Consumer complaint received 2025-06-13 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: NJ

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB Representative, I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding multiple unauthorized and inaccurate credit inquiries appearing on my credit report. These inquiries have negatively impacted my credit score and financial reputation. Despite my efforts to resolve these issues directly with the involved companies, they have failed to correct or remove the inaccurate inquiries. Therefore, I am seeking CFPB 's intervention to ensure these violations of federal consumer protection laws are addressed promptly.

Below are the details of the disputed inquiries with corresponding account information and relevant laws violated : 1. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXnquiry Date : XX/XX/year> Type : Unauthorized Hard Inquiry Legal Grounds : Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), Section 604 ( a ), a hard inquiry can only be made if there is a permissible purpose such as a credit application initiated by the consumer. XXXX XXXX XXXX made this inquiry without my authorization, violating FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) ( A ). Furthermore, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) prohibits deceptive and unfair collection practices related to credit reporting. The unauthorized inquiry has caused damage to my credit score and financial standing.

2. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/year> Type : Unauthorized Hard Inquiry Legal Grounds : XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX  conducted a hard inquiry without my explicit consent, which breaches FCRA 604 ( a ). Additionally, failure to provide proper notification and obtain prior consent violates the regulations outlined under Regulation V and the FDCPA concerning consumer rights and debt collection transparency.

3. XXXX XXXX XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/year> Type : Unauthorized Hard Inquiry Legal Grounds : XXXX XXXX XXXX performed an inquiry without my permission. This is a clear violation of FCRA 604 ( a ), which mandates that credit inquiries require consumer authorization. This inquiry has no legitimate business purpose and should be removed immediately to prevent further harm to my credit profile.

4. XXXX/ XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/year> Type : Unauthorized Hard Inquiry Legal Grounds : The inquiry from XXXX was made without my consent, violating the FCRA 's provisions on permissible purpose ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ). This has resulted in unfair and inaccurate credit reporting, affecting my ability to obtain future credit on fair terms. 
XXXX. XXXXXXXX XXXX  Inquiry Date : XX/XX/year> Type : Unauthorized Hard Inquiry Legal Grounds : XXXXXXXX XXXX failed to obtain proper authorization before pulling my credit report, contravening FCRA 604 ( a ). Such unauthorized actions are considered unfair practices under the FDCPA and must be rectified by deleting the inquiry and preventing future unauthorized reporting.

6. XXXX XXXX / XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/year> Type : Unauthorized Hard Inquiry Legal Grounds : XXXX XXXX conducted a hard inquiry without my approval, violating the FCRA and FDCPA requirements regarding permissible purposes and consumer consent. This unauthorized inquiry has caused tangible harm by lowering my XXXX XXXX unfairly. 
Summary and Request : I assert that none of the above inquiries were authorized by me nor were any applications for credit initiated by me with these entities. According to the FCRA and FDCPA, these companies are legally obligated to have a permissible purpose before accessing my credit report. Their failure to comply constitutes unlawful behavior, and I demand the immediate removal of all unauthorized inquiries from my credit reports. 
Please investigate these violations promptly and direct the reporting agencies to delete these inquiries permanently. I also request that you ensure these entities adhere strictly to federal law in future credit reporting activities to protect consumers like myself from further damage. 
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation