An Ohio court has reversed a lower court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Mary Watkins against Equifax Information Services, LLC. This case, filed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, highlights the importance of accurate credit reporting and consumer rights. The ruling could impact how credit reporting agencies disclose information to consumers.
Mary Watkins filed her complaint on September 7, 2025, after discovering issues with her credit report while applying for a car loan. She claimed that her report from Equifax listed 15 outstanding accounts that negatively affected her credit score. However, she argued that the report did not provide complete account numbers or original creditor information, making it difficult for her to verify the accuracy of the report.
Watkins alleged that this incomplete disclosure violated 15 U.S.C. 1681g(a)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which requires consumer reporting agencies to provide clear and accurate information to consumers. After Equifax filed a motion to dismiss her complaint, the Hamilton County Municipal Court granted the motion, leading Watkins to appeal the decision.
The Ohio Court of Appeals, led by Judge Moore, reviewed the case and found that the trial court had erred in dismissing Watkins's complaint. The court emphasized that under a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion, all factual allegations in the complaint must be accepted as true. The court stated, "We hold that the trial court erred in granting Equifax’s motion to dismiss." This ruling means that Watkins's case will return to the lower court for further proceedings.
In its analysis, the court referenced a similar case, Watkins v. Equifax Information Servs., LLC, decided by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. In that case, the court ruled that whether Equifax had shared complete account numbers with third parties raised a factual question that should not have been dismissed. The Ohio Court of Appeals agreed with this reasoning, stating that Watkins's complaint had plausibly alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
This ruling is significant as it reinforces consumers' rights to accurate information in their credit reports. It highlights the responsibility of credit reporting agencies to provide complete and clear information, which is essential for consumers to dispute inaccuracies effectively. The outcome of this case may influence how credit reporting agencies operate and disclose information in the future.
Looking ahead, the case will return to the Hamilton County Municipal Court for further proceedings. It remains to be seen how the court will address the specific allegations made by Watkins and whether Equifax will be held accountable for the claims made against it. There is also the possibility that Equifax could appeal the decision, but details about any potential appeal were not available in the court filing.