Consumer complaint received 2025-11-18 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: DE

Complaint narrative:
Complainant : XXXX XXXX Previous CFPB Complaint : XXXX Original Complaint : XXXX Bureau : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Date : XX/XX/year> Subject : Experians Continued Willful Non-Compliance Forced Identity Theft Procedures for a Permissible Purpose Dispute This complaint is being submitted because Experian has once again failed to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) regarding my dispute of unauthorized inquiries and their failure to provide documentation of permissible purpose under 15 U.S.C. 1681b. 

My previous complaints clearly stated that : I did NOT allege identity theft. 

My dispute was based on Experians failure to provide documentation proving that any of the listed companies had a permissible purpose to access my credit file. 

I requested written evidence of consumer-initiated applications or written authorization for each inquiry. 

Experian failed to supply proof, which is required under FCRA 1681i during a reinvestigation. 

Instead of complying with federal requirements, Experian responded on XX/XX/year> with a completely unrelated demand : They insisted that I file a formal identity theft report in order to have inquiries removed. 

This is legally improper. 

1. Experian Is Attempting to Force an Identity Theft Procedure That Does Not Apply Experians response is a stall tactic and a misrepresentation of the FCRA.

The law is clear : FCRA 1681b ( a ) ( 2 ) A consumer reporting agency can not furnish a report unless the consumer has given written instructions.

FCRA 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ( A ) A report can only be furnished in connection with a credit transaction initiated by the consumer.

FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) When a consumer disputes information, the CRA must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and provide evidence that the information is accurate.

None of these statutes require an identity theft report because this is not an identity theft dispute.

Experian is wrongfully attempting to reclassify a permissible purpose dispute into an identity theft procedure under FCRA 1681c-2, which is not applicable in this situation.

This is a violation of : FCRA 1681i ( a ) failure to reinvestigate FCRA 1681e ( b ) failure to maintain maximum possible accuracy FCRA 1681b failure to provide proof of permissible purpose 2. Experians Response Is a Willful Violation Experian never produced : Written authorization Signed credit applications Evidence that I initiated any transaction Any form of documentation supporting permissible purpose Instead, they provided a boilerplate reply demanding : Police report Identity theft affidavit Government-issued ID Utility bills Social Security number Past addresses This is not only unnecessary it is abusive and outside the scope of my dispute. 

XXXX. Government Shutdown Prevents Identity Theft Filing but the FCRA Does Not Require It. 

Experians demands are impossible to fulfill due to the ongoing government shutdown, which directly impacts multiple agencies capable of issuing identity theft reports. 

Regardless, the FCRA does not allow Experian to condition a permissible purpose dispute on an identity theft report, shutdown or not. 

Experians demand is unlawful, creates undue burden, and is intentionally obstructive. 

4. I Am Requesting CFPB Enforcement Action I am asking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to require Experian to : ( 1 ) Produce documentation of permissible purpose for every disputed inquiry ( 2 ) Remove all inquiries for which they can not produce documentation ( 3 ) Cease forcing identity theft procedures for disputes that do not involve identity theft ( 4 ) Be held accountable for willful non-compliance under : FCRA 1681n ( civil liability for willful violations ) FCRA 1681o ( civil liability for negligent violations ) Experian continues to ignore the law, misstate the law, and use delay tactics instead of performing a lawful reinvestigation. 

Requested Resolution Immediate deletion of all unauthorized inquiries Written confirmation of correction A copy of my updated consumer file Proof of permissible purpose for any inquiry they intend to keep Enforcement action requiring Experian to comply with FCRA 1681b and 1681i Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation