Consumer complaint received 2020-01-06
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: OH
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
I have officially contacted Equifax a total of 4 times regarding unauthorized hard credit check inquiries, and yet they have willfully failed to investigate and delete the unauthorized hard checks from my report. This includes the previous CFPB complaint that was filed below. This is unacceptable, as the FCRA requires Equifax to investigate and remove fraudulent credit activity from my report. 

YOUR COMPLAINT I have been hit with identity theft both from the dark net, and from credit card breaches that occurred at both XXXX and XXXX XXXX, 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 through Equifax. Those inquiries are : 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 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, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company during this time, nor did I request a credit check through them. 8. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company, nor did I request a credit check through them. 9. 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, 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 # 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. 12. 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. 13. 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. 14. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX. I did not contact this company, nor did I request a credit check through them. 15. 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. 16. 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. 

ATTACHMENTS EquifaxInqVerificationMail.pdf ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxInqVerificationReply.pdf ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxInqLegalLetterReply.pdf ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxInqDisputeReply.pdf ( XXXX MB ) EquifaxInquiryVerification.docx ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxInqDisputeMail.pdf ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxInqLegalLetterMail.pdf ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxInquiry.docx ( XXXX KB ) EquifaxLegalLetterInquiry.docx ( XXXX KB ) View full complaint Sent to company STATUS Sent to company on XX/XX/XXXX We've sent your complaint to the company, and we will let you know when they respond. 

Their response should include the steps they took, or will take, to address your complaint. 

Companies generally respond in 15 days. In some cases, the company will let you know their response is in progress and provide a final response in 60 days. 

Company still working STATUS Company response is in progress as of XX/XX/XXXX The company has responded that it is still working on your issue In some cases, companies need more time to respond. You should receive a final response within 60 days from the date we sent your complaint to the company. 

COMPANY 'S INTERIM RESPONSE Dispute : Thank you for submitting your complaint on XX/XX/XXXX through the CFPB Complaint Portal. In your complaint, you indicated there are inaccurate or incomplete items appearing on your Equifax credit report. We initiated an investigation into the items. This process generally requires us to send a request for verification electronically to each of your creditors that reported the information to Equifax, and this can take up to 30 days to complete. Once we receive all of the responses, we will send you a copy of the results and a revised copy of your Equifax credit report. 
Company responded STATUS Company responded on XX/XX/XXXX RESPONSE TYPE Closed with explanation Company 's Response Thank you for submitting your complaint on XX/XX/XXXX through the CFPB Complaint Portal. In your complaint, you indicated there are inaccurate or incomplete items appearing on your Equifax credit report. We initiated an investigation into the items. The results of the investigation have been mailed to you, please allow XXXX business days for delivery. If you have any additional questions or concerns in regards to your Equifax Credit Report, please refer to the mailed revised copy or contact a Customer Service Representative at XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation