Consumer complaint received 2025-01-31 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:
Subject : I'm requesting a reinvestigation as well your method of verification of initial items disputed listed below.- Formal Dispute of Unauthorized Credit Inquiries under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) Dear Equifax Dispute Department XXXX XXXX am writing in response to your recent correspondence regarding my dispute of unauthorized credit inquiries on my credit file submitted via the CFPB on XX/XX/XXXX. I respectfully disagree with your determination as all responses were generic and identical in verbiage. I request that these inquiries be removed as they constitute an inaccuracy under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ).

Inquiries, Date of Inquiry and CFPB Complaint ID Number below to be removed. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX  Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX Complaint ID : XXXX XXXX XXXX | Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX | Complaint ID : XXXX XXXX | Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX | Complaint ID : XXXX XXXX Credit Inquiries Must Be Accurate and Verifiable ( FCRA 611, 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) Under the FCRA 611, I have the right to dispute any inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information on my credit report. You have stated that inquiries are a factual record of file access ; however, these inquiries were made without my authorization or did not result in the extension of credit. If the inquiries are not associated with an approved credit transaction, they serve no permissible purpose under FCRA 604 ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) and should not be included in my file.

2. Permissible Purpose Is Required for a Hard Inquiry ( FCRA 604, 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) The FCRA 604 clearly outlines the permissible purposes for obtaining a consumer report. A company must have a legitimate reason, such as a consumer-initiated credit application resulting in an extension of credit, to access my credit report. If a company accessed my credit report but did not approve me for credit, there was no permissible purpose for the inquiry to remain on my credit report. 

Since these inquiries did not result in an extension of credit, they are considered unverified and inaccurate under the FCRA and must be removed immediately.

3. Failure to Remove Unverified Information is a Violation of FCRA ( FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) ) Pursuant to FCRA 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ), if an item can not be verified or is inaccurate, the credit reporting agency must delete itf from the consumers file. You have not provided adequate verification that these inquiries resulted in a permissible purpose under the FCRA. Therefore, I am requesting the immediate deletion of these unauthorized inquiries.

4. Legal Obligation to Correct or Remove Inaccurate Information ( FCRA 623, 15 U.S.C. 1681s-2 ) Under FCRA 623, data furnishers are legally required to ensure that the information they provide to credit bureaus is accurate and verifiable. If these inquiries did not result in an e
xtension of credit, then they are inaccurate and misleading and should not remain on my credit file.

My request for Immediate action is as follows... Given that these inquiries do not meet the FCRAs permissible purpose requirements and are therefore inaccurate, I formally request : The immediate removal of the unauthorized inquiries from my credit report and a written response confirming that the deletions have been processed. Last, I request documentation proving that the inquiries resulted in an approved credit transaction ( if you refuse to delete them ).

Failure to comply with this request may result in my pursuit of legal remedies, including but not limited to filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) and considering legal action for FCRA violations.

Please provide a written response within 30 days of receiving this dispute, as required under the FCRA. I expect full compliance with federal law in this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation