Consumer complaint received 2025-03-24 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
I am filing this complaint against Equifax Information Services LLC and XXXX XXXX XXXX Account Number : XXXX for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) by failing to provide the legally required separate written notice before or after reporting negative information to my credit report. This failure constitutes a direct violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ), among other FCRA provisions.

Despite my previous dispute through the CFPB, Equifax has refused to correct or remove the non-compliant, unlawfully reported information. Regulatory enforcement is now required to compel compliance.

FCRA Violations Committed 1. Failure to Provide Separate, Timely Written Notice Before or After Reporting Negative Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ( a ) ( 7 ) ) XXXX XXXX XXXX first reported a negative account to my Equifax credit report on XX/XX/XXXX. 
Under FCRA, a furnisher must send a separate, clear, and conspicuous written notice either before or within 30 days after reporting negative information to a consumers credit file. 
This notice must not be embedded in the initial agreement and must be sent as a separate statement to the consumer. 
I never received such notice before or after the negative information was reported, making XXXX reporting unlawful. 

2. Certification of Notice Delivery Failure to Send Proof of Mailing and Return Receipt Under FCRA compliance standards, XXXX XXXX XXXX must retain verifiable proof of mailing and receipt of the required written notice. 
XXXX has failed to provide certified mail documentation or a return receipt proving that they fulfilled this legal requirement. 
Without this proof, Equifax should not be reporting the negative information. 

3. Unlawful Reinsertion of Information Without Proper Notice ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) ) If this account was previously removed and then reinserted, Equifax was legally required to send me written notice within five business days, including : The name of the furnisher, The furnishers address, and Contact information for further dispute.

Equifax failed to provide such notice, making the reinsertion unlawful.

4. Failure to Ensure Maximum Possible Accuracy in Credit Reporting ( 15 U.S.C. XXXX ( b ) ) The account was allegedly opened on XX/XX/XXXX but was never reported until XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX four-year gap that violates Equifaxs duty to report information consistently and accurately.

A delayed first-time report of negative information without any prior notice suggests improper data management or potential data manipulation.

5. Possible Re-Aging of Debt Violation of FCRA Reporting Time Limits ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c ( a ) ( 4 ) ) The sudden appearance of a previously unreported account in XX/XX/XXXX suggests re-aging, which extends the reporting period in violation of FCRA time limits. 
If the date of first delinquency has been altered to make the account appear newer than it is, Equifax and XXXX are in violation of FCRA prohibitions on re-aging debt. 

6. Failure to Investigate and Correct Inaccurate Information ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ) I previously disputed this issue through the CFPB complaint process, yet Equifax refused to properly investigate or remove the unlawful reporting.

Equifaxs failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and correct the error constitutes a willful violation of my rights under the FCRA. 
Equifax and XXXX XXXX XXXX have engaged in unlawful, deceptive credit reporting practices that directly violate the FCRAs notice and accuracy provisions. Their failure to provide verifiable written notice before or after reporting negative information makes this account illegally reported and subject to immediate deletion. 

I expect the CFPB to hold Equifax accountable, enforce full compliance with the law, and ensure that this violation is remedied within 15 days.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation