Consumer complaint received 2025-11-30 00:00:00
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.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Dispute of Unauthorized Hard Inquiries FCRA 1681b ( f ) Violations/ Identity Theft Blocking Under FCRA 605B To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to dispute multiple unauthorized hard inquiries that have appeared on my consumer credit reports. I did not apply for credit, authorize, or permit any of the companies listed below to obtain my consumer report. These pulls were made without my knowledge or consent and therefore violate FCRA 1681b ( f ) regarding permissible purpose.

This letter serves as formal notice of identity theft under FCRA 605B ( 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ), requiring you to block and delete fraudulent or unauthorized information within four business days. 

Unauthorized Hard Inquiries ( No Consent Given ) The following inquiries are unauthorized and must be removed : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( Date on file ) XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX unrecognized and unauthorized ) I did not apply for credit with any of these entities, nor did I authorize them to obtain my credit report. 

Legal Basis for This Dispute I am invoking the following federal laws and consumer protections : FCRA 1681b ( f ) A consumer report can not be furnished without a permissible purpose.

FCRA 605B / 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 The bureaus must block fraudulent items within four business days once notified of identity theft. 

FCRA 1681i Requires a reasonable reinvestigation.

FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 7 ) Bureau must provide the method of verification.

FCRA 1681e ( b ) Bureau must maintain maximum possible accuracy.

FCRA 1681n & 1681o Liability for willful and negligent noncompliance.

FCRA 1681h ( e ) Liability for defamation, invasion of privacy, and negligence.

UCC 1-308 Reservation of rights ; no consent granted.

FDCPA 809 ( b ) Debt-related inquiries require verification. 

Demand for Manual Investigation You are required under FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) to conduct a full manual and independent investigation. The use of automated systems such as E-OSCAR does not meet statutory requirements. 

You must produce : Documentation proving each furnisher had a permissible purpose. 

Any signed application or authorization allegedly provided by me. 

The complete method of verification under 1681i ( a ) ( 7 ), including : who verified the information the specific documents reviewed how the verification was conducted Evidence that each entity complied with FCRA 1681b prior to accessing my file. 

If the furnisher can not provide a signed authorization, the inquiry must be deleted under 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ( A ). 
Liability Notice Failure to remove these unauthorized inquiries places your agency in violation of : FCRA 1681b FCRA 1681i FCRA 1681n FCRA 1681o FCRA 1681h ( e ) If these inquiries are not deleted, I will escalate through CFPB, the Texas Attorney General, the FTC, and civil action as necessary. 

I reserve all rights under UCC 1-308. 

Multiple companies accessed my credit report without my knowledge, authorization, or consent. I did not apply for credit with any of the companies listed below, and I did not grant them permissible purpose under FCRA 1681b ( f ) to obtain my consumer report. 

The unauthorized inquiries include : XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX ( XXXX ) XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX ( inquiry shown on report ) I did not authorize any of these inquiries, did not initiate applications with these companies, and did not provide consent for my credit report to be accessed. These inquiries were made without permissible purpose, which is a violation of FCRA 1681b ( f ).

Under FCRA 605B / 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, when unauthorized access or identity theft occurs, the credit bureaus are required to block and delete disputed information within four business days. 

I requested the credit bureaus to conduct a manual, independent reinvestigation as required by FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) and asked them to provide the method of verification under 1681i ( a ) ( 7 ). I have not received any proof of authorization, nor have I been provided with signed applications or documentation showing a valid permissible purpose. 

These unauthorized inquiries are harming my credit profile and are a violation of my privacy rights under federal law. I am requesting CFPB assistance to have these inquiries removed and to ensure compliance with the FCRA.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief