Consumer complaint received 2025-03-11 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: NV

Complaint narrative:
** [ XXXX XXXX ] ** [ XXXX XXXX ] [ XXXX, NV, XXXX ] [ XXXX ] [ XXXX ] [ XX/XX/year> ] **Federal XXXX XXXX XXXX FTC XXXX ** Consumer Response Center XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Washington XXXX DC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX CFPB ) ** XXXX XXXX XXXX Iowa XXXX XXXX IA XXXX **Subject : ** Formal Complaint Regarding Unauthorized Hard Inquiries on Credit Report and Request for Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws Dear Sir/Madam , The consumer is writing to formally file a complaint regarding unauthorized hard inquiries on the consumer credit report, which were made without the consumer consent or knowledge. These inquiries have negatively impacted XXXX XXXX creditworthiness, causing significant harm to the consumer financial standing and ability to secure loans, credit, and other financial opportunities. Resulting in unreasonable higher rates when applying through commerce and high rates of interest as a consumer also most important and constant, this is currently placing XXXX XXXX and the consumer family ( household ) in an extensive time of uncertainty. There is no wet signature, or explicit consent, per inquiry. Per the law. One request for a common check for credit when applying for a vehicle, does not in any common scenario give way for over 15-20 hard inquiries from one transaction in one day. Please provide consent, show to prove, explicit given consent, there is none to suffice these amount of violations, show to prove. Please remove hard inquiries that occurred in the following months of XXXX and XXXX that have no explicit consent or proof to validate it ( XXXX ) placed on XXXX XXXX credit report. All that have no consent per applicable laws. If value is given per application, and applications can be sold to a third party per the law, where did the value go that was given in these e-applications per inquiry. Pyramid scheme if we can agree, if the consumer was none the wiser. 

# # # **Background and Violations** Under the **Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) **, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and the **Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA ) **consumers are protected from unauthorized access to their credit reports. Hard inquiries, which occur when a lender or creditor checks a consumers credit report for lending decisions, require the consumers explicit consent. 
The unauthorized hard inquiries on the consumer credit report constitute a clear violation of these laws, as well as the following : 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ) - ( 2 ) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.

15 USC 1681 ( q ) -Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

1. **FCRA Section 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) ( A ) ** Permissible purposes for accessing a credit report require consumer consent.

2. **FCRA Section 616 and 617** Provides for consumer remedies, including actual damages, statutory damages, and punitive damages for willful noncompliance.

3. **CFPB Regulations** Prohibit unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices ( UDAAP ) in connection with consumer financial products or services.

# # # **Request for Action** The consumer respectfully request that the FTC and CFPB take the following actions : 1. **Investigate the Unauthorized Inquiries** Identify the entities responsible for the unauthorized hard inquiries and hold them accountable under the FCRA and CFPA.

2. **Enforce Compliance** Ensure that the responsible parties remove the unauthorized inquiries from the consumer credit report immediately.

3. **Compensation for Damages** Pursue compensation for the damages caused to the consumer creditworthiness, including but not limited to : - Actual damages ( e.g., higher interest rates, denied credit applications ).

-A request of {$100.00} dollars per confirmed violation.

-prompt removal from all reporting bureaus.

- Statutory damages for willful noncompliance.

- Punitive damages to deter future violations.

4. **Consumer Education** Provide clear guidance to consumers on how to dispute unauthorized inquiries and protect their credit reports.

# # # **Supporting Documentation** The consumer have attached the following documents to support the consumer complaint : 1. A copy of the consumer credit report with the unauthorized inquiries highlighted. 
XXXX. Correspondence with the credit bureaus ( Equifax, Experian, TransUnion ) disputing the inquiries. 
XXXX. Any additional evidence of the consumer attempts to resolve this matter. 

# # # **Conclusion** It is trusted that the FTC and CFPB will take swift and decisive action to address this violation of the consumer consumer rights. Unauthorized hard inquiries not only harm individual consumers but also undermine the integrity of the credit reporting system. The consumer truly looks forward to your prompt response and resolution of this matter. 

Thank you for your attention to this issue. 

Sincerely, Agent on behalf of [ XXXX XXXX ] ** [ XXXX XXXX ] ** [ XXXX XXXX ] [ XXXX, NV, XXXX ] [ XXXX ] [ XXXX ] [ XX/XX/year> ] **Federal XXXX XXXX XXXX FTC XXXX ** Consumer Response Center XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Washington XXXX DC XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX CFPB ) ** XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX IA XXXX XXXXSubject : ** Formal Complaint Regarding Unauthorized Hard Inquiries on Credit Report and Request for Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws Dear Sir/Madam , The consumer is writing to formally file a complaint regarding unauthorized hard inquiries on the consumer credit report, which were made without the consumer consent or knowledge. These inquiries have negatively impacted XXXX XXXX creditworthiness, causing significant harm to the consumer financial standing and ability to secure loans, credit, and other financial opportunities. Resulting in unreasonable higher rates when applying through commerce and high rates of interest as a consumer also most important and constant, this is currently placing XXXX XXXX and the consumer family ( household ) in an extensive time of uncertainty. There is no wet signature, or explicit consent, per inquiry. Per the law. One request for a common check for credit when applying for a vehicle, does not in any common scenario give way for over 15-20 hard inquiries from one transaction in one day. Please provide consent, show to prove, explicit given consent, there is none to suffice these amount of violations, show to prove. Please remove hard inquiries that occurred in the following months of XXXX and XXXX that have no explicit consent or proof to validate it ( XXXX ) placed on XXXX XXXX credit report. All that have no consent per applicable laws. If value is given per application, and applications can be sold to a third party per the law, where did the value go that was given in these e-applications per inquiry. Pyramid scheme if we can agree, if the consumer was none the wiser. 
XXXX and XXXX XXXX the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( FCRA ) **, 15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., and the **Consumer Financial Protection Act ( CFPA ) **consumers are protected from unauthorized access to their credit reports. Hard inquiries, which occur when a lender or creditor checks a consumers credit report for lending decisions, require the consumers explicit consent. 
The unauthorized hard inquiries on the consumer credit report constitute a clear violation of these laws, as well as the following : 15 USC 1681b ( 2 ) - ( 2 ) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.

15 USC 1681 ( q ) -Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

1. **FCRA Section 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) ( A ) ** Permissible purposes for accessing a credit report require consumer consent.

2. **FCRA Section 616 and 617** Provides for consumer remedies, including actual damages, statutory damages, and punitive damages for willful noncompliance.

3. **CFPB Regulations** Prohibit unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices ( UDAAP ) in connection with consumer financial products or services.

**Request for Action** The consumer respectfully request that the FTC and CFPB take the following actions : 1. **Investigate the Unauthorized Inquiries** Identify the entities responsible for the unauthorized hard inquiries and hold them accountable under the FCRA and CFPA.

2. **Enforce Compliance** Ensure that the responsible parties remove the unauthorized inquiries from the consumer credit report immediately.

3. **Compensation for Damages** Pursue compensation for the damages caused to the consumer creditworthiness, including but not limited to : - Actual damages ( e.g., higher interest rates, denied credit applications ).

-A request of {$100.00} dollars per confirmed violation.

-prompt removal from all reporting bureaus.

- Statutory damages for willful noncompliance.

- Punitive damages to deter future violations.

4. **Consumer Education** Provide clear guidance to consumers on how to dispute unauthorized inquiries and protect their credit reports.

**Supporting Documentation** The consumer have attached the following documents to support the consumer complaint : 1. A copy of the consumer credit report with the unauthorized inquiries highlighted.

2. Correspondence with the credit bureaus ( Equifax, Experian, TransUnion ) disputing the inquiries.

3. Any additional evidence of the consumer attempts to resolve this matter.

**Conclusion** It is trusted that the FTC and CFPB will take swift and decisive action to address this violation of the consumer consumer rights. Unauthorized hard inquiries not only harm individual consumers but also undermine the integrity of the credit reporting system. The consumer truly looks forward to your prompt response and resolution of this matter. 

Thank you for your attention to this issue. 

Sincerely, Agent on behalf of [ XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation