Consumer complaint received 2018-06-19
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report
Sub-issue: Reporting company used your report improperly

Complaint:
I would like to file a formal complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau against XXXX XXXX XXXX and lenders for engaging in deceptive business practices, racial profiling, enabling and assisting their preferred lenders to charge higher interest rates to minority consumers with excellent credit. 

I am in receipt of my Equifax, XXXX, XXXX XXXX credit reports dated XX/XX/XXXX, I noticed the following credit inquires on my report : ( See attachment ) The ( 5 ) five following unauthorized hard inquires which impacted/lowered my credit scores were placed on my credit reports by XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, MD XXXX, ( XXXX ) XXXX, without my knowledge or consent : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  On XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I went to this dealership to look at and possibly purchase an advertised XXXX XXXX . Although I had arranged for my own financing I was told in order to discuss and agree upon pricing I had to complete an application, I could not negotiate a deal without first completing XXXX application. 

I specifically and repeatedly told the salesperson I did not want to run credit reports, place any unnecessary hard inquires on my reports which would had an immediately impact on my credit scores or apply for any credit with their lenders, just wanted to negotiate and agree upon pricing on a vehicle. 
We could not reach an agreement on pricing and by the time I returned to my residence I received several notifications from credit protection companies someone had accessed credit reports/files without my consent or knowledge. 

XXXX first deceptive business practices was their advertised price of the car which included rebates with full knowledge 95 % of the consumers would not qualify for said rebates therefore could never obtain said car for their advised pricing. 

XXXX second deceptive business practices demanding the consumers complete lending applications just to obtain actual selling price of their vehicles even if consumers had arranged their own lending/financing. 

XXXX refused to disclose the actual sale price of their vehicles unless consumers obtained financing though their preferred lenders and complete application. 

I immediately reached out to XXXX XXXX and inquired who authorized the credit checks, why applications were sent to several different lenders without the consumers consent with full knowledge of immediate impact on consumers credit scores without an commitment or authorization for actual purchase. 

XXXX third deceptive business practices was refusing to provide the consumers with copies of applications, companys response or acceptance of said loan showing finance rates charged, instead roll this cost into the pricing of the vehicle and never disclosed the actual finance rates. 

After I filed several complaints I obtained copies of financing agreements. Although I had excellent credit with no late, missed payments or negative accounts all of their lenders wanted to charge up to 8 % percent finance rates when I qualified and obtained 3 % percent rate and was offer 0 % down 0 % finance charge on a new vehicle by other lenders. 

XXXX fourth deceptive business practices steering consumers to preferred lenders with full knowledge minoritys consumers with excellent credit would be charged a higher finance charge/rate and attempted to lock consumers into lenders higher rates by placing multiply inquires on consumer reports with full knowledge of the impact on credit scores. 

XXXX fifth deceptive business practices denying consumers the right to accept or decline lenders offers/finance rates prior to submitting applications to additional lenders and refusing to disclose simultaneous application would cause multiple inquires immediately lowering the consumer credit without an actual purchase. 

I reached out several times to owners, management and lawyers representing XXXX XXXX all promised to contact credit bureaus, remove all hard inquires. 

To date this has not happen impacting my credit scores and blocking my ability to obtain financing at lower rates. 

See attached email dated XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX letter dated XX/XX/XXXX. 
I am requesting with the assistance of XXXX XXXX the following Lenders immediately contact all credit reporting agencies and remove the below listed inquires from my report. 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX Please be advised some will argue hard inquires can not be removed from consumers credit reports which is inaccurate. The Federal Government ruled inquires are considered inaccurate information if not authorized, therefore can be removed upon directive from parties who placed said inquire. 

I also asking all lenders send request to credit reporting agencies via certified mail and return receipts showing verification letters were actually sent and received since this action was promised almost a year ago. 

Unless the lenders can prove an request was sent, received and acknowledged by credit reporting agencies and their removal requests were denied or refused I am holding all parties liable for blocking financial transactions, ability of the consumer obtaining lower finance rates. 

I am also seeking damages in the amount of {$2000.00}, for each unauthorized inquire from all parties involved in this deceptive business practice and blatant violation of the FCRA. 

Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation with this matter. I look forward from hearing from your office. Please let me know if you are in need of any additional information to assist processing this complaint. 

Kind regards, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MD XXXX Email : XXXX Phone : ( XXXX ) XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation