Consumer complaint received 2022-07-13
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MA
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:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I was reviewing my Equifax credit report. There are eleven hard inquiries for XXXX I did not authorize. I did not apply for any credit card or loan with XXXX in XXXX or XXXX. I called XXXX and was told I needed to call Equifax to correct the error. 
I have a fraud alert on my credit report which is a notification that is added to your credit report, instructing anyone receiving a credit application in a person 's name to verify the person 's identity before processing the application. 

Yesterday I disputed all eleven the inquiries with Equifax and this morning the disputes are noted as completed and accurate. If that is the case XXXX and Equifax I believe need to provide the credit applications for the hard inquiries per the FCRA if I request. 

If I am not mistaken hard inquiries are for when a person applies for a loan or new credit card. I have not applied for either. I have not signed any applications pertaining to new credit with XXXX. 

In the past, I provided all supporting documents to Equifax that I am a victim of identity theft. I provided a police report, FTC report, valid state ID, utility bill, and documentation that I received from XXXX that states I did not open the accounts that are reported inaccurate. The request for those accounts to be blocked was not addressed by Equifax. 

I do have an extended fraud alert with Equifax for seven years because I am a victim of Identity theft and yesterday eleven hard inquiries are noted on my XX/XX/XXXX report is extremely concerning. 

I have requested assistance from the CFBP in regards to Equifax which the CFBP has assited. Equifax provides a response " the results of the investigation that Equifax is completing will be sent to my address '' which does not occur.

Once the CFBP closes the compliant Equifax ignores the request. In the past, I requested a block on the XXXX accounts that I did not open. All the documents were sent to Equifax with a confirmation receipt via USPS. I received confirmation of the documents and my letter requesting to block information was received by USPS. Equifax did not respond to my request in the time frame allowed by the FCRA which is a violation. Again it was overlooked. 

I review all three reporting agency credit reports multiple times a month because of the identity theft I have experienced along with all the cyber-attacks and data breaches that occurred in the world today. 

I have had my personal information stolen. 

It was stolen in the Equifax breach that affected XXXX XXXX. 

Returning to eleven hard inquiries which are noted on my XX/XX/XXXX report. Equifax documents the eleven inquiries are correct. Eleven disputes were processed overnight is concerning.

We all know hard inquiries have a negative impact on credit. I definitely do not think a person would do Hard inquiries monthly knowing the huge impact this has on a score. 

I am a victim of identity theft. I have had to fight this horrendous act on my own. when I share my experience with others hoping they become vigilant of their credit reports I am told " those are big companies do not waste your time ''. I am not wasting my time I am advocating for myself and other victims. Disputes are of no concern to many. I received documentation from XXXX that my personal information was stolen. I will continue to advocate and regain the personal information that was stolen. This was not my doing.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation