Consumer complaint received 2023-06-24
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: CA
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:
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of utmost concern regarding fraudulent hard inquiries on my Equifax credit report. I recently obtained a copy of my credit report and discovered XXXX hard inquiries, namely XXXX dated XX/XX/2023, and XXXX dated XX/XX/2023, which are completely unfamiliar to me. I am a victim of identity theft, and I kindly request your assistance in deleting these fraudulent inquiries from my credit report immediately. 

The fraudulent nature of these inquiries can be proven by the fact that I have never engaged in any business or financial transactions with XXXX or any affiliated entities. I have meticulously reviewed my financial records, including bank statements, credit card statements, and loan agreements, and have found no evidence of any dealings with XXXX. Furthermore, I have never applied for credit or authorized any third party to make inquiries on my behalf during the mentioned periods. 

I understand that monitoring one 's credit report regularly is essential to identify and address any suspicious activities promptly. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to access or review my credit report from XXXX to XXXX, precisely the period during which these fraudulent inquiries occurred.This unfortunate situation left me unaware of the unauthorized access to my credit information until recently. 

As a responsible consumer, I am fully aware of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), which grants me the right to dispute inaccurate or fraudulent information on my credit report. The FCRA also requires credit reporting agencies to investigate disputed items within XXXX days of receiving a written dispute and remove any information found to be incorrect or unverifiable. Additionally, the Identity Theft Red Flags Rule mandates credit reporting agencies to take appropriate measures to prevent and mitigate identity theft incidents promptly. 

Considering the fraudulent nature of these hard inquiries and the potential damage they can inflict on my creditworthiness, I respectfully request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau exercises its authority to intervene in this matter and ensure the removal of the aforementioned fraudulent hard inquiries from my Equifax credit report without delay. 

Furthermore, I have filed a formal dispute with Equifax in accordance with their established procedures, but I believe the involvement of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will expedite the resolution of this matter. 

I kindly request that you keep me informed of any progress made on this issue and provide me with written confirmation once the fraudulent hard inquiries have been successfully removed from my Equifax credit report. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information or documentation to support my claim. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I am hopeful that with your assistance, the resolution of this fraudulent activity will be swift and satisfactory. I appreciate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 's commitment to consumer protection and look forward to a positive outcome. 

My SSN : XXXX Yours sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation