Consumer complaint received 2024-06-29 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: PA

Complaint narrative:
Furnishing Consumer Reports To Persons without a Permissible purpose or Legitimate Business Reason To : Whom it may concern You are in Violation of furnishing my consumer reports to person/s that do not have any permissible purpose or any legitimate business reason to receive those reports which is a clear violation of my right to privacy. 
XXXX On XX/XX/XXXX you furnished my consumer reports to XXXX XXXX without a permissible purpose as per 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ) or knowingly without a legitimate business reason pursuant [ 15 U.S.C 1681b ( a ) 3 ( f ) ( i ).

The Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), [ 15 U.S.C 1681b ( a ) 3 ( f ) ( i )., for unlawfully furnishing my Equifax consumer report on XX/XX/XXXX without my authorization or a permissible purpose under the 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ) Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA } and its guidelines for permissible purpose. 
A person shall not use or obtain a consumer report for any purpose unless ; XXXX. The consumer report is obtained for a purpose for which the consumer report is authorized to be furnished under this section. 
2. The purpose is certified in accordance with section 1681b ( f ). XXXX XXXX. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
I hereby request pursuant rule 1002 the permissible purpose or legitimate business reason certification that authorized the furnish of my consumer report on XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Be advised the advisory opinion of BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION 12 CFR Part 1022 Fair Credit Reporting ; Permissible Purposes for Furnishing, Using, and Obtaining Consumer Reports explains that the permissible purposes listed in FCRA section 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) are consumer specific, and it affirms that a consumer reporting agency may not provide a consumer report to a user under FCRA section 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) unless it has reason to believe that all of the consumer report information it includes pertains to the consumer who is the subject of the users request. The Bureau notes that disclaimers will not cure a failure to have a reason to believe that a user has a permissible purpose for a consumer report provided pursuant to FCRA section 604 ( a ) ( 3 ).

This advisory opinion also reminds consumer report users that FCRA section 604 ( f ) strictly prohibits a person who uses or obtains a consumer report from doing so without a permissible purpose. 
So why was a consumer report furnished to XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX without a permissible purpose or legitimate business reason? 
15 USC 1681b ( c ) Furnishing reports in connection with credit or insurance transactions that are not initiated by consumer ( 3 ) Information regarding inquiries ; Except as provided in section 1681g ( a ) ( 5 ) of this title, a consumer reporting agency shall not furnish to any person a record of inquiries in connection with a credit or insurance transaction that is not initiated by XXXX a consumer. 
I have not initiated any transaction with XXXX XXXX. 
616. Civil liability for willful noncompliance [ 15 U.S.C. 1681n ] ( a ) In general. Any person who willfully fails to comply with any requirement imposed under this title with respect to any consumer is liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of ( XXXX ) ( A ) any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or damages of not less than {$100.00} and not more than {$1000.00} ; or ( B ) in the case of liability of a natural person for obtaining a consumer report under false pretenses or knowingly without a permissible purpose, actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure or {$1000.00}, whichever is greater ; I have been damaged as a result of your failure to follow the law I am requesting the DELETION of the inquiry that was placed on my consumer report on XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation