Consumer complaint received 2024-03-25
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC. (NY)

In the United States, the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) governs the activities of credit reporting agencies and outlines consumers ' rights regarding their credit reports. However, it's important to note that the FCRA does allow credit reporting agencies to list inquiries on credit reports, but it also imposes certain regulations on how inquiries are reported and how they can affect an individual 's credit score. 

I am submitting this complaint for the third time to XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax.. Please remove these unauthorized inquiries from my credit reports immediately. 

While the FCRA allows credit reporting agencies to list inquiries on credit reports, it also mandates that consumers have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information on their credit reports, including inquiries. 

These inquiries were made without my consent! 
The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), which is codified in Title 15 of the United States Code ( 15 U.S.C. 1681-1681x ), governs the activities of credit reporting agencies and outlines consumers ' rights regarding their credit reports. While the FCRA does not explicitly state that listing inquiries on a consumer credit report without authorization is against the law, it does impose regulations on how inquiries are reported and how consumer consent is obtained. 

Under the FCRA, credit reporting agencies are required to provide accurate and complete information in credit reports, including inquiries made by creditors or lenders regarding an individual 's credit history. However, the FCRA also mandates that consumer reporting agencies must have permissible purpose to furnish a consumer report. Permissible purposes include, but are not limited to, the extension of credit, review of an existing account, employment purposes, and insurance underwriting. 

Regarding inquiries specifically, the FCRA requires that consumer reporting agencies must have permissible purpose to provide a consumer report that includes inquiries. This means that creditors or lenders must have a valid reason, such as a consumer 's application for credit, to request a consumer 's credit report and generate an inquiry. Unauthorized inquiries, or inquiries made without a permissible purpose, may be considered a violation of the FCRA. 

Additionally, the FCRA mandates that consumers must provide consent for inquiries in certain situations, such as when applying for credit. Creditors and lenders typically obtain consumer consent before accessing their credit reports for these purposes. 

In terms of regulations, the Code of Federal Regulations ( CFR ) contains rules issued by the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and other federal agencies implementing various provisions of the FCRA. Specifically, regulations related to inquiries on credit reports can be found in Title 16 of the CFR, Part 600 ( 16 CFR Part 600 ), which provides detailed guidance on the FCRA 's implementation. 

It's important to note that while the FCRA and its implementing regulations govern how inquiries are reported and the circumstances under which they can be listed on a consumer 's credit report, they do not explicitly state that listing inquiries without authorization is against the law. However, unauthorized inquiries may still be considered a violation of the FCRA if they are made without a permissible purpose or without consumer consent.