Pennsylvania Complaint Against Experian and Equifax for Mixing Credit Files of Two Different Consumers
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
| Jane Doe Plaintiff,
v.
EXPERIAN INFORMATION SOLUTIONS, INC. and EQUIFAX INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC
Defendants.
| ))) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) | Civil Action File
No. ____________
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
|
COMPLAINT
Preliminary Statement
1. This is an action for damages brought by an individual consumer against the Defendants for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., as amended.
Jurisdiction and Venue
2. Jurisdiction of this Court arises under 15 U.S.C. § 1681p and 28 U.S.C. § 1331.
3. Venue lies properly in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b).
Parties
4. Plaintiff is an adult individual who resides in Pennsylvania.
5. Defendant Experian Information Solutions, Inc. (“Experian”) is a consumer reporting agency that regularly conducts business in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and which has a principal place of business located at 5 Century Drive, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.
6. Defendant Equifax Information Services LLC (“Equifax”) is a consumer reporting agency that regularly conducts business in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and which has a principal place of business located at 6 Clementon Road, East, Suite A2, Gibbsboro, New Jersey 08026.
Factual Allegations
7. Defendants have been reporting derogatory and inaccurate statements and information relating to Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s credit history to third parties (“inaccurate information”) from at least November 2011 through present. The inaccurate information includes numerous tradelines, including, but not limited to, NCO Financial Services, Inc., Department Stores National Bank d/b/a DSNB/ MACYS and Unique National Collection, as well as identifying personal information.
8. The inaccurate information negatively reflects upon the Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s credit repayment history, Plaintiff’s financial responsibility as a debtor and Plaintiff’s creditworthiness. The inaccurate information consists of accounts and/or tradelines that do not belong to the Plaintiff, and that actually belong to another consumer. Due to Defendants’ faulty procedures, Defendants mixed the credit file of Plaintiff and that of another consumer with respect to the inaccurate information and other personal identifying information.
9. Defendants have been reporting the inaccurate information through the issuance of false and inaccurate credit information and consumer credit reports that they have disseminated to various persons and credit grantors, both known and unknown. Defendants have repeatedly published and disseminated consumer reports to such third parties from at least November 2011 through the present.
10. Plaintiff’s credit report and file has been obtained from Defendants and has been reviewed by prospective and existing credit grantors and extenders of credit, and the inaccurate information has been a substantial factor in precluding Plaintiff from receiving different credit offers and opportunities, known and unknown. Plaintiff’s credit reports have been obtained from Defendants by such third parties from at least November 2011 through the present.
11. As a result of Defendants’ conduct, Plaintiff has suffered actual damages in the form of credit denial or loss of credit opportunity, credit defamation and emotional distress, including anxiety, frustration, embarrassment and, humiliation.
12. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendants were acting by and through their agents, servants and/or employees who were acting within the course and scope of their agency or employment, and under the direct supervision and control of the Defendants herein.
13. At all times pertinent hereto, the conduct of the Defendants, as well as that of their agents, servants and/or employees, was intentional, willful, reckless, and in grossly negligent disregard for federal law and the rights of the Plaintiff herein.
Count One- Violations of the FCRA
(Plaintiff v. Equifax and Experian)
14.Plaintiff incorporates the foregoing paragraphs as though the same were set forth at length herein.
15. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendants were each a “person” and “consumer reporting agency” as those terms are defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(b) and (f).
16. At all times pertinent hereto, the Plaintiff was a “consumer” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(c).
17. At all times pertinent hereto, the above-mentioned credit reports were “consumer reports” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(d).
18. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681n and 15 U.S.C. § 1681o, Defendants are liable to the Plaintiff for willfully and negligently failing to comply with the requirements imposed on a consumer reporting agency of information pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b).
Jury Trial Demanded
19. Plaintiff demands trial by jury.
Prayer for Relief
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks judgment in Plaintiff’s favor and damages against the Defendants, based on the following requested relief:
(a) Statutory damages;
(b) Actual damages;
(c) Punitive damages;
(d) Costs and reasonable attorney’s fees; and
(e) Other and further relief as may be just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS & MAILMAN, P.C.
BY: /s/ Mark D. Mailman
MARK D. MAILMAN
ERIN A. NOVAK
Land Title Building, 19th Floor
100 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19110
(215) 735-8600
Attorneys for Plaintiff