Consumer complaint received 2016-02-10
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: IN
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of my credit report
Sub-issue: Report improperly shared by CRC

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX, 2016 I initiated an online dispute regarding the inaccurate reporting of inquiries and previous addresses on my Equifax file. Prior to that, I sent in a letter disputing inquiry information contained on my Equifax Credit Report. I received a notification back when the investigation was completed ( in one day - hardly a thorough investigation ), with my addresses getting deleted but contained a canned response regarding Equifax 's policy on inquiries. 
In their explanation they stated inquiries are factual record of file access. Are other accounts listed on one 's report considered factual reporting of account usage? I would assume and hope so. My Equifax report has contained both adverse and positive account ratings from accounts that were not mine over the years. Could it not be assumed that inquiries can be attributed to one 's credit report belonging to an account that is not their account in the first place? I would think so. If they can misplace and misreport accounts, I believe you could do the same with inquiries. 
Let me remind you that as a Credit Reporting Agency, Equifax is bounded in the terms set forth in the FCRA. Also let me remind you that under section 611 of the FCRA that you are required to investigate the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer 's file, not just items that Equifax deems fit to investigate. This includes Names, Addresses, Account Numbers, Account Balances, and INQUIRIES. Being that inquiries can have an effect on the FICO statistical model and XXXX score, you are even more obligated to investigate inquiries. Inquiries pose adverse results in consumer scoring by lower scores and extension of credit by grantors who sometimes deem too many inquiries within a certain amount of hypothetical time 'adverse ' and as a reason for denial. 
Again let me remind you 611 of the FCRA : 1 ) 611. Procedure in case of disputed accuracy [ 15 U.S.C. 1681i ] ( a ) Reinvestigations of disputed information. 
( 1 ) Reinvestigation required. 
( A ) In general. If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer 's file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumer and the consumer notifies the agency directly of such dispute, the agency shall reinvestigate free of charge and record the current status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph ( 5 ), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer. 
If I have reason to believe that an inquiry was unauthorized I contact the credit-reporting agency, not the creditor. It is not up to me to investigate items on my credit report. Equifax is responsible by choice of being in business as a Credit Reporting Agency to maintain complete and accurate credit files on consumers for its subscribers. 
Let me also make Equifax aware that if they are claiming " inquiries are factual record of file access '' then they have not only set up the subscribers for lawsuits for a {$1000.00} per non-permissible inquiry but also enable a suit to filed against Equifax employees for {$5000.00} and/or imprisonment for per non-permissible inquiry. ( 620. Unauthorized disclosures by officers or employees [ 15 U.S.C. 1681r ] Any officer or employee of a consumer reporting agency who knowingly and willfully provides information concerning an individual from the agency 's files to a person not authorized to receive that information shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both. ) I suggest Equifax takes this formal complaint of negligent investigative practices seriously.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation