Consumer complaint received 2025-06-08 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: NJ

Complaint narrative:
I am deeply frustrated and profoundly disappointed by the inaccurate and unlawful reporting by Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion of my XXXX and XXXX accounts as charge-offs on my consumer report. This unjustified dissemination of erroneous financial data violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ) and the Fair Credit Billing Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1666b ), and I demand an immediate investigation under FCRA Section 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ). I insist on the prompt removal of these unfounded charge-off notations and a corrected consumer report. Failure to comply within 30 days will prompt a series of complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), followed by decisive legal action for significant damages under the FCRA. This is your final opportunity to address this serious breach! 

XXXX. Deep Dive into XXXX Account : A Questionable Financial Narrative The XXXX account, reported as a charge-off, is presented as a " account '' a record or statement of financial expenditure and receipts relating to a specific period, akin to a chronicle, narrative, or transaction log. However, this so-called " detailed account of what has been achieved '' lacks credible substance! Under FCRA, a charge-off indicates a creditor has written off the debt as a loss and closed the account. Yet, 15 U.S.C. 1681b limits permissible purpose to the collection of an account, not the collection of a debt. XXXX reporting of this charge-off appears to exceed its authority, suggesting an improper debt collection effort rather than legitimate account management. 

Furthermore, a charge-off requires a delinquent or late status, supported by multiple late payments tied to specific due dates, with notices sent 21 days before each due date under 15 U.S.C. 1666b. Without a verifiable sequence of late paymentseach with a precise due date and corresponding XXXX noticethis charge-off lacks legitimacy. I demand that XXXX provide dated proof of every late payment notice and due date, or you must remove this unsubstantiated entry immediately. Your failure to verify this critical timeline undermines the charge-offs validity! 

XXXX. Deep Dive into XXXX Account : An Unsupported Financial Record Likewise, the XXXX account, labeled as a charge-off, is portrayed as a " account '' a description or rendition of financial transactions, a memoir of expenditures, or a log of receipts, yet it stands on shaky ground! A charge-off implies XXXX wrote XXXX the debt as a loss, but this assertion collapses under scrutiny. Under 15 U.S.C. 1681b, permissible purpose is confined to account management, not debt collection. XXXX XXXXeporting of this charge-off seems to overstep its legal bounds, presenting a distorted financial record without justification. 

A valid charge-off demands a documented history of delinquency, with late payments tied to specific due dates and backed by multiple XXXX notices per 15 U.S.C. 1666b. Without this thorough documentationshowing a progression of late statuses ( e.g., 30 days, 60 days, 90 days ) with exact dates and noticesthis charge-off is indefensible. I demand that XXXX furnish dated evidence of each late payment notice and due date, or you must eliminate this questionable charge-off from my report at once. Your role in perpetuating unverified data is unacceptable! 

XXXX. Rebuttal : Charge-Off Reporting Demands Delinquency and Proper Notices A charge-off can not exist in isolationit is intrinsically linked to late payments as a dependent component! Under FCRA and credit reporting standards, a charge-off requires the account to be delinquent or late, with multiple consecutive late payments ( typically after 180 days ) documented with specific due dates. Each late payment must be preceded by a notice mailed or delivered 21 days before the due date under 15 U.S.C. 1666b, affording me a fair chance to address the delinquency. Without this chain of evidencespecific due dates, multiple late payment notices, and a clear delinquency sequencethe charge-off has no legal standing and must be removed! 

Your reporting of the XXXX and XXXX accounts as charge-offs without this essential proof constitutes a clear violation. Late payments and charge-offs are inseparable ; one can not be reported without the other. If XXXX and XXXX can not provide records of multiple late payments with XXXX notices tied to exact due dates, these charge-offs are invalid, and I demand their immediate deletion. Your failure to uphold this standard is a serious oversight! 

4. Demand for Investigation and Correction Under FCRA Section 611 Under FCRA Section 611 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ), you are legally required to conduct a reasonable investigation within 30 days, or 45 days if I provide additional information within the initial period. Any delay beyond this is unacceptable and will be rejected. I demand you : Investigate the unauthorized and unverified charge-off reporting by XXXX and XXXX. 



Require XXXX and XXXX to provide proof of specific due dates, multiple XXXX late payment notices, and a delinquency sequence for each charge-off. 



Remove all charge-off notations if the information can not be validated or verified. 



Provide a written response within 30 days, including all documentation relied upon. 

Demands and Consequences I demand the following within 15 days, with a full investigation completed within 30 days per FCRA Section 611 : Immediate removal of all charge-off notations for XXXX and XXXX accounts from my credit report.

A revised consumer report reflecting this correction.

Written confirmation of compliance.

If you fail to act, I will file robust complaints with the CFPB and FTC, and pursue determined legal action for damages under the FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681n ). This is your last opportunity to resolve this unacceptable error!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation