Consumer complaint received 2024-11-29 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: FL

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, FL XXXX [ Date ] To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Equifax Information Services LLC Subject : Formal Complaint : Failure to Remove Unauthorized Credit Inquiries in Violation of FCRA To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this formal complaint regarding Equifaxs refusal to remove unauthorized credit inquiries from my consumer report despite my submission of a valid FTC Identity Theft Report ( Report No. XXXX ), which I provided as evidence of fraud. The inaction by Equifax constitutes a severe violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) and demonstrates a blatant disregard for my legal rights as a consumer. 

Background On XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted an FTC Identity Theft Report detailing fraudulent and unauthorized credit inquiries on my report. I clearly identified the following inquiries as unauthorized : XXXX. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. Bank XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX ) XXXX. XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( XX/XX/XXXX ) These inquiries were placed on my report without my knowledge or authorization, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681b, which requires consumer reporting agencies to ensure permissible purpose before including inquiries on consumer reports. 

Violations by Equifax 1. Failure to Block Fraudulent Information ( FCRA 605B ) Under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2, Equifax is legally required to block the reporting of fraudulent information within four business days of receiving : Proof of identity, A copy of an FTC Identity Theft Report, and A statement identifying the fraudulent information.

I provided all of the above as required. Equifaxs refusal to block these inquiries violates its obligations under federal law and demonstrates clear negligence and bad faith.

2. Violation of FCRA 1681e ( b ) : Duty to Ensure Accuracy The FCRA mandates that credit reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures to ensure the accuracy of information included in consumer reports. By continuing to report unauthorized inquiries, Equifax has failed to meet this standard, resulting in a misrepresentation of my creditworthiness and causing undue harm to my financial standing.

3. Unfair and Deceptive Practices ( 15 U.S.C. 45 ) Equifaxs inaction constitutes an unfair and deceptive practice under Section 5 of the FTC Act. The failure to promptly investigate and remove unauthorized inquiries undermines the integrity of the credit reporting process and deprives me of the ability to restore my credit profile.

4. Fraudulent Intent and Financial Gain Equifax profits from reporting this inaccurate information, creating a conflict of interest that incentivizes the agency to delay or deny rightful consumer requests for corrections. This constitutes an abuse of power and demonstrates fraudulent intent.

Fair Resolution I demand the immediate removal of all unauthorized inquiries listed above from my Equifax credit report. Furthermore, I request : 1. Written confirmation that the inquiries have been permanently removed.

2. Verification of improved internal procedures to ensure compliance with FCRA 605B and 1681e ( b ) moving forward.

Legal Consequences for Noncompliance Failure to act on this matter will result in escalation, including : A formal FTC complaint for violations of the FCRA, FTC Act, and related federal laws.

Legal action seeking statutory and punitive damages under FCRA 1681n and 1681o, including {$1000.00} per violation, actual damages, and costs.

Civil claims for reputational harm, financial losses, and emotional distress caused by Equifaxs gross negligence.

Conclusion As a victim of identity theft and fraudulent reporting, I am entitled to swift and complete resolution of this matter. Equifaxs continued refusal to comply with federal requirements is unacceptable and warrants immediate intervention by the CFPB.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation