Consumer complaint received 2025-01-21 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: OR

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally dispute inaccurate information on my EQUIFAX credit report and to address violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA ) that I believe have occurred during the handling of my dispute. Specifically, I believe that XXXX has failed to meet its obligations under both Acts by failing to reasonably reinvestigate consumer disputes, providing inaccurate or incomplete notices, and failing to forward relevant information to furnishers as required by law. 
I understand that EQUIFAX, as one of the largest consumer reporting agencies ( CRAs ) in the country, plays a critical role in gathering, organizing, and disseminating consumer data, including credit reports and scores. As such, it is essential that XXXX adheres to the regulations in place to ensure the accuracy and completeness of information in consumer reports, as outlined in the FCRA. 
Upon reviewing my credit report, I identified an item that I believe is inaccurate. I initiated a dispute through your platform, providing supporting documentation to validate my position. However, upon further review, I believe that XXXX has failed to meet its legal obligations in the following ways : 1. Failure to Forward All Relevant Information to Furnishers : Despite submitting supporting documentation for my dispute, it appears that this information was either not forwarded to the furnisher or was inaccurately conveyed. As a result, the furnisher may not have had all the necessary information to properly resolve the dispute. 
2. Failure to Conduct a Reasonable Reinvestigation : Under the FCRA, XXXX is required to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information. However, based on the outcome of my dispute, it seems that the investigation was insufficient or not conducted at all. This is a violation of Section 1681i of the FCRA, which mandates that the CRA complete a reinvestigation within a reasonable period and report the findings to the consumer. 
XXXX. Failure to Provide Accurate and Adequate Notice : Upon completion of the reinvestigation, EQUIFAX is required to provide consumers with a clear, concise, and accurate notice regarding the outcome of the dispute. Unfortunately, I received a notice that was confusing and did not adequately explain the results of the reinvestigation, nor did it provide sufficient information for me to understand why the dispute was resolved in this manner. This is a direct violation of FCRA Section XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, which outlines the requirements for notices to consumers. 
XXXX. Failure to Delete or Correct Inaccurate Information : According to Section XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX of the FCRA, if information is found to be inaccurate or incomplete, XXXX must modify or delete the information. My dispute was not resolved in a manner consistent with these requirements, and the inaccurate information remains on my report. 
XXXX. Failure to Ensure Accuracy and Completeness : EQUIFAX 'S failure to adequately reinvestigate and correct inaccurate information may also reflect broader systemic failures to ensure the accuracy and completeness of consumer reports, as required by FCRA XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Additionally, these failures may also constitute violations under the XXXX prohibition on unfair acts or practices, as described in Section XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Legal Compliance with the FACT Act ( 2003 Amendments ) I am also aware that federal courts have recently issued rulings addressing the use of consumer reports for the collection of an account under the FCRA. These rulings highlight the fact that the 2003 amendments to the FCRA ( the XXXX XXXX ) defined " credit, '' and as a result, a collection of an account can only be a permissible purpose for obtaining a consumer report when the collection is connected to a credit transaction. 
The courts have rejected prior case law, including FTC guidance, which allowed judgment creditors to obtain consumer reports. Recent decisions have found that delinquent child support obligations, municipal fines arising from parking tickets, and statutory debts such as those resulting from the towing and impounding of illegally parked vehicles are not tied to " credit transactions, '' and therefore, collection of those accounts does not constitute a valid permissible purpose under the FCRA. 
If EQUIFAX or any third-party collectors are using your consumer report services in connection with the collection of accounts that do not arise from credit transactions, this would not be compliant with the updated legal interpretation. 
As a result, I request that you ensure that any and all reports related to my credit are being accessed only for permissible purposes as defined by the XXXX XXXX. If you or any third-party collectors are using my report for purposes outside the scope of a credit transaction, please cease this activity immediately. 
Action Requested Given the severity of these violations and their potential impact on my credit and financial well-being, I respectfully request the following : Immediate reinvestigation of the disputed item with a thorough review of all relevant documentation.

Clear, complete, and accurate notice of the results of the reinvestigation, in compliance with the FCRA.

Correction or deletion of the inaccurate information from my credit report, as required by law. 
Confirmation that EQUIFAX is fully compliant with the new legal interpretation regarding permissible purposes for obtaining consumer reports in collection matters. 
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and inform me of the steps you intend to take to address these issues within the timeframes outlined in the FCRA. I also request that you confirm that any and all access to my credit report is in compliance with the updated legal standards. 
Account Name : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  Account : : # XXXX Account # XXXX Account # XXXX Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt resolution.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation