Consumer complaint received 2023-03-24
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: KS
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Information belongs to someone else

Complaint:
I received correspondence from XXXX XXXX XXXX services on XX/XX/XXXX stating they needed me to contact them regarding an application for a business card account. I will attach referenced letter. I called on XX/XX/XXXX to the number provided ( XXXX ) @ XXXX XXXX and spoke with " XXXX '' in the verification dept. While speaking with him and explaining that I had not applied for any account, that I already have cards with XXXX I noticed on the letter it has my name and a different address, one in NY. I live in Kansas. XXXX told me he would cancel the application and notify the credit reporting agency ( Equifax ) to remove the inquiry on my report. I received notification also on the XXXX of XXXX XXXX from Equifax Credit Wise that there had been a decrease in my score due to this inquiry from a score of XXXX down to XXXX a drop of XXXX points due to this inquiry. I was assured that it would be removed once they received the letter from XXXX that it was a fraudulent application. I was told to wait 3-4 wks. and I will see the removal on my report. 
On XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX again to check status and spoke this time with " XXXX '' in the verification dept., who could not find any letter sent to Equifax and assured me that she would do that and also send me a copy of it. I waited again to receive any correspondence and did not. On XX/XX/XXXX I called Equifax customer service and explained the issue to " XXXX '' who found the inquiry still on my report and not able to be removed until XXXX of XXXX. After check with his " supervisor '' he told me that it was a " LAW '' that it could not be removed for 25 months. I explained the situation again that this was a fraudulent application by someone other than myself and it has impacted myself and the credit score due to nothing that I have done and I do not feel I should be penalized for that. Again the word " Law '' was used and I was told there was nothing I could do. I asked him to have the " supervisor '' reference the exact " Law '' that states if fraud is committed on a person that person will suffer the consequences under ALL circumstances, he put me on hold for a few minutes and came back to tell me to contact the CFPB and start the complaint process. Still no " law '' explanation. I feel that XXXX initiated this inquiry without verifying the validity of the application, then after the inquiry was done they probably realized the address error and sent me the correspondence about the application. I am also filing a complaint with Equifax for this issue for refusing the removal of this inquiry. I pride myself in my credit worthiness and am constantly monitoring it to make any adjustments if needed. It's not explainable to me that I should be penalized for errors by any institution or individual that has committed a fraudulent act against me or my good credit standing. 
Please have someone look into the matter further, feel free to reach out for any additional info if needed.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation