Consumer complaint received 2022-08-23
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA
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:
I received a voicemail from XXXX bank XXXX department XX/XX/XXXX stating a credit card taken out in my name and to confirm if its me. I thought it was spam, so I ignored the voicemail. I checked XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. My credit score changed showing XXXX hard inquiries through Equifax. 
XXXX - XXXX Service : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  : XX/XX/XXXX I immediately called XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, and called all credit unions and they told me they set up a freeze and fraud to my accounts. ( Which I looked at Equifax online today XX/XX/XXXX and saw that they never froze my account like they said they would over the phone. ) XXXX and XXXX stopped the credit cards and sent me to the fraud department. XXXX said that I have no account, so I asked for documents to prove, but they were unable to help me. After, I created a police report and tried to dispute on Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX - Confirmation number : XXXX. Equifax sent a letter in the mail shortly after, denying my claim stating that the claims are factual and the inquiries will remain of my record for 2 years. Upon looking online, I realized that their dispute ended on the same day I put the inquiry in. 

When I received Equifax 's the letter in the mail, I first made a new claim for all three credit cards confirmation numbers XXXX XXXX - XXXX - which were responded to in less than 2 hours, and they sent me my credit score statement. They obviously didnt read the claim. After I put in those claims, I immediately called Equifax to clarify the situation, but they said they could not share any details. On page 5 of 6 of the paperwork it states, " State of California - You may request a description of the procedure used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information, including the business name and address of the furnisher of information contacted, and if reasonably available the telephone number. '' So, I asked them if they would send me the information stating their description, and they said that they could not share that information with me. I asked her if I could speak to the supervisor to help me understand why their letter states that I am eligible to see their investigation. The lady told me there are no supervisors available, so I said I would wait. I was on the phone waiting for about an hour before I gave up waiting, knowing she would not come back to the phone. I then called Equifax again to see if I could talk with someone more helpful. The man who answered was kind, but also did not know how to give me the information that Equifax clearly states on their paperwork. He directed me to send all of the paperwork through the mail which included a photocopy of my ID, a 100 word statement explaining the situation, the police report, and the letters in the mail from the banks that were clarifying if these accounts were opened by me, and one stating that there was fraud on my behalf. I sent the paperwork through the mail to Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX, and the paperwork was received through XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX. I am still waiting to hear back. Today, XX/XX/XXXX, reached out to Federal Trade Commission, and they directed me to leave a complaint on this portal.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation