Consumer complaint received 2025-11-24 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint because I discovered multiple items on my credit report that appear inaccurate, unverified, and potentially the result of identity misuse or improper handling of my personal information. These issues include a derogatory account being reported under the name XXXX with a balance of {$5100.00}, as well as XXXX hard credit inquiries that I do not recall authorizing individually. These XXXX issues together have significantly harmed my credit standing, and my attempts to resolve them through the dispute process have not resulted in any meaningful clarification, documentation, or correction. As part of my efforts to protect myself, I have also filed an FTC Identity Theft Report, which supports my position that these entries may be the result of unauthorized use of my information. 

This statement explains, in detail, what occurred and why I believe these items require reinvestigation, verification, and removal if the companies involved can not produce proper proof supporting their reporting. 

SECTION XXXX DISCOVERY OF THE XXXX DEROGATORY ACCOUNT When reviewing my credit report, I noticed an unfamiliar derogatory entry under the name XXXX. The account reflected : A balance of {$5100.00} A closed or charged-off status A derogatory rating negatively affecting my credit score This account immediately raised concern because I do not recognize it, and I have no memory of ever opening or using any account, line of credit, financing agreement, or loan with SUNBIT or any business affiliated with them. Prior to seeing this entry on my credit report, I had never received : Bills Statements Past-due notices Emails Text messages Phone calls Letters Digital communications Contract disclosures Account opening confirmations Nothing associated with XXXX  has ever been sent to me. This was the first time I became aware that such an account had ever existed. 

Because derogatory accounts can dramatically reduce credit scores and affect access to financial opportunities, I immediately took steps to research the matter. I thoroughly reviewed my own records, including receipts, payment histories, online bank statements, emails, digital receipts, and any documentation that could indicate a past transaction or account with XXXX. I found no trace of any interaction with the company. 

SECTION XXXX DISPUTE PROCESS AND LACK OF PROOF After confirming that I had no connection to this account, I filed a formal dispute with the credit reporting agency. My expectation, consistent with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), was that the furnisher would be required to provide : A signed application or contract Identification used to open the account An itemized billing history Payment statements Proof of goods or services received Copies of notices purportedly sent However, when the reinvestigation was completed, the credit bureau marked the account as verified without supplying any actual documents showing that the account belongs to me. 

I received no original contract, no proof of identity used to apply, no billing statements, no transaction details, and no correspondence from XXXX. The verification appeared to consist entirely of an automated signal from the furnisher, not an examination of actual evidence. 

Because the bureau did not provide supporting documentation, the reinvestigation did not address my concerns or demonstrate that the account is legitimate. 

SECTION XXXX CONCERN OF MISIDENTIFICATION, MIXED FILE, OR FRAUD Given that I do not recognize the SUNBIT account and that no documentation has been provided, I considered several possible explanations : Identity misuse Incorrect or unauthorized use of my information by a third party A mixed-file error where another consumers account was mistakenly attached to my profile A furnisher error during data transmission A system error causing incorrect placement Unauthorized opening of an account using my stolen information Because of the seriousness of these concerns, and to protect myself, I filed an FTC Identity Theft Report, which documents that items such as the SUNBIT account and the XXXX inquiries may be connected to unauthorized activity. Filing the FTC report was necessary to have an official record of potential identity misuse. 

SECTION XXXX DISCOVERY OF XXXX HARD CREDIT INQUIRIES In addition to the SUNBIT account, I discovered XXXX separate hard credit inquiries on my report. These inquiries were made by various companies, including lenders and auto-related businesses. 

I do not recall authorizing each of these inquiries individually. In many cases, when a person gives basic credit consent at an auto dealership, the consumer expects XXXX or a limited number of credit checksnot dozens. Auto dealerships sometimes shotgun applications to multiple lenders without clearly informing the consumer. I suspect this may have occurred in my situation. 

However, whether through dealership transmission, third-party submission, identity misuse, or other unauthorized activity, the number of inquiriesXXXX totalis excessive and far beyond anything I knowingly approved. 

SECTION XXXX IMPACT OF XXXX UNAUTHORIZED OR EXCESSIVE INQUIRIES Hard inquiries can lower a credit score, sometimes significantly. When there are many inquiries in a short period, it creates the appearance of credit desperation or instability, even when that is not true. These XXXX inquiries have : Lowered my credit score Created red flags with lenders Made it harder to qualify for certain approvals Affected interest rates Negatively impacted my overall financial profile Created a misleading picture of my credit behavior This harm is severe and ongoing. 

SECTION XXXX LACK OF PERMISSIBLE PURPOSE AND MISSING CONSENT Under the FCRA, every company accessing a consumers credit report must have : A permissible purpose, and Explicit authorization I did not authorize each of the XXXX inquiries. I was not informed that dozens of lenders would be accessing my report. No lender provided me with a disclosure indicating that multiple inquiries would occur. And none of these lenders have provided : Signed credit applications Consent forms Authorization documents Digital confirmation of approval Any proof showing I knowingly permitted these inquiries This lack of documentation strongly suggests unauthorized access, improper sharing of my information, or identity misuse. 

SECTION XXXX STEPS I TOOK TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE To address these problems, I : Filed disputes with the credit bureaus for the XXXX derogatory account and for the inquiries I did not recognize. 

Requested documentation proving authorization or account ownership. 

Reviewed my personal records to ensure the items were not mine. 

Filed an FTC Identity Theft Report to document potential unauthorized activity. 

Attempted to have the inquiries investigated through the credit bureaus. 

Requested validation from furnishers, though none provided documentation. 

Despite these steps, I have still not been shown any proof that : I opened the SUNBIT account I authorized XXXX inquiries The information reported is accurate Because of this, the entries continue to harm me. 

SECTION XXXX ONGOING HARM AND CREDIT DAMAGE The presence of the derogatory SUNBIT account and the excessive inquiries has caused : Lower credit scores Denied credit applications Higher interest rates Difficulty qualifying for housing or credit products Emotional distress and confusion Significant time wasted attempting to resolve errors Lingering concerns about identity misuse No consumer should endure this type of harmespecially when the items in question can not be validated or explained. 

SECTION XXXX WHY I BELIEVE THESE ITEMS ARE INACCURATE The SUNBIT account is inaccurate because : I never applied for or opened a SUNBIT account No contract or application exists No statements were ever sent to me The company has provided no proof The amount of {$5100.00} does not correspond to anything I purchased There is no connection between me and SUNBIT The FTC report documents unauthorized activity The XXXX inquiries are inaccurate because : I did not authorize them individually I did not apply with these lenders directly They are excessive for any normal transaction No consent forms have been produced They may be tied to identity misuse or unauthorized sharing of my information Many appear suddenly and without context The combination of these factors shows a strong likelihood of identity misuse, mixed file issues, or errors in data reporting. 

SECTION XXXX WHY I AM ASKING FOR CFPB INTERVENTION I am asking for CFPB assistance because : The dispute process has not resolved the issue No documentation has been provided The credit bureaus marked items verified without proof The harm to my credit is ongoing My FTC Identity Theft Report supports my concerns I deserve accurate reporting and a fair review The CFPB has the authority to require furnishers and reporting agencies to comply with the FCRA and ensure accuracy. 

FINAL SUMMARY I discovered a derogatory XXXX  account for {$5100.00} that I do not recognize, have never used, and for which no documentation has been provided. I also discovered XXXX hard credit inquiries that I did not approve or authorize individually. I have filed disputes, searched my records, and filed an FTC Identity Theft Report, but the items remain despite the lack of validation. These entries have harmed my credit and do not appear to be accurate or authorized. 

I am requesting the CFPBs help to ensure the companies involved provide proper documentation or remove the unverifiable and unauthorized information so that my credit report accurately reflects my true credit behavior.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief