Consumer complaint received 2024-11-21 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: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
Dear CFPB Representative, I am submitting this formal complaint against XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( address : XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) and Equifax for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). These violations include : XXXX. XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX Associations excessive and unauthorized soft credit inquiries on my credit report. 
XXXX. XXXX refusal to allow disputes of soft inquiries, violating 15 U.S.C. 1681i, which required me to file this complaint directly with the CFPB to address the matter. 
XXXX. Misuse of my personal information by both entities, resulting in an unwarranted erosion of my rights and privacy as a consumer. 
Violations of XXXX XXXX XXXX. Excessive and Unauthorized Credit Inquiries by XXXX XXXX ( 15 U.S.C. 1681b ) The FCRA restricts access to consumer credit reports to permissible purposes, such as consumer-initiated credit applications, employment, or insurance underwriting, or with explicit consumer authorization ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ). Upon review of my credit report, I found that XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX accessed my credit report XXXX times between XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, without my authorization or any valid business purpose. 
The following are the dates of these inquiries : XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX This repeated and excessive access to my credit report is unjustified, constituting a misuse of my personal information. XXXXXXXX XXXX  actions violate 15 U.S.C. 1681b, which requires consumer authorization or a valid permissible purpose for credit report access. 
XXXX. Failure to Allow Disputes of XXXX Inquiries by Equifax ( XXXX XXXX. XXXX ) Equifax falsely claims that soft inquiries are not disputable, which is both inaccurate and a violation of 15 U.S.C. 1681i. This provision of the FCRA grants consumers the right to dispute any information they believe to be inaccurate, incomplete, or unauthorized on their credit report, including soft inquiries. 
By refusing to allow disputes of soft inquiries, Equifax failed to : XXXX an investigation into disputed information as required under 15 U.S.C. 1681i ( a ) ( 1 ). 
Provide a reasonable mechanism for consumers to dispute such entries, hindering my ability to resolve this matter without escalating it to the CFPB. 
Maintain accurate and complete reporting practices, as required by 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ). 
Because of XXXX unlawful refusal, I had no choice but to escalate this complaint directly to the CFPB. Their failure to comply with the FCRA has caused additional frustration, unnecessary delays, and a violation of my rights. For this failure, I am seeking {$1000.00} in statutory damages under XXXX XXXX. XXXX for their willful noncompliance. 
XXXX. XXXX of Personal Information The repeated and unauthorized inquiries into my credit report by XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX reflect a reckless overreach in the use of my personal information. Excessive inquiries create unnecessary risks, including : Increased exposure to potential data breaches. 
A violation of my privacy under the FCRAs provisions. 
XXXX refusal to allow disputes exacerbates this harm by leaving these inquiries unaddressed, further undermining consumer protections established under the FCRA. 
Legal Precedent Supporting My Complaint In XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), the XXXX XXXX  reinforced the principle that consumers must have recourse when their rights under the FCRA are violated, including the improper handling of credit report information. Unauthorized access and inaccurate reporting constitute a concrete harm to consumers, as highlighted in this decision. 
XXXX XXXX excessive credit inquiries and XXXX denial of my ability to dispute these entries align with the harmful practices the Court deemed actionable, underscoring the need for corrective action.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation