Consumer complaint received 2024-10-09
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc. (FL)

On XX/XX/2024 I went to XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX, Florida, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, to look at potentially purchasing a new vehicle and trading in mine. I was met by XXXX XXXX who was to be my car salesman. His specific title is product XXXX. My husband was present as a witness. I did find the vehicle that I wanted to purchase. But before I did anything including going out paperwork, I told both my car salesman and the sales XXXX who came over to greet me, his name is being XXXX XXXX, that I did not authorize any hard credit inquiries to be pulled by the dealership and I stated this clearly multiple times in front of XXXX XXXX, my car salesman and my husband. XXXX XXXX assured me that a hard credit inquiry would not be pulled by Experian, who he told me is the credit bureau that this particular dealership used. I have XXXX XXXX Credit which is why they did not even consider when the time came that I did buy their car that they would pull any more than just XXXX the bureau meaning Experian. XXXX XXXX multiple times advised me that he would not pull hard credit on me through the dealership and only would have the lender do a hard credit inquiry on me, which I said was fine. But I emphasized multiple times that only the lender can pull a hard credit inquiry on me through Experian. XXXX XXXX again told me in front of my husband and the salesman that not to worry because he would not pull my credit report. I did purchase the vehicle and it was just about time to go to finance when XXXX XXXX handed me a copy of my credit report stating how awesome my XXXX XXXX was. I assumed this credit report given to me was from the lender who was XXXX XXXX XXXX. 

It was not until the next day when I got an email from the credit bureau Experian that my hard credit inquiry was pulled by both the car dealership and the lender. 

I then immediately tried to reach XXXX XXXX at the dealership who was not available on multiple attempts. Therefore, multiple texts were sent to XXXX XXXX my car salesman. Or XXXX of the texts he did respond that he was aware of my stating multiple times at the dealership for XXXX XXXX not to do a hard credit inquiry to Experian because it was totally unauthorized to do so. I filed a formal complaint with XXXX corporate office on XX/XX/2024, XXXX week after my purchase which was XX/XX/2024. The gentleman I spoke with at corporate did not give his name as they said this is not their protocol to do so. He did give me a case number which is XXXX and told me I would receive a phone call back from corporate around XX/XX/XXXX or XXXX after they had a chance to do an investigation with the dealership and decide whether they would remove the hard inquiry pulled by the dealership. They advise they would contact XXXX XXXX regarding this. To date, no one from corporate XXXX has called me back. 

I also called Experian and found a complaint with them. I spoke on XX/XX/2024 to XXXX who refused to give her last name. She said that only the Creditor can remove a hard inquiry per their policy and the policy of the credit bureaus. XXXX however did give me a reference number of the phone call which is XXXX. 

I have a great credit rating with my average score being XXXX when I was handed that credit report. Experian just refused to help me. No one has contacted me back to date. Please know that I have printed the entire text transcript in which I submitted multiple times right after I purchased the car pleading with XXXX XXXX to ask XXXX XXXX to delete the unauthorized hard inquiry credit pull to Experian which to date has not been done. I am happy to submit this text conversation to you. This really upsets me and I think it is a violation of the fcra but I will leave it in your competent hands to help me. The extra hard inquiry by the dealership puts an additional XXXX deduction on my Experian credit report because hard credit inquiries do hurt your credit as it did mine. Thank you for your time and efforts in helping me in advance.