Consumer complaint received 2025-09-02 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this formal complaint under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) regarding multiple unlawful and inaccurate entries on my credit report. These items include collections and unauthorized hard inquiries that have harmed my creditworthiness, caused financial loss, and created severe emotional distress. I am demanding immediate investigation and permanent correction. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Wrong Address This is not my address and I have never lived there. The inclusion of this address creates the false impression that I may have resided there, which connects me unfairly to debts and obligations that are not mine. Under FCRA 1681e ( b ) consumer reporting agencies must ensure maximum possible accuracy, yet they have reported information without proper verification. Because of this false address I have been subjected to unnecessary denials and suspicious treatment from lenders who questioned my residency history. This has damaged both my financial standing and my personal reputation. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, TX XXXX Wrong Address This address is also not mine and I have no connection to it. Reporting an incorrect address is highly negligent and misleading. When lenders and employers review my credit profile they see this false information and it creates confusion about my identity. In some cases this has led to me being unfairly associated with accounts that are not mine, resulting in unnecessary stress and denials. This violates FCRA 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) because the agencies failed to properly reinvestigate after I disputed this issue. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$300.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment This account is reporting late payments inaccurately. I have made good faith efforts to maintain my payments and even during periods of financial hardship I reached out to creditors for assistance. Instead of working with me, they reported damaging late payments that were not fully accurate. This has directly lowered my credit score and resulted in higher interest rates on auto loans and credit cards. Under FCRA 1681s-2 creditors must report with complete accuracy, and this has not been done. The continued reporting of these lates is unfair, misleading, and harmful. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$650.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment This account reflects late payments that are not accurate. I have disputed them yet the furnisher failed to provide full validation as required under FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ). Because of these false late payments I was recently denied approval for an apartment lease, which caused extreme hardship for me and my family. The stress of being unable to secure stable housing due to inaccurate reporting is devastating. The law requires creditors to ensure fairness, and this reporting is unlawful and abusive. 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$890.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment This account is also showing late payments that are being misreported. I requested validation multiple times and the creditor has failed to provide sufficient proof. I am being punished for errors that are not mine, and this has cost me thousands of dollars in lost financial opportunities. My credit score dropped significantly and I was denied fair lending terms on an auto refinance. This is a clear violation of my consumer rights under FCRA and FDCPA, and it is causing ongoing financial and emotional damage. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$850.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This account is showing as a charge-off without proper validation. I never received lawful validation notices as required by FDCPA XXXX. I was misled into believing this account was resolved, yet it continues to appear as charged-off. This false information is damaging my financial future by painting me as irresponsible when in fact I made good faith attempts to resolve my obligations. This is abusive, unlawful, and must be deleted immediately. 
XXXX XXXX * * High Balance {$6500.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This account is also reporting as a charge-off. The furnisher has failed to provide any proof of ownership or accurate validation. Instead, they continue to harm me by keeping this charge-off on my credit file. Because of this account I was denied approval for a mortgage loan which prevented me from purchasing a home for my family. The emotional toll of being unable to provide secure housing is devastating. This reporting is unlawful, misleading, and in direct violation of FCRA XXXX ( a ) and FDCPA XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX * * High Balance {$5700.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This account is showing as a charge-off without proper validation or proof of ownership. Under FDCPA XXXX and FCRA XXXX ( a ) a creditor must provide verification before reporting such damaging information. Because of this charge-off I was denied fair auto loan terms and forced to pay extremely high interest rates. The stress and financial loss are unfair and unlawful. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX * * * High Balance {$28000.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Late Payment This account is reporting repeated late payments inaccurately. I always made efforts to communicate with the creditor during times of financial hardship but instead of working with me they chose to damage my credit. This has directly affected my ability to refinance and obtain fair housing. Reporting inaccurate late payments violates FCRA XXXX and has caused serious harm to my financial stability. 
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX {$1200.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX XXXX This collection account is inaccurate and unverifiable. I never received proper validation notices as required by FDCPA XXXX. The collector failed to prove that I owe this debt, yet it is still on my credit file. This has resulted in harassment by lenders and unfair denials of credit. The reporting of this collection violates federal consumer protections. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  High Balance {$580.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Collection This collection is another example of inaccurate reporting. XXXX XXXX XXXX and similar companies have a history of reporting unverifiable debts. In this case no lawful validation was provided, yet the account continues to appear. Because of this collection I was denied a credit card and lost opportunities to rebuild my financial profile. This is abusive, unlawful, and must be removed under FCRA XXXX ( b ). 
XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX High Balance {$43.00} Date Opened XX/XX/XXXX Charge Off This charge-off is highly misleading. A {$43.00} balance should never have escalated to such a damaging negative mark. This is disproportionate, unfair, and violates the principle of maximum possible accuracy under FCRA XXXX ( b ). Because of this entry my score dropped and I was humiliated when applying for credit. This reporting is unlawful and must be deleted immediately. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX This inquiry is inaccurate and was made without my consent. I did not authorize XXXX XXXX to pull my credit file. Such inquiries violate FCRA permissible purpose requirements and unfairly damage my creditworthiness. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX This inquiry is also unauthorized and in violation of FCRA XXXX. I never gave consent and XXXX has no permissible reason to pull my report. The damage caused by this inquiry is ongoing. 
XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX This inquiry is another unauthorized pull. Multiple inquiries from this creditor show a pattern of abuse and negligence. This is damaging, unlawful, and must be removed immediately. 
I request the CFPB investigate these matters immediately. Under FCRA and FDCPA, I am entitled to accurate reporting, protection from unauthorized inquiries, and fairness in credit reporting. All unverifiable collections and unauthorized inquiries must be permanently deleted to restore my consumer rights.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief