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: NJ

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX SSN ( Last XXXX ) : XXXX Phone : XXXX Email : XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX To : TransUnion LLC XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX, PA XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX 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 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 No. XXXXXXXXXXXX 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  To Whom It May Concern, This correspondence serves as a * * formal demand for deletion * * of the above-referenced XXXX  XXXX account or, if verified, a * * Method of Verification ( M.O.V. ) * * pursuant to the * * Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) * *, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. 

On * * XX/XX/XXXX * *, I filed a dispute through * * CFPB.gov * * regarding the materially inaccurate and inconsistent reporting of this account. 
Each bureau received the dispute as follows : - * * TransUnion : * * XX/XX/XXXX - * * Equifax : * * XX/XX/XXXX - * * Experian : * * XX/XX/XXXX As of * * XX/XX/XXXX * *, none of the credit bureaus have provided reinvestigation results within the XXXX statutory period required under * * FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * *.

Accordingly, this account must be * * deleted immediately * * under * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *.

If any bureau contends that the account was verified, I am now invoking my right to receive the * * full Method of Verification * * within * * 15 days * * pursuant to * * 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) * * and * * 611 ( a ) ( 7 ) * *.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION I FCRA 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 by a consumer the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable reinvestigation * * be
fore the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute. * * Failure to comply within the 30-day period constitutes a * * violation of federal law * *.

Under * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *, any item that can not be verified within this time must be * * promptly deleted * * from the consumers file.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION II CFPB.GOV DISPUTES ARE LEGALLY EQUIVALENT TO DIRECT DISPUTES -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Pursuant to * * FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 8 ) * * [ 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 8 ) ] and * * CFPB Bulletin 2013-09 * *, disputes submitted through * * CFPB.gov * * must be treated * * identically * * to disputes filed directly with the CRA or the furnisher .

All statutory timelines, reinvestigation duties, and deletion obligations apply equally.

Failure to respond or reinvestigate violates * * 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) * * and * * 623 ( b ) * *.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION III MATERIAL INCONSISTENCIES & UNVERIFIABLE REPORTING -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - The reporting of the * * XXXX XXXXXXXX * * account across the three bureaus contains irreconcilable inconsistencies, rendering it * * unverifiable * * : XXXX. * * Date of Last Activity * * - TransUnion & Experian : XX/XX/XXXX - Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX * XXXX XXXX Trans Union XXXX *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) CRAs must perform independent, reasonable investigations and can not simply accept the furnishers data. 

XXXX. * * XX/XX/XXXX Days Late * * - TransUnion : XXXX - Equifax : XX/XX/XXXX - Experian : XXXX * XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) Contradictory and misleading reporting constitutes inaccuracy under FCRA 607 ( b ).

3. * * High Balance * * - TransUnion XXXX Equifax : {$1500.00} - Experian : {$0.00} Reporting conflicting balances violates the maximum possible accuracy standard under * * 607 ( b ) * *.

4. * * High Credit * * - TransUnion & Experian : {$1000.00} - Equifax : {$0.00} * XXXX XXXX XXXX Banking XXXX XXXX XXXX *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) Information that is technically accurate but materially misleading still violates the FCRA. 

XXXX. * * Payment History * * - TransUnion : XXXX XXXX - Equifax : 79 % on-time - Experian : 12 % on-time Reporting data this inconsistent misleads potential creditors and violates * * XXXX ( b ) * * and * * FTC Staff Guidance ( XXXX, XXXX ) * *. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION IV APPLICABLE LAW AND CASE LAW SUPPORT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - * * Statutory Authority * * - FCRA XXXX2 ( a ) : Purpose of ensuring fair and accurate credit reporting - FCRA 607 ( b ) : Duty to maintain maximum possible accuracy - FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Reinvestigation required within 30 days - FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) : Unverifiable data must be deleted - FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( B ) ( iii ) : Right to Method of Verification - FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Prohibits reporting information known to be inaccurate - FCRA 623 ( a ) ( XXXX ) : XXXX disputes have equal legal weight * * Supporting Case Law * * - * XXXX XXXX TransUnion *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) : CRAs must perform independent investigations. 
- * XXXX XXXX XXXX, LLC *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. XXXX ) : Contradictory reporting constitutes inaccuracy. 
- * XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. XXXX ) : Misleading data violates the FCRA. 
- * XXXX v. Equifax XXXX. XXXX. *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) : Failure to meet the XXXX requirement mandates deletion. 
- * XXXX v. XXXX XXXX XXXX. *, XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX Cir. XXXX ) : XXXX must be supported by documentary evidence. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION V TOO LATE TO UPDATE OR CURE -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Once the statutory 30-day period has expired, the bureaus * * can not retroactively update or correct * * the account to appear compliant.

Under * * 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ) * *, the only lawful action after the deadline is * * deletion * *. 
Attempting to modify or reinsert unverifiable information constitutes * * willful noncompliance * * under * * 616 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n ) * *.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - SECTION VI FORMAL DEMAND FOR ACTION -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - 1. * * Immediate Deletion : * * Remove the XXXX XXXX tradeline from all reports for failure to complete reinvestigation within 30 days. 
XXXX. * * If Verified : * * Provide full * * Method of Verification ( XXXX. ) * * within 15 days, including : Furnishers name, address, and telephone number Date and method of verification Documentation relied upon in verifying the information Failure to comply will result in formal complaints to the * * CFPB * *, * * FTC * *, and * * New Jersey Attorney General * *, and potential civil action under * * FCRA 616617 * *. 

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief