Consumer complaint received 2015-07-29
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AR
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of my credit report
Sub-issue: Report improperly shared by CRC

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, Equifax provided my credit file information to XXXX XXXX XXXX without my knowledge and/or authorization. I have filed a dispute and requested an investigation with Equifax. Equifax refuses to be proactive in assisting me in having XXXX XXXX XXXX fraudulent inquiry from my credit file. Per the Fair Credit Reporting Act, " A consumer reporting agency may provide information about you only to people with a valid need ''. I would like to know who, at Equifax, determined that XXXX XXXX XXXX ' request consisted of a valid need. It was not a valid need. It was not an authorized request. I have never contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX to inquire or request their services. 

Equifax stated that they will only remove the fraudulent inquiry if they receive a request from XXXX XXXX XXXX to remove the request. Considering that this is a case of identity theft, Equifax 's process is totally inadequate! I am the victim. XXXX XXXX XXXX committed the fraud. What sense does it make for Equifax to expect the company that committed the fraud to request the removal? 

Equifax has stated that I have to work with XXXX XXXX XXXX in order to have the fraudulent inquiry removed. Equifax has even refused to accept the letter that I received from XXXX XXXX XXXX that states that they are unable to determine why they requested my credit file. In this letter XXXX XXXX XXXX also stated that they run the credit reports of any customers or potential customer who simply inquires about their services. I do believe that this is illegal. An inquiry about services is not an approval/authorization to run a credit check. 

I have never contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX to inquire about their services. I have never been a customer of XXXX XXXX XXXX. The first conversation that I had with XXXX XXXX XXXX took place on XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX stated that the only way that they will submit a request to Equifax to have their fraudulent inquiry removed is if I provide them with the last XXXX digits of my social security number. That is totally inappropriate. Why I am expected to now willingly provide XXXX XXXX XXXX with the last digits of my social security number when this is the company that committed the fraud against me? I offered her the Equifax case number that I have and she refused that. 

I spoke with an Equifax representative who sent an electronic file, excluding my social security number, to XXXX XXXX XXXX so they could use that to request the removal. When I informed XXXX XXXX of the file she stated that she does not have access to that system and asked that I provide that information to her. I did email the information to her. Her comment was that she can not make any guarantees!! 

Equifax 's process is totally inadequate for victims of identity theft. They are refusing to accept their responsibility in releasing my information without having proper authorization. It makes no sense for Equifax to expect the company that committed the fraud to request the removal!! 

I want Equifax to remove the fraudulent inquiry and block XXXX XXXX XXXX from every posting anything to my credit file related to the fraudulent account that XXXX XXXX XXXX established. XXXX XXXX XXXX established a fraudulent account and mailed past due billings to my address. XXXX XXXX XXXX knows that they have never sent or installed any of their equipment at my address. I want the fraudulent account resolved and no further negative actions taken against me. 

Equifax is XXXX of the XXXX credit reporting agencies that is charged with protecting my credit information. Equifax has failed to protect my credit information. And now, they are refusing to resolve the problem.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation