Consumer complaint received 2025-06-17 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:
I am filing this complaint because my Equifax credit report contains numerous unauthorized hard inquiries that I did not initiate, authorize, or approve. These inquiries have significantly harmed my credit score and reflect activity that occurred without my knowledge or consent. 

In the fall and winter of XXXX, I began exploring vehicle financing options and visited a local dealership to inquire about rates. I made it clear to the representatives that they were not to run my credit without my written permission. I never signed any credit application nor authorized multiple lenders to access my report. 

Despite this, I discovered that my credit report was accessed multiple times by various companiesmany of which I never contacted directly. Several inquiries occurred on the same day and were repeated by the same institutions, suggesting that my personal information was shared without my consent. This appears to be a textbook case of credit application shotgunninga practice where dealerships send consumer information to numerous lenders without informed approval. 

I submitted a formal dispute to Equifax and requested the removal of these inquiries or evidence of my authorization. However, Equifax did not provide any documentation or relief and continues to report these harmful inquiries. 

Inquiries I am disputing : XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX/XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX XXXX/XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX  XX/XX/XXXX Relevant Legal Violations : These inquiries are in violation of several sections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) : Requires consumer reporting agencies to obtain written instruction from the consumer before furnishing a report. I did not provide such authorization.

FCRA 604 ( f ) : No entity shall access a consumer report without a permissible purpose. These companies had no valid reason to pull my credit.

FCRA 607 ( b ) : Requires consumer reporting agencies to maintain procedures that ensure maximum possible accuracy. Repeated unauthorized inquiries show failure in this responsibility.

FCRA 611 : Gives me the right to dispute any information that is inaccurate or unverifiable. Equifax has failed to verify the legitimacy of these inquiries or to remove them.

What I Want : I respectfully request the CFPB to take action and direct Equifax to : Immediately remove all unauthorized inquiries listed above from my credit report, and Provide written documentation for each inquiry, including signed applications or proof of my authorization.

If Equifax is unable to produce such evidence, the inquiries must be removed in compliance with FCRA 611.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation