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Case Information
- Filing Date: March 28, 2025
- Court: U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
- Plaintiff: Jacquelyne Nicole Jones
- Defendants: Trans Union, LLC; Experian Information Solutions, Inc.; Fifth Third Bank, National Association
- Case Number: 9:25-cv-02638-BHH
Allegations at a Glance
Jacquelyne Nicole Jones alleges that Fifth Third Bank falsely reported her as delinquent on two loan payments in July and August 2022, despite her timely payments. These incorrect records were shared with Trans Union and Experian, two major credit reporting agencies, which published them in her consumer credit reports. Despite repeated disputes and submission of evidence, the false data remained, damaging Ms. Jones’ credit profile. This case centers on violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by all three defendants.
Key Allegations
- 🏦 Fifth Third Bank falsely reported late payments on Ms. Jones’ account starting in or before 2022.
- 🔁 Despite prior complaints, Fifth Third acknowledged its mistake and promised to fix it — but failed to follow through.
- 📄 Ms. Jones submitted disputes multiple times, including in writing, online, and by phone, both to Fifth Third and the credit bureaus.
- 📉 Trans Union and Experian continued to include the incorrect tradeline in her credit reports, even after being provided evidence that the information was false.
- 🔄 Experian temporarily removed the derogatory information but reinserted it without notifying Ms. Jones, as required by law.
- 🧾 The complaint states Ms. Jones’ credit reports were shared with third parties, reflecting negatively on her and suggesting poor financial responsibility.
Expanded Allegations & Personal Impact
Ms. Jones contends that the false information prevented her from securing a mortgage loan under favorable terms. She and her growing family had planned to purchase a new home in 2024, but this was thwarted by the damage to her credit score.
She also claims to have suffered:
- 💔 Emotional distress: anxiety, worry, loss of sleep, and indignation.
- ⏳ Wasted time: extensive hours spent disputing the information across different channels.
- 🧾 Reputational damage: inaccurate portrayal of her trustworthiness as a borrower.
- 🧨 Additional stress due to Experian reintroducing the inaccurate data without proper notice.
Despite her compliance and persistence, all three defendants allegedly failed to correct the error, contributing to ongoing financial and emotional harm.
Legal Claims
- ✅ FCRA § 1681i: Failure of Trans Union and Experian to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation into disputed information.
- ✅ FCRA § 1681i(a)(5)(B): Experian failed to provide written notification after re-inserting previously removed derogatory information.
- ✅ FCRA § 1681s-2(b): Fifth Third failed to correct and continued furnishing false data to credit agencies after notification of a dispute.
Relief Sought
- 💰 Compensatory Damages: Over $100,000 for emotional, reputational, and financial harm.
- 💰 Punitive Damages: More than $500,000 for alleged willful violations of the FCRA.
- 💰 Statutory Damages, Attorney Fees & Costs: As permitted under 15 U.S.C. § 1681n and § 1681o.
The Bottom Line
This lawsuit underscores how inaccurate credit reporting can derail significant life events, such as buying a home. Even after disputes and supporting documentation, Ms. Jones says the defendants failed to fix known errors — highlighting potential gaps in accountability within the credit reporting system. If her allegations prove true, this case could signal greater scrutiny on how credit data is managed and corrected.
Legal Disclaimer
All claims in this lawsuit are allegations. The case may be settled, dismissed, or decided in court. No liability has been established unless adjudicated by a judge or jury.
✅ Fact Check Summary:
All factual claims in this post, including the timeline, alleged conduct, legal claims, and damages sought, are accurately drawn from the original complaint. No information has been added beyond what was stated in the lawsuit.
