New Jersey Complaint Against Experian for Mixing Credit Files and Reporting False and Inaccurate Information
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
________________________
JOHN DOE )
)
Plaintiff, ) Civil Action No.
v. )
)
EXPERIAN INFORMATION SOLUTIONS, )
INC. )
)
Defendant. )
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, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1337.
3. Venue lies properly in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)
Parties
4. Plaintiff is an adult individual and citizen of the State of New York, who resides in New York.
5. Defendant, Experian Information Solutions, Inc. is a consumer reporting agency that regularly conducts business in the State of New Jersey and which has a principal place of business located at 5 Century Drive, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054.
Factual Allegations
6. Defendant has been reporting derogatory and inaccurate statements and information relating to Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s credit history to third parties (“inaccurate information”) from at least May 2012 through the present. The inaccurate information includes several tradelines, including, but not limited to Charter One Auto Finance, HSBC Bank, GMAC and National Recovery, as well as identifying personal information.
7. 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 public records and accounts and/or tradelines that do not belong to the Plaintiff, and that actually belong to another consumer. Due to Defendant’s faulty procedures, Defendant mixed the credit file of Plaintiff and that of another consumer with respect to the inaccurate information and other personal identifying information.
8. Defendant has been reporting the inaccurate information through the issuance of false and inaccurate credit information and consumer credit reports that it has disseminated to various persons and credit grantors, both known and unknown. Defendant has repeatedly published and disseminated consumer reports to such third parties from at least May 2012 through the present.
9. Plaintiff’s credit report and file has been obtained from Defendant 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 Defendant by such third parties from at least May 2012 through the present.
10. As a result of Defendant’s 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.
11. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant was acting by and through its agents, servants and/or employees who were acting within the course and scope of its agency or employment, and under the direct supervision and control of the Defendant herein.
12. At all times pertinent hereto, the conduct of the Defendant, as well as that of its 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 – FCRA
(Plaintiff v. Defendant)
13. Plaintiff incorporates the foregoing paragraphs as though the same were set forth at length herein.
14. At all times pertinent hereto, Defendant was a “person” and “consumer reporting agency” as those terms are defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(b) and (f).
15. At all times pertinent hereto, Plaintiff was a “consumer” as that term is defined by 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(c).
16. 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).
17. Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1681n and 15 U.S.C. § 1681o, Defendant is 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).
18. The conduct of Defendant was a direct and proximate cause, as well as a substantial factor, in bringing about the serious injuries, actual damages and harm to Plaintiff that are outlined more fully above and, as a result Defendant is liable to Plaintiff for the full amount of statutory, actual and punitive damages, along with the attorney’s fees and the costs of litigation, as well as such further relief, as may be permitted by law.
Jury Trial Demand
19. Plaintiff demands trial by jury on all issues so triable.
Prayer for Relief
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff seeks judgment in Plaintiff’s favor and damages against the Defendant, based on the following requested relief:
(a) Actual damages;
(b) Statutory damages;
(c) Punitive damages;
(d) Costs and reasonable attorney’s fees pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681n and 1681o;
(e) Such other and further relief as may be necessary, just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCIS & MAILMAN, P.C.
BY: _/s/ Mark D. Mailman___________________
MARK D. MAILMAN, ESQUIRE
ERIN A. NOVAK, ESQUIRE
Land Title Building, 19th Floor
100 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19110
(215) 735-8600
Attorneys for Plaintiff