Consumer complaint received 2025-11-21 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: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: WI

Complaint narrative:
As a consumer, I am asserting my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act ( FACTA ), and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA/FECPA ) as follows : FCRA Violations and Consumer Rights FCRA 602 ( A ) Requires fair and accurate credit reporting and prohibits inclusion of inaccurate or unverified information.

FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) & 604 ( f ) ( 1 ) A hard inquiry requires written, signed consumer authorization. I never provided authorization to the company/entities reporting these inquiries.

FCRA 607 ( b ) Credit reporting agencies must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum accuracy. Reporting inquiries without proof violates this requirement.

FCRA 609 ( a ) ( 1 ) I have the right to request the full method of authorization, including the signed application or permissible-purpose documentation. No such documentation exists because I never authorized these inquiries.

FCRA 611 ( a ) I am requesting a formal reinvestigation. If the furnisher can not provide written proof of permissible purpose, the CRA must delete the inquiry.

FCRA 615 ( f ) It is illegal for any entity to obtain or use my consumer report without a legitimate permissible purpose.

FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) Data furnishers may not report information they know or should know is inaccurate. Reporting unauthorized inquiries violates this section.

FCRA 623 ( b ) Once a dispute is filed, the furnisher must conduct a reasonable investigation and delete information that can not be verified.

FDCPA/FECPA Protections Although a hard inquiry is not a debt, any attempt by a company to claim I applied for credit when I did not is considered a misrepresentation under : FDCPA 807 ( 2 ) ( A ) Prohibits false representation of the character or legal status of a debt or credit obligation.

FDCPA 813 Provides civil liability for willful or negligent noncompliance.

If the company claims I authorized the inquiry without producing proof, that constitutes a deceptive practice.

FACTA Identity Theft & Fraud Protections Under FACTA 112, consumers have the right to have fraudulent information blocked from their reports when unauthorized access is suspected.

These inquiries are unauthorized and therefore fall under identity-theft/fraud protections.

Metro 2 Compliance Requirements Under the Metro 2 Credit Reporting Guidelines, hard inquiries must only be reported if : There is verifiable consumer authorization The furnisher maintains documentation The furnisher can validate the identity and application If the furnisher can not produce the signed credit application or digital authorization logs, the inquiry must be deleted as unverifiable and inaccurate.

I am requesting the CFPB to : Require the furnisher to provide proof of permissible purpose, including the signed application or digital audit trail.

Require the CRAs to delete any inquiry that can not be fully verified, per FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ).

Ensure the investigation is completed within the required 30-day period or sooner.

Hold the furnisher accountable for reporting unauthorized access to my credit file.

Confirm enforcement of FCRA/FDCPA penalties for entities obtaining my report without permission.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation