Consumer complaint received 2023-10-13
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Reporting company used your report improperly

Complaint:
Dealer : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX TX XXXX XXXX involved : Sales person 's full name is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ), and the Finance Manager is XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). 

Background : On XX/XX/XXXX, we went to finance ( XXXX did ) a XXXX XXXX XXXX Sport ( VIN : XXXX ). I put a {$10000.00} down-payment towards the car ( for XXXX ) via my credit card. 

XXXX said they would have to run a soft credit check on me since the deposit is {$10000.00}, and when I asked him to double-check it was a soft inquiry- he assured me it will be a soft inquiry. I provided him my personal information on the computer ; by the way, especially since my employer is the XX/XX/XXXX XXXX, my information should not be accessible/visible to any random customer ( I saw on there people 's names, phone numbers, SSNs ( if inputted in the wrong field ), addresses, employers, addresses ( that is a giant security concern and certainly a violation of PII laws/regulations ). 

Anywho, it turns out they did perform a soft credit inquiry on Equifax by XXXX, XXXX ; however, they also ran a hard inquiry on my Equifax & XXXX credit report by XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. 

( Keep this in mind for later ) Upon finding out, I send an email to XXXX & XXXX ( see attached ) on XX/XX/XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX to which XXXX is the only one to respond and actively ignores my concern. From XXXX 's initial response, he never replies again. 

This leads me to calling XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX around XXXX at ( XXXX ) XXXX and 4-times ( same day ) around XXXX at ( XXXX ) XXXX ; which one of these give an automated system to press a number for a department, but the answering machine does not pick up the numbered input ( it just keeps looping ). No one ever picks up. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX also messed up XXXX 's phone number and email address. To which- after the sale was completed, XXXX XXXX mentioning how XXXX XXXX get a survey via email, and if she didn't fill out the survey with the maximum amount of stars, then he wouldn't get paid. Well, she never received the survey due to the incorrect ( was it intentional? ) email address, and I'm certain at this point- XXXX would not like to receive our survey response. I also had to ask XXXX XXXX times ( in-person, XXXX over phone, and via email ) to give me the XXXX roadside assistanXXXX number- which he finally gave me via email on my third ask. 

XXXX apparently had to get permission from his manager for me to make the {$10000.00} down-payment, and he said it could only be done by one-card ; when we meet with XXXX, XXXX asks what two cards will the down-payment be on? ... A failure of communication between XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

Additionally, when comparing the 60-month vs 72-month loan - XXXX actively kept the extra insurance coverage within the 60-months- until I had to actively break down the numbers to figure out that something is way off ; a form of manipulation and deception to what looked like an inexperienced buyer? XXXX also did not proactively provide the bill of sale during this discussion and breakdown. 

- I believe I submitted disputes to Equifax & XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX - to which both essentially said that hard inquires are hard facts of credit report and may not be removed ; even though I didn't consent to this... 
- I also had filed a complaint about XXXX XXXX to XXXX, XXXX # XXXX. They basically said they'll forward my complaint to the dealer, and that I should try to reach out to management... 
- I typed up three letters to XXXX XXXX, Equifax, and XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX and sent them via mail on XX/XX/XXXX. I have yet to receive a response via mail by any member ; the inquiries still appear on my credit report.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation