Consumer complaint received 2019-02-17
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX, I applied for a first time credit card with XXXX and XXXX. Based on my understanding from XXXX, my requests for credit were denied due a mismatched social security number on the part of the Credit Bureaus ( i.e. Equifax and XXXX ). After much effort, the Credit Bureaus corrected my social security number. I then reapplied for credit to XXXX and was denied based on too many hard inquiries in a 3 month period. 

When processing my credit applications, the information provided to the credit card companies by the credit bureaus were based on a mismatched social security number. The mismatched social security number was a credit bureau error which negatively impacted my applications for credit. In as much as this was not my error, I am requesting Equifax and XXXX remove the hard inquires from my credit file. 

If the credit bureaus are unable to remove the hard inquiries, then I am requesting a detailed, individualized, and understandable written explanation to include : 1. A copy of the credit report with the mismatched social security number ( Since my credit applications to XXXX and XXXX were processed using a mismatched file, I should be able to know what was in that file ) ; 2. The specific information provided to XXXX and XXXX with the initial credit applications ; 3. Investigative/re-investigative findings to include the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information and actions taken in response to each of my inquiries/disputes dated XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and, XX/XX/XXXX. 
4. A name and number of a contact person knowledgeable about this case with decision making authority. 

As noted in the Summary Timeline below, my efforts to obtain information and resolve my concerns with and between Equifax, XXXX, and XXXX have been time consuming, frustrating and to no avail. 

Please help me resolve this issue between Equifax, XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX. I will be happy to provide additional information and details upon request. 


Summary Timeline : XX/XX/XXXX : I am XXXX years old, employed full time as an XXXX, and have been paying a car loan for the last 2.5 years with no late payments. I applied for a first time credit card XX/XX/XXXX with XXXX XXXX. My request for credit was declined on XX/XX/XXXX. The reason was vague stating 3 possible reasons ( Attachment 1 ). Not having specifics, I assumed it was because it was my first credit card. 

Subsequently I applied for a XXXX card which was denied. Concerned and perplexed, I contacted XXXX. The XXXX agent informed me that my request for credit was denied due to a mismatched social security number as reported by the credit bureaus ( Equifax and XXXX ). The XXXX Agent verified the social security number on my application, which was correct, and advised me to follow-up with the Credit Bureaus ( Equifax and XXXX ). 

I contacted Equifax and XXXX  via telephone. Other than confirming my social security number did not match their records, Equifax and XXXX were unable to provide me with any information or assistance since they were not able to verify my identity. I was also unable to access my credit file online. They suggested I send a letter with a copy of my social security card and bank statement. On XX/XX/XXXX, I sent a letter with a copy of my social security card and bank statement Equifax and XXXX  advising them of the issue and requesting that my credit file be corrected accordingly ( Attachments 2 & 3 ).

The responses I received were somewhat confusing, appeared to be a printout of my credit report. I was unable to confirm with certainty that the social security number was corrected since only the last 4 digits of my social security number were visible. Therefore, I was not able to verify my social security number was in fact corrected. I again contacted the credit bureaus to confirm the change was made. 

Assured that my credit file was corrected, I then reapplied for a credit card with XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from XXXX denying my request for credit based on too many hard inquiries in a 3 month period ( Attachment 4 ). 

XX/XX/XXXX : I contacted Equifax via telephone, reviewed the situation with the agent and asked to dispute the hard inquiries since the inquiries were made to a mismatched file. The representative stated I was unable to dispute hard inquiries. The only thing I could do, is call XXXX and ask them to remove it. I also asked the agent for the investigative findings and specific actions taken in response to my letter XX/XX/XXXX. The agent stated they do not have to provide me with the findings. I did contact XXXX as suggested by the Equifax Representative. The XXXX agent informed me that from their point of view, the credit inquiries were valid based on my request for credit. Since it was the credit bureau who had the misinformation, only they can remove the hard inquiries. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I again called Equifax regarding the hard inquiries. The representative requested I submit a written request to the Dispute Department along with a copy of my license and social security card. A fax with the requested information was sent to Equifax XX/XX/XXXX ( Attachment 5 ). 

XX/XX/XXXX : Received letter from Equifax ( Attachment 6 ) : Results of investigation and findings very unclear and did not address my concerns. 

On XX/XX/XXXX : Contacted Equifax via telephone. The representative recommended I send a fax with my license and social security card - which was faxed on XX/XX/XXXX ( Attachment 7 ). 

XX/XX/XXXX : Response from Equifax received ( Attachment 8 ). It appears the inquiries were not removed. The response unclear and, again, does not address my questions/concerns.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation