Experian Is the Last Credit Bureau Standing in a Maryland Credit Reporting Lawsuit

Published July 3, 2026

A Maryland consumer sued all three national credit bureaus at once — two have already settled out, and Experian is now the only one left fighting.

By Steve Levine

Editor-in-Chief

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What Is This About?

In March 2026, a Maryland consumer filed a federal lawsuit against all three national credit bureaus — Equifax Information Services LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., and TransUnion LLC — at the same time. The case, Maynard v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-00996, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland before Judge Brendan Abell Hurson.

The complaint asserts claims under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 — the federal law that requires consumer reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to assure the accuracy of the information in consumers' credit files and to reinvestigate disputed items. The plaintiff is representing himself (proceeding pro se) and demanded a jury trial. Everything in the complaint is an allegation that no court has ruled on.

Four months in, the case has split three ways: TransUnion settled and is out, Equifax settled and is out, and Experian is the sole remaining defendant, with a motion to dismiss awaiting a ruling.

What the Complaint Alleges

According to the complaint, the plaintiff pulled his credit reports from all three bureaus and found what he describes as materially inconsistent reporting of the same accounts. The complaint gives examples: one bank card allegedly showed a high credit of $1,104 at TransUnion and Experian but $0 at Equifax; a credit union account allegedly showed $3,130 at two bureaus and $0 at the third; and two other accounts allegedly showed high-credit figures of $12,662 and $14,716 at TransUnion while Experian reported $0 and Equifax reported nothing at all. The complaint also alleges his total reported balances differed sharply across the three files — roughly $63,287 at TransUnion, $59,508 at Experian, and $24,439 at Equifax — and that his file contained a name belonging to another individual, which he says signals a mixed-file problem.

The complaint alleges the plaintiff submitted written disputes identifying the inaccuracies and that the bureaus failed to correct them. The alleged harm came to a head on or about November 1, 2025, when, per the complaint, he applied for up to $500,000 in business financing and was denied — with the adverse action notice citing an Experian credit report and a credit score of 513.

The complaint pleads two FCRA counts against all three bureaus: failure to follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy (15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b)) and failure to conduct reasonable reinvestigations of his disputes (15 U.S.C. § 1681i). It seeks actual, statutory, and punitive damages plus litigation costs. Again, these are unproven allegations — no defendant has admitted them and no court has found any FCRA violation.

Read the Complaint (PDF)

TransUnion Settled First

TransUnion was the first defendant to exit. On May 6, 2026, the plaintiff filed a notice of settlement as to TransUnion, and the court set a deadline for the paperwork. A stipulation of dismissal followed on May 28, and Judge Hurson approved it on May 29, 2026, terminating TransUnion from the case. The terms of the settlement are not disclosed on the public docket — individual FCRA settlements are typically confidential.

Equifax Fought the Complaint, Then Settled Too

Equifax took a different route before reaching the same destination. On April 21, 2026, it moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim, arguing the pleading did not support an FCRA violation. The plaintiff opposed the motion on May 4, Equifax replied on May 19, and the plaintiff then asked the court for leave to file a sur-reply — an additional brief responding to the reply.

Before the court ruled, the fight ended. On June 3, 2026, the plaintiff notified the court that he had reached a settlement in principle with Equifax, and on June 23 Equifax filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice — meaning the claims against Equifax are resolved permanently and cannot be refiled. As with TransUnion, the settlement terms are not on the public docket.

Experian Joined the Motion to Dismiss — and Now Stands Alone

Experian initially obtained an extension of its deadline to respond to the complaint, and on May 14, 2026 it filed a notice of joinder in Equifax's motion to dismiss — adopting Equifax's arguments as its own rather than filing a separate motion. With Equifax now out of the case, that motion survives as Experian's, and Judge Hurson will evaluate its arguments as they apply to Experian alone.

Experian's legal team also shifted in June: one of its attorneys withdrew on June 10, 2026, after another entered an appearance in late May. The docket shows no ruling yet on the motion to dismiss or on the plaintiff's request to file a sur-reply.

What Happens Next?

The case now turns on the pending motion to dismiss. If Judge Hurson grants it, the claims against Experian could be dismissed and the case would end. If he denies it, Experian would have to answer the complaint, and the case would proceed toward discovery and, potentially, trial — unless Experian follows its co-defendants and settles.

Suing all three bureaus in one FCRA action is a common pattern when a consumer disputes how an item appears across all three credit files, and staggered individual settlements like these are a common way such cases resolve. For a plain-English overview of the statute and the kinds of claims it allows, see our Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) explainer. Experian and TransUnion are also facing separate proposed class actions over how bankruptcy-discharged joint debts appear on credit reports — see our coverage of the Experian bankruptcy credit reporting class action and the TransUnion bankruptcy credit reporting class action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a class action settlement?
No. This is an individual lawsuit brought by one consumer. There is no settlement fund, no claim form, no deadline, and nothing for other consumers to claim.

What is the lawsuit about?
The complaint, filed March 9, 2026 in Maryland federal court, alleges the three bureaus reported materially inconsistent information about the plaintiff's accounts, failed to correct it after written disputes, and that the errors contributed to a denial of business financing. It pleads FCRA claims under 15 U.S.C. § 1681e(b) and § 1681i. The allegations are unproven, and no defendant has been found liable.

Which credit bureaus have settled?
TransUnion's dismissal was approved May 29, 2026, and Equifax filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice on June 23, 2026, after reaching a settlement in principle. The terms of both settlements are confidential. Experian has not settled.

What happens next in the case against Experian?
Experian joined Equifax's motion to dismiss, which is fully briefed and awaiting a ruling. If it is granted, the case could end; if it is denied, Experian would answer the complaint and the case would move toward discovery — unless the parties settle first.

Can I join this lawsuit or file a claim?
No. The case and its settlements cover only the plaintiff's own claims. A consumer who believes a credit bureau is reporting inaccurate information can dispute the item with the bureau and, if it is not corrected, consult a licensed attorney about their own potential FCRA claim. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

• Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial, Maynard v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-00996-BAH (D. Md. Mar. 9, 2026), Doc. 1 (PDF)
• CourtListener — Maynard v. Experian Information Solutions, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-00996 (D. Md.) docket
• CFPB — How to dispute an error on your credit report