Consumer complaint received 2024-06-04
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Credit inquiries on your report that you don't recognize
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (TX)

In XXXX, I visited XXXX XXXX in XXXX with my brother, XXXX XXXX, who was interested in purchasing a vehicle. He found a XXXX  XXXX XXXX that he wanted to buy. We went in with a preapproval letter from XXXX, indicating that i was approved for {$13000.00}. Since the vehicle was priced at {$14000.00}, he decided to make a down payment of {$3500.00}. During our visit, he test drove the vehicle and had it inspected by a mechanic. We noted that the window tint was too dark, and the dealership assured us that cosmetic issues would be fixed during their detailing process. Initially, the dealership presented a price agreement that included an increased price of the vehicle at almost {$3000.00} and a reconditioning fee of {$2900.00} and then another at a XXXX more and We had mentioned the price of the vehicle was too inaccurate. We objected to these charges. The dealership claimed the reconditioning fee covered a two-year or XXXX warranty and included two free oil changes. After several negotiations, they finally presented the wrong car price of {$14000.00}, which was still a dollar off on the paperwork. We eventually agreed on a {$500.00} reconditioning fee, which my brother signed. The dealership requested my brother 's pay stub to run his credit through XXXX and only XXXX like we had talked about. I provided my pay stub and Social Security number just like XXXX had mentioned on their approval letter they stated we would need, to proceed for verification. However, instead of processing it solely through XXXX as instructed, they ran my credit through other financing options, inaccurately stating my monthly income as {$1100.00} instead of {$2000.00}. This led to XXXX not approving his loan, and the dealership suggested a cosigner and I mentioned this to my brother and I said yes but to XXXX and only XXXX. Despite our insistence on using XXXX alone, they ran my credit through other financial companies without my consent. One of the managers justified this on XX/XX/XXXX after we had returned by saying they assumed we wanted the same deal XXXX had offered. We told them we might return with a newer pay stub, but they warned that the deal would be void and all documents trashed once we left. So we mentioned and stated, " we didn't want it anymore '' and but they were being uncooperative by telling us to wait a moment and we waited about five minutes and we left after they didn't return. The following morning on XX/XX/XXXX, we received messages indicating multiple unauthorized credit inquiries. XXXX XXXX, a major employee we had dealt with the day prior, informed me of an 11 % approval rate from another lender, which I had not requested. Further complicating matters, we received a " Congratulations '' message about a vehicle I didn't purchase, including a XXXX XXXX. This was a shocking revelation, as I had not signed any documents for a new vehicle. XXXX claimed it was a mistake. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received another message from another employee, XXXX stating we had been approved, despite XXXX 's earlier claim that my documents would be discarded upon leaving. Upon returning to the dealership on XX/XX/XXXX, we spoke with the Lead manager, who admitted that my credit had been run after I had left on XX/XX/XXXX because banks were closed on XXXX XXXX which was the Monday i had originally which i got inquiries on that very same day as well. They placed my information on vehicles I did not purchase and made multiple unauthorized inquiries. The manager insisted they did nothing wrong and that they secured the same deal XXXX offered. However, I reiterated that we only wanted to use XXXX and had not given consent for other inquiries. Despite their claims, they could not provide documentation showing my authorization for these actions. The dealership 's policy requires physical or electronic consent to pull credit, which they failed to produce. And if they did have one, they had committed forgery which under the right of The Texas Forgery Law Penal Code 32.21 gives police the right to arrest them if they believe they forged certain kinds of writings, including money, trademarks, identification or credit cards, with the intent to harm or defraud someone. The situation escalated into a heated argument, with me expressing my frustration over their unauthorized actions and assumptions made with my information that has now cause me, emotional distress and harm on my credit as well. I emphasized that making a credit application requires explicit consent, which i told them to provide but they did not have.