Consumer complaint received 2017-03-30
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: GA
Product: Credit reporting
Issue: Unable to get credit report/credit score
Sub-issue: Problem getting report or credit score

Complaint:
I am not sure if this is the right category for my complaint. I have recently contacted all XXXX credit bureaus to inquire about my credit score decreasing by XXXX points within a 24 hour period. After speaking to a representative at both XXXX XXXX and XXXX about the issue they assured me the credit bureaus would have to explain what happened. So far none of the XXXX have been able to explain the decline. I pay Equifax {$6.00} a month to lock my credit report and notify me of any changes to my report. No one can access my report without my knowledge or permission. XXXX XXXX, a creditor of mine, arbitrarily, increased my credit limit from {$350.00} to {$600.00}. I did not request the increase and XXXX did not view my credit report to make their decision to increase my limit. My credit score went from XXXX down to XXXX on XXXX and also dropped significantly down to XXXX on Equifax and XXXX on XXXX. Each agency has tried to " speculate '' about what could have " possibly '' happened and none of the scenarios presented are applicable to me. The only change to my credit in a XXXX hour timeframe was the {$250.00} increase which caused my credit utilization to decline significantly. The representative at Equifax indicated I need to go out and use credit. I do not want to keep increasing my debt in order to raise my score. I am currently trying to obtain a mortgage and have been diligently working on my credit score over the last several months raising it up from the low XXXX to almost XXXX. After an unsolicited {$250.00} increase to a card with a {$93.00} balance my score dropped like a rock. A representative at XXXX told me I need to seek a credit expert. I do not need a credit expert. I need to know why decreasing my utilization had an adverse effect and not a positive one as it should have. She also said I could close the account but that too may negatively impact my score. There is something very dishonest about this and because the credit bureaus attempt to say this process is done by some random calculation of the information is deceptive. Computer programs can be fixed for any given result. This is not random and now " XXXX XXXX '' is affiliated with XXXX major credit reporting agencies constantly making " recommendations '' to apply for additional credit and the credit bureaus are constantly pushing credit monitoring products for profit. I am not in control of my credit, the credit bureaus are controlling my life and taking away my choices. This is a scam to benefit the credit bureaus, credit card companies and not consumers. I am being victimized, manipulated and exploited because I need to utilize the credit reporting system in order to acquire the basic necessities of life. I am not sure if this is a matter for this agency, for the legislature or if I should contact an attorney but I am covering all bases. Average hard working people need regulations for this type of greed, abuse and victimization.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation