Consumer complaint received 2021-04-27
Company: Atlanticus Services Corporation
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: Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize

Complaint:
I went to XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX to purchase furniture for my home. I was met by the sales associate XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) who showed me furniture. I decided to pay cash for the items {$570.00}. As the sales associate XXXX was completing my transaction, I viewed more item. Next, I did not leave the store but looked at additional items in the " as is '' section. I was told by the sales associate since it was my first time in the store, I have the option of financing additional furniture. He said he would do a credit application for me on XX/XX/XXXX on the store computer as I sat in a chair beside him he asked me questions about my finance and pertinent information like my social etc. I was told by him that I was approved by Fortiva XXXX XXXX ( Merchant ID : XXXX ) for a line of credit in the amount of XXXX. He said that was pretty good for a new customer and my credit must be good. We then walked around the store and I picked out other items. I asked for a copy of the credit application and never received a copy due to them not being able to print it out. I did received a printout of the transaction summary for Fortiva XXXX XXXX and was advised by the sales associate that I had 6 months to pay the account before interest would be charged and I will be mailed a bill from Fortiva once payment was due. I didn't receive anything in the mail in regards to this transaction and requested the information from XXXX XXXX XXXX and Fortiva who said the agreement wasn't processed yet and I would receive correspondence in the mail when it was time to pay the bill. Thereafter, In XXXX I review my credit and an inquiry from Fortiva/XXXX  was on my report as of XX/XX/XXXX and I spoke to Fortiva representative XXXX ( Rep IDXXXX ) on XX/XX/XXXX who said they did not do a credit inquiry or application for me and furthermore she never heard of Fortiva/XXXX, they are Fortiva XXXX XXXX XXXX I have been the victim of identity theft in the past and apart of a XXXX Data Breach settlement ( claim XXXX dated XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX assured me it wasn't them and I disputed the inquiry with XXXX. She forwarded my call to the fraud department and I spoke to a representative working from home named XXXX ( Rep IDXXXX ) and supervisor XXXX ( Rep ID XXXX ) who advised me that they didn't see a recent credit inquiry for XX/XX/XXXX and no department has a active credit application with my social security number and I may want to check with XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Therefore, my dispute was validated with Fortiva XXXX XXXX. I continued to do an investigation and went to XXXX XXXX XXXX and asked the manager XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) if he had a recent credit application for me and he said " No and I never heard of a new credit application five months after a transaction that happen in XXXX of XXXX. I will investigate why this happen and make sure it doesn't happen again and I apologize for the inconvenience and credit issues this caused you and I will be making his staff aware of this issue you brought to my attention. '' I asked did he have a copy of the original credit application and he said " it was shredded ''. I asked if he was sure my information was not on file, he said " No and I suggest you contact Fortiva because it must have come from them ''. I said I did and they said " maybe it was someone in the store ''. Therefore, this led me to believe some fraudulent activity is going on with this Financing company or XXXX XXXX XXXX. I want Fortiva/XXXX  remove from my credit report immediately due to the date reading unknown and numerous people from Fortiva XXXX XXXX stating that they do not have a record of this transaction, do not know who Fortiva/XXXX is or a recent credit application for XX/XX/XXXX.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation