Consumer complaint received 2024-11-22 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: GA

Complaint narrative:
Details of the Complaint : I am submitting this complaint regarding unauthorized credit inquiries on my credit reports with XXXX and Equifax. Despite previously submitting a valid FTC Identity Theft Report and a police report, both bureaus have failed to acknowledge receipt or take action to remove the fraudulent inquiries. Their inaction violates several federal laws designed to protect consumers from identity theft and ensure the accuracy of their credit reports. 

List of Unauthorized Inquiries ( XXXX and Equifax Only ) : 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 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 XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX ( Equifax ) Violations by XXXX and Equifax : Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) Violations : 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 : Credit reporting agencies are required to block information resulting from identity theft when provided with an FTC Identity Theft Report or police report. Both XXXX and Equifax have failed to do so despite receiving my documentation. 
15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) : Credit bureaus are obligated to conduct a reasonable investigation of disputed information. The failure to address my disputes indicates negligence in meeting this requirement.

15 U.S.C. 1681b ( c ) ( 1 ) : Creditors must have permissible purpose to conduct a credit inquiry. Allowing unauthorized inquiries to remain on my report violates this provision. 
Failure to Address Identity Theft : By not investigating my identity theft claim or removing the unauthorized inquiries, both bureaus are disregarding my rights as an identity theft victim under the FCRA. 
Relevant Legal Precedents : Collins v. Experian Info. Sols., Inc. , No. 20-2032 ( 4th Cir. 2021 ) : Established that credit reporting agencies must perform reasonable investigations into consumer disputes. The court found liability for a lack of due diligence.

Dennis v. BEH-1, LLC, 520 F.3d 1066 ( 9th Cir. 2008 ) : Reaffirmed that credit inquiries conducted without permissible purpose violate the FCRA and are grounds for statutory damages.

Smith v. E-Backgroundchecks.com , Inc., No. 14-1351 ( 7th Cir. 2016 ) : Ruled that failure to promptly address disputes or inaccuracies creates consumer harm, supporting statutory damages for violations. 
Evidence Attached : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 
Screenshots of unauthorized inquiries from XXXX and Equifax ( Images XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief