Consumer complaint received 2025-04-14 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: PA

Complaint narrative:
XXXX XXXX Subject : Equifax Refusing to Remove or Investigate Unauthorized Credit Inquiries. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX pa XXXX. 
To Whom It May Concern, I am filing a formal complaint against Equifax for failing to comply with my legal right to dispute inaccurate and unauthorized information on my credit report.

I recently disputed several inquiries on my Equifax file that I did not authorize. Instead of conducting a proper investigation, Equifax responded with a generic statement claiming inquiries are a " factual record '' and refused to verify or validate them. This is unacceptable and a direct violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), which gives me the right to dispute and request proof of any entry on my credit file. 

Let me be clear : If Equifax can not provide documented proof of my authorization for these hard inquiries, they must be deleted immediately. Their failure to investigate or verify this information is damaging my credit and causing unnecessary financial harm. Fully investigate the disputed inquiries, not dismiss them automatically, Provide proof of my signed or digital authorization, and Remove any inquiries that can not be verified or that I did not authorize.

Equifaxs failure to comply is not only a violation of my rights under the FCRA, but also a deceptive and unfair business practice. I demand immediate resolution. am submitting this follow-up complaint regarding my original dispute with Equifax through the CFPB.

Equifax failed to investigate the unauthorized inquiries on my credit report. Instead of conducting a proper investigation as required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), they responded with a generic, pre-written statement claiming that inquiries are a factual record and can not be removed. This response shows no evidence that they investigated my specific claims or verified whether these inquiries were actually authorized by me. 

This is a violation of the FCRA, Section 611, which requires consumer reporting agencies to : Conduct a reasonable investigation upon receiving a dispute, Delete or correct any information that can not be verified as accurate, and Provide documentation if the information is verified.

Equifax failed to provide any documentation or proof that I authorized these inquiries. If they can not provide a signed application, written consent, or other clear evidence, they are legally obligated to remove them.

I am requesting that the CFPB : Reopen and escalate this complaint, Require Equifax to provide verification of the inquiries, or delete them, Hold Equifax accountable for failing to comply with their FCRA obligations. 
I am filing a formal and escalated complaint against Equifax, who is in direct violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), 15 U.S.C. 1681i, due to their failure to investigate disputed credit inquiries and their refusal to remove unverifiable information. 

Under XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) ( A ), when a consumer disputes the accuracy or completeness of any item of information contained in their file, the consumer reporting agency is legally obligated to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate. 

Instead, Equifax responded with a template response stating that all inquiries are factual records and will remain for XXXX years. They provided no documentation, no verification, and no investigation into the validity or authorization of the disputed inquiries. 

This is a clear and willful violation of : XXXX U.S.C. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) XXXX to promptly notify the furnisher of the dispute ; XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) Duty to review and consider all relevant information submitted by the consumer ; XXXX XXXX. XXXX ( a ) ( XXXX ) XXXX to delete or modify any information that can not be verified ; XXXX U.S.C. XXXX ( b ) Duty to maintain reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy. 
Furthermore, failure to conduct a reinvestigation after a proper dispute constitutes negligence and/or willful noncompliance under XXXX XXXX. XXXX and XXXX, both of which open the door for civil liability, including : Actual damages, Statutory damages up to {$1000.00} per violation, Punitive damages for willful violations, and XXXX fees and court costs. 
XXXX refusal to investigate is not only a violation of federal law it causes measurable harm to my credit reputation, my borrowing ability, and financial health. 

I am demanding the CFPB : Enforce Equifaxs obligation to conduct a reasonable investigation, Require them to produce documentation verifying that I authorized each disputed inquiry, and Delete any inquiry that can not be proven to have been authorized. 
If this is not resolved immediately, I will explore legal options under FCRA, and I reserve the right to pursue civil action or join a class action lawsuit for damages resulting from this noncompliance.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation