX * *, I filed a dispute through the * * CFPB.gov * * portal concerning this XXXX XXXX account. The receipt dates are : TransUnion XXXX XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX * *, I have not received the results of any reinvestigation. Under * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * *, you were obligated to complete a reasonable reinvestigation * * within 30 days * *. Because you have not done so, * * this account must be deleted immediately * *. If any bureau claims verification, I now invoke * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) * * and * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 7 ) * * to demand the full M.O.V. within * * 15 days * * of this request. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION I 30-DAY REINVESTIGATION REQUIREMENT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ) * * states : > If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information is disputed the agency shall conduct a reasonable reinvestigation * * before the end of the 30-day period * * beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute.

Furthermore, under * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *, if information is inaccurate, incomplete, or can not be verified, the CRA must * * promptly delete or modify * * it. 

Since no valid reinvestigation results were provided within 30 days, continued reporting is unlawful, and the item must be * * deleted * * or else proper verification must be disclosed. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION II CFPB-FORWARDED DISPUTES TRIGGER 611 DUTIES -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - The FCRAs reinvestigation duties apply once a CRA * * receives notice * * of a dispute, even if it is via a third-party portal. When using * * CFPB.gov * *, the CRAs obligations under * * 611 * * attach upon receipt of your dispute forwarded to them. The * * CFPBs supervisory guidance * * ( XXXX XXXX ) reinforces that CRAs must treat CFPB-filed disputes with the same procedural rigor as direct disputes, including full review of all relevant information.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION III MATERIAL INCONSISTENCIES & UNVERIFIABILITY -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - This tradeline displays clearly irreconcilable inaccuracies : - * * Account number mismatches * * ( different lengths across bureaus ) - * * Different dates of last activity * * - * * Blank account type fields versus credit card labeling * * - * * Contradictory remark/status descriptions * * - * * Reported late payments ( XXXX ) * * I have * * never been late * * on this account - * * Divergent high balance / high credit figures * * - * * Conflicting payment history percentages * * Such discrepancies violate * * FCRA 607 ( b ) * * ( maximum possible accuracy ) and render the tradeline * * unverifiable * * under * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION XXXX APPLICABLE STATUTES & CASE LAW -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - * * Statutory Authorities * * - * * FCRA 602 ( a ) * * Credit reporting must be fair and accurate - * * FCRA 607 ( b ) * * CRAs must ensure maximum possible accuracy - * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * 30-day reinvestigation rule - * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * * Delete or modify unverifiable information - * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) * * Right to Method of Verification - * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 7 ) * * M.O.V. must be provided within 15 days - * * FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * Furnishers may not report inaccuracies - * * FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 8 ) * * CFPB disputes carry force when forwarded * * Case Law & Guidance * * - * Cushman v. TransUnion Corp. *, 115 F.3d 220 ( 3d Cir. 1997 ) CRAs must carry out meaningful investigations, not mere parroting- * Hinkle v. Midland Credit Mgmt. *, 827 F.3d 1295 ( 11th Cir. 2016 ) Verification must be supported by actual evidence- * Dennis v. BEH-1 *, 520 F.3d 1066 ( 9th Cir. 2008 ) Contradictory data may be legally inaccurate - * Richardson v. Equifax *, 2004 WL 862200 ( N.D. Ill. ) Failure to comply with FCRA deadlines supports deletion - * FTC Staff Opinion Letter ( Cass, 1999 ) * Unverifiable or inconsistent data should be deleted -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION XXXX DEMAND FOR FULL M.O.V. IF VERIFIED -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Under * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) & 611 ( a ) ( 7 ) * *, supply the following within * * 15 days * * if a bureau contends it verified the account : 1. Furnishers * * name, address, and telephone number * * 2. The * * name/title/department * * of the person ( s ) who performed the verification 3. The * * exact date ( s ) * * and * * method ( s ) * * of verification ( e.g., e-OSCAR, phone, correspondence ) 4. Copies or identification of * * documents or records * * reviewed 5. A * * description of the verification procedure * * used by the CRA Generic statements like verified as accurate are legally insufficient. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION VI NO LATE CURE ; REINSERTION REQUIREMENTS -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - After 30 days, CRAs may * * not retroactively fix * * the item. * * Deletion * * is the only lawful remedy when a CRA misses the statutory window ( per * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * * ).

If the account is later * * reinserted * *, the CRA must comply with * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) * * : obtain certification from the furnisher and provide notice to the consumer within * * 5 business days * *.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION VII FORMAL DEMAND -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - - * * TransUnion ( received XX/XX/XXXX ) * * No reinvestigation within 30 days. * * Delete immediately * * or produce XXXX. within 15 days- * * Experian ( received XX/XX/XXXX ) * * Same demand : delete or provide XXXX. 
- * * Equifax ( received XX/XX/XXXX ) * * Same demand : delete or provide XXXX. 

If you fail to comply, I will escalate to the * * CFPB * *, * * FTC * *, and the * * Texas Attorney General * *, and seek all remedies under * * FCRA 616617 * * ( statutory and actual damages ). 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX TX XXXX Email : XXXX XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX SSN ( Last XXXX ) : XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation