Consumer complaint received 2025-07-07 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: TX

Complaint narrative:
The following hard inquiries are unauthorized and lack a permissible purpose : XXXX. XXXX XXXX Date : XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX. XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX. XXXX XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Auto Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX. XXXX XXXX ( Auto Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Auto Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Miscellaneous Finance ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Auto Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( Auto Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Auto Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX  I removed this hard inquiry XXXX. DEPT OF ED ( Miscellaneous Government ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Bank Credit Cards ) Inquiry Date : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Credit Unions ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Line of Credit - Bank ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX  : XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX XXXX XXXX Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX Equifax XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX  ( Bank Credit Cards ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX I removed this hard inquiry XXXX. XXXX XXXX ( Bank Credit Cards ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX. XXXX ( Commercial Banks ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Line of Credit - Bank ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( Sales Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX. I removed this hard inquiry XXXX. XXXX ( Sales Financing ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Credit Unions ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Line of Credit - Bank ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Bank Credit Cards ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( Bank Credit Cards ) Inquiry Date : XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  Legal Basis for Dispute 1. FCRA Violations (

15 U.S.C. 1681b ) : The FCRA requires a permissible purpose for accessing my credit report, such as my written consent ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ( 2 ) ), a firm offer of credit ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( c ) ), or a legitimate business need tied to a transaction I initiated ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ( a ) ( 3 ) ( F ) ). I did not provide consent, initiate any transactions, or receive firm offers of credit for these inquiries. The creditors actions violate 15 U.S.C. 1681b, as no permissible purpose exists. Case Law : In May v. Equifax Information Services, LLC ( E.D. Ky. XXXX ), the court upheld that credit pulls without a permissible purpose violate the FCRA. Similarly, * Pintos v. Pacific Creditors Assn, 605 F.3d 665 ( 9 th Cir. 2010 ) * confirmed that unauthorized inquiries, especially for debt collection without consent, are actionable.

1. FCRA Investigation and Deletion ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) : You are required to conduct a reasonable investigation of these disputed inquiries within 30 days and delete them if the furnisher ( creditor ) can not verify a permissible purpose. Failure to comply may constitute willful or negligent noncompliance under 15 U.S.C. 1681n and 1681o, entitling me to actual damages ( e.g., credit score harm, emotional distress per Bangura v. Hansen, 434 F.3d 487 ( 6th Cir. XXXX ) ), statutory damages ( {$100.00} {$1000.00} per violation ), and attorneys fees. 
2. FDCPA Violations ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e, where applicable ) : If any creditor ( e.g., XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX ) is acting as a debt collector under the FDCPA, their unauthorized credit pull may constitute a deceptive practice or false representation of their authority to access my credit ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ). This applies if the inquiry was made to collect a debt I do not owe or that lacks a valid basis.

3. Metro 2 Compliance : Under the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) Metro 2 guidelines, furnishers must report accurate and verifiable data. Hard inquiries must include a valid Inquiry Reason Code ( e.g., consumer-initiated application, firm offer ). The listed inquiries lack such justification and violate Metro 2 standards for accuracy and completeness. In the XXXX response, furnishers must provide specific documentation ( e.g., signed application, firm offer letter ) to justify the inquiry, or it must be deleted.

4. e-OSCAR Limitations : The e-OSCAR system often relies on automated responses from furnishers, which may not adequately verify inquiries. I demand a manual investigation beyond e-OSCARs automated codes, including direct contact with the furnisher to obtain verifiable evidence of a permissible purpose, as required by 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ). Failure to conduct a thorough investigation violates FCRA standards ( Gorman v. Wolpoff & Abramson, LLP, 584 F.3d 1147 ( 9th XXXX. XXXX ) ). 
Dispute Details Dispute Code : 001 ( Not mine/Not authorized ) FCRA Violation Claimed : Unauthorized access ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) ; failure to ensure accuracy ( 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) ) ; failure to investigate ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ).

FDCPA Violation ( if applicable ) : Deceptive practices ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ).

Consumer Statement : I did not authorize, verbally or in writing, any of the listed inquiries. I have no existing account, application, or business relationship with these creditors, and no firm offer of credit was received. The inquiries may indicate identity theft, for which I have filed an FTC Identity Theft Affidavit ( enclosed, if applicable ).

Requested Action : 1. Permanently delete the listed inquiries from my credit report.

2. Provide a detailed XXXX response, including the furnishers verification ( e.g., signed consent, application, or firm offer letter ).

3. Update Metro 2 records to reflect deletion ( Metro 2 Field : Inquiry Removal ).

4. Notify me in writing of the investigation results within 30 days ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 6 ) ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation