Consumer complaint received 2019-11-23
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OH
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 have been hit with identity theft from the credit card breach that occurred at XXXX  recently, so I keep a close eye on my credit report. On XX/XX/XXXX, I noticed several hard credit check inquiries on my credit bureau the I have no knowledge of through Equifax. Those inquiries are : 1. XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. It has come to my attention that a salesman at XXXX XXXX XXXX ran my credit without me being present, giving oral or written permission, or even having knowledge of the credit check when my husband was there shopping for a vehicle by himself. 
2. XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. It has come to my attention that a salesman at XXXX XXXX XXXX ran my credit without me being present, giving oral or written permission, or even having knowledge of the credit check when my husband was there shopping for a vehicle by himself. 
3. XXXX  XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. It has come to my attention that a salesman at XXXX XXXX XXXX ran my credit without me being present, giving oral or written permission, or even having knowledge of the credit check when my husband was there shopping for a vehicle by himself. 
4. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. It has come to my attention that a salesman at XXXX XXXX XXXX ran my credit without me being present, giving oral or written permission, or even having knowledge of the credit check when my husband was there shopping for a vehicle by himself. 
5. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. It has come to my attention that a salesman at XXXX XXXX XXXX ran my credit without me being present, giving oral or written permission, or even having knowledge of the credit check when my husband was there shopping for a vehicle by himself. 
6. XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company during this time, nor did I request a credit check through them. 
7. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company, nor did I request a credit check through them. 
8. XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not give this company permission to do a credit inquiry on this date, authorization was only given to XXXX XXXX XXXX to pull my credit. 
9. XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not give this company permission to do a credit inquiry on this date, authorization was only given to XXXX XXXX XXXX to pull my credit. 
10. XXXX XXXX XXXX, Credit Check # 1, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not give this company permission to do a credit inquiry on this date, authorization was only given to XXXX XXXX XXXX to pull my credit. 
11. XXXX XXXX XXXX, Credit Check # 2, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not give this company permission to do a credit inquiry on this date, authorization was only given to XXXX XXXX XXXX to pull my credit. 
12. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company, nor did I request a credit check through them. 
13. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company, nor did I request a credit check through them. 
14. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not give this company permission to do a credit inquiry on this date, authorization was only given to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX to pull my credit. 
15. XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not give this company permission to do a credit inquiry on this date, authorization was only given to XXXX XXXX XXXX Imports to pull my credit I sent Equifax a letter on that same day to dispute these hard inquiries on XX/XX/XXXX through certified mail with a signature return receipt ( attached to this complaint ). 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from Equifax stating that they do not investigate hard credit inquiries, and all of them remain on my credit report ( attached ). Then on XX/XX/XXXX, I sent Equifax another letter through certified mail with a signature return receipt ( attached ) reminding them of their responsibility to research and verify incorrect information in accordance with the FCRA, and to provide verification or remove these inquiries from my credit report. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, Equifax sent me a letter ( attached ) stating again that they do not investigate hard credit inquiries, and all of them remain on my credit report. They did not provide any proof of how they verified these illegal inquiries listed on my credit report. Then, on XX/XX/XXXX, I sent Equifax a final letter ( also attached ) via certified mail with a signature return receipt. This letter was to give them notice that they are violating 15 USC 41, 1681i ( a ) ( 2 ) ( B ), and that they were to provide me with their method of verification of these hard credit check inquiries or delete these items from my credit report. I also informed Equifax in my letter that I intended to file a complaint if they did not comply with their requirements in reporting accurate information on my credit report. 

So finally, on XX/XX/XXXX, Equifax sent me another letter stating that will not verify the information on my credit report, in violation of the FCRA and federal law.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation