Consumer complaint received 2025-01-21 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: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: MD

Complaint narrative:
Dispute and Request for Removal of Unauthorized Credit Inquiries ( Violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) I am writing to formally dispute multiple unauthorized credit inquiries on my credit report, which were made without my express written consent in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681b. These inquiries have negatively impacted my credit profile and were conducted by entities without a permissible purpose as required by federal law.

Under 15 U.S.C. 1681b, a credit inquiry is only permissible if : The consumer has applied for credit and explicitly authorized the inquiry.

The inquiry is for a legitimate business need initiated by the consumer.

The inquiry is related to an existing credit relationship for account review or collection purposes.

Since I never applied for credit or authorized these inquiries, these companies have no legal basis for accessing my credit file, making these inquiries a clear FCRA violation.

List of Unauthorized Inquiries for Removal : ( Reported on XXXX, XXXX, and Equifax ) Credit Report Inquiries Summary Retail & Store Credit Inquiries XXXX ( Variety Store ) XX/XX/XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( Equifax ) Credit Report Brokers & Credit Bureau Inquiries XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ( Equifax ) XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/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 Equifax 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 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 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 Equifax 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 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 Legal Basis for Removal : 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( f ) : It is unlawful for any entity to obtain a consumer report unless it has a permissible purpose under the law.

15 U.S.C. 1681n and 1681o : Entities that access consumer reports without authorization are liable for damages, and consumers have the right to take legal action.

15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 5 ) : Credit bureaus must delete or correct inaccurate or unverifiable information upon dispute.

Requested Action : I demand the immediate deletion of all unauthorized inquiries from my credit report.

I request that the credit bureaus provide a confirmation letter verifying the removal.

If the disputed inquiries are not removed, I demand written proof of permissible purpose authorization for each inquiry within 30 days, as required by the FCRA.

Legal Notice : Failure to comply with this dispute may result in : Filing a formal complaint with the CFPB and FTC for willful noncompliance.

Legal action under 15 U.S.C. 1681n for statutory and punitive damages.

Please confirm in writing that these inquiries have been removed. If you need any further information, you may contact me at the details provided above.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX  Attachments : Copy of Credit Report Highlighting Unauthorized Inquiries Copy of Government-Issued ID ( Drivers License/Passport )

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation