Consumer complaint received 2025-06-12 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:
I am filing this formal complaint against the following companies due to unauthorized and unverified hard credit inquiries that were conducted without my consent. These inquiries have negatively impacted my credit score and represent violations of my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681b.

These inquiries were made without any permissible purpose and without my prior authorization. I am demanding that a thorough investigation be conducted into these unauthorized inquiries and that they be permanently removed from my credit report. Failure to do so constitutes a direct violation of federal consumer protection law.

Accounts in Question : XXXX. XXXX o Date of Inquiry : XX/XX/XXXX o Issue : Unauthorized hard inquiry o Violation of Law : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ] No permissible purpose.

o Details : I did not apply for any credit or authorize this inquiry. No relationship or transaction was initiated with Credit One Bank to justify this hard pull. 
XXXX. XXXX o Date of Inquiry : XX/XX/XXXX o Issue : Unauthorized hard inquiry o Violation of Law : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ] No permissible purpose. 
o Details : I have no current or prior relationship with XXXX. This inquiry was made without my knowledge or authorization. 
XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  Date of Inquiry : XX/XX/XXXX o Issue : Unauthorized hard inquiry o Violation of Law : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 3 ) [ 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ] No permissible purpose. 
o XXXX : I did not apply for credit with XXXX XXXX during this period, nor did I authorize any entity to pull my credit on their behalf. 
Requested Resolution : I request an immediate and complete investigation into these unauthorized inquiries. 
I demand the permanent removal of all the above-listed inquiries from all of my credit reports ( Experian, Equifax, TransUnion ) XXXX 
I request written confirmation from each credit reporting agency and the creditors listed above that these inquiries have been deleted.

I request the names of the entities and individuals who initiated these inquiries, along with any supporting documents used to justify them.

Legal Basis : Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) Credit reporting agencies are only permitted to furnish a consumer report for specific permissible purposes. These inquiries fail to meet those criteria. 
FCRA 1681n and 1681o Willful or negligent noncompliance with the FCRA entitles me to actual damages, attorneys fees, and potential punitive damages.

Conclusion : These unauthorized inquiries are not only damaging to my creditworthiness but also violate federal law. I have already disputed these inquiries with the credit reporting agencies directly and have received no satisfactory resolution. I am now requesting CFPB 's assistance in enforcing my rights and holding these entities accountable for their unlawful actions.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation