Consumer complaint received 2017-03-23
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: AL
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of my credit report
Sub-issue: Report improperly shared by CRC

Complaint:
I have been working on cleaning up my credit reports with Equifax, XXXX and XXXX since XX/XX/XXXX, when I refinanced a VA Mortgage. At the time I had not checked my Credit Report in years. At the time, I found out that I had been a victim of Identity Theft. The XXXX Credit Bureaus had me shown to have XXXX collection accounts which I knew could not be correct. The Credit Bureaus treated me with disrespect and it took me two months through intensive research, and I eliminated it down to XXXX, which were duplication 's and all Collection Companies selling Out of Statute Debts.changing dates and changing account numbers. The Mortgage Company, XXXX, withheld settlement amounts from my proceeds of about {$5000.00} to pay Out of Statute debts, which was to take care of and remove but they did not. Identity Theft was proven and I have finally got them removed. 
I now only have XXXX negative accounts and official letters have been sent by Certified Mail to clear those up. 
I began shopping for an automobile which we needed and I began in XX/XX/XXXX browsing the internet of dealerships and I only signed a credit application at XXXX dealerships and then upon checking my Credit Reports I had multiple hard inquiry pulls. I requested a Fraud Alert to be put on my Equifax Credit Report and by law they were to report it to XXXX and XXXX. I got a letter from Equifax on XX/XX/XXXX, stating that it was in place and reported to XXXX and XXXX. Well both said it was not reported to them. 
Well Equifax continued to allow car dealers without my consent or signature or verbal authority to pull hard inquiries. XXXX and XXXX has as well. Of course I was turned down for primarily the number of hard inquiries. I eventually found someone who knew the impact of auto dealerships using the term ''shotgunning '' customers Credit Reports, thus now I have XXXX or XXXX hard inquires. I have called and filed online disputes at least three times to no avail. The Credit Bureaus pass you from agent to agent and then you are eventually cut off. They all treat you rudely or you get someone you ca n't understand. 
The Mortgage companies on the hard inquires are just ''phishing '' tactics. 

Please help me to get help to get my credit life back and avoid the worry and embarrassment. I do not anticipate going out for credit unless i have a need. But these tactics causes good people like me to do without or pay higher interest rates. 
i am going to prepare a separate list of the companies involved and ask that they be investigated, fined and whatever is necessary for them to follow the law and Credit Reporting Agencies to follow the rules of laws to protect consumers rights. 
I think 15 days should be reasonable and if not resolved I will start the process of suing these companies. Now lets see if any action is taken. If they can produce my signature of authorizing inquiries I will exclude them from the list, but I only signed XXXX applications assuring me they could get financing with XXXX, XXXX and XXXX even though I tol them they coud not and sure I was tuurned down Thank you. 
XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation