Consumer complaint received 2023-05-14
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IL
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize

Complaint:
15 U.S. Code 1681s2 - Responsibilities of furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies. A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate [ XXXX XXXX ] [ XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX [ XXXX IL XXXX [ XXXX [ XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX PA XXXX Subject : Dispute of Unauthorized Inquiries on Credit Report Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally dispute certain inquiries appearing on my credit report, which I believe to be unauthorized and in violation of provisions outlined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), specifically 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ), as well as the federal statute 18 USC 1028a . I kindly request your immediate attention and investigation into this matter. 

I have recently obtained a copy of my credit report from your agency and have noticed the presence of several inquiries that I do not recognize and did not authorize. As a consumer, I have the right to control who can access my credit information, and any inquiries made without my consent are a violation of my privacy rights as guaranteed by federal law. 

According to 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ), a credit reporting agency may only furnish a consumer report for a permissible purpose. This includes inquiries made with the consumer 's written consent, in response to a court order or subpoena, or for legitimate business needs in connection with a credit transaction. None of these exceptions apply to the unauthorized inquiries listed on my credit report. 

Furthermore, 18 USC 1028a establishes criminal penalties for identity theft offenses, including the fraudulent use of identification documents. Considering the unauthorized nature of these inquiries, I have reason to believe that they may be a result of identity theft or fraudulent activity. It is imperative that your agency investigates these inquiries thoroughly and takes appropriate action to rectify any inaccuracies or unauthorized access to my credit information. 

In light of the above, I request the following actions : XXXX. Conduct a thorough investigation into the unauthorized inquiries listed on my credit report and provide me with a detailed report of the findings. 
XXXX. Remove any unauthorized inquiries from my credit report, as they are in violation of my rights under 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ). 
XXXX. Implement stricter security measures to prevent future unauthorized inquiries and protect the privacy of my credit information. 

I understand that under the FCRA, you have 30 days from the receipt of this dispute letter to investigate and respond to my concerns. Failure to comply with these legal requirements may result in legal action to enforce my rights under the FCRA. 

Please provide a written confirmation upon receipt of this letter and keep me updated on the progress of your investigation. I can be reached at [ XXXX ] or [ XXXX ] to provide any additional information or documentation necessary for this investigation. 

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and your cooperation in resolving this dispute. Protecting the integrity and accuracy of my credit report is of utmost importance to me, and I trust that your agency will take the necessary steps to rectify this situation. 

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, [ XXXX XXXX ]

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation