Consumer complaint received 2025-03-15 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:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted Equifax to dispute two unauthorized credit inquiries that I noticed on my credit report. I explained that these inquiries were related to ongoing identity theft issues and requested that Equifax investigate and remove them from my credit file. 

During this call, the Equifax representative informed me that my credit file had been merged with another consumers profile and assured me that they would correct this issue by unmerging my file. The agent also confirmed that they would remove the unauthorized inquiries as part of the identity theft dispute process. 

However, on XX/XX/XXXX, I reviewed my credit report and discovered that while the two disputed inquiries had been removed, three new unauthorized inquiries had appeared on my credit report. These new inquiries were from : XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX Upon discovering these unauthorized inquiries, I immediately submitted a new dispute to Equifax through their online portal, attaching the following supporting documentation : An updated FTC Identity Theft Report A copy of my Social Security card A police report documenting the identity theft A current utility bill verifying my identity On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a confirmation email from Equifax ( Confirmation Number : XXXX ) stating that my dispute was being processed and that I should allow 30 days for resolution. The email also explicitly stated that if the disputed items were related to identity theft, Equifax would block the disputed information within 4 business days under 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ( FCRA 605B ).

VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY EQUIFAX 1. Failure to Properly Investigate and Process My Dispute ( Violation of FCRA 611, 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) When I contacted Equifax by phone to follow up on my dispute, a representative claimed that no documentation had been received or uploaded into the system, despite my submission of complete and valid supporting documents. The representative then proceeded to cancel my dispute without my authorization and informed me that I would need to resubmit all documentation. 

Under FCRA 611, credit reporting agencies are required to : Conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of disputed information ; Review all relevant evidence provided by the consumer ; Delete or modify any information found to be inaccurate or unverifiable.

Equifaxs decision to ignore my properly submitted evidence, cancel my dispute without resolution, and require me to resubmit my complaint constitutes a willful violation of the FCRA. 2. Failure to Block Fraudulent Information Within 4 Days ( Violation of FCRA 605B, 15 U.S.C. 1681c-2 ) Equifax
explicitly stated in its XX/XX/XXXX, email that if my dispute was related to identity theft, they would block the disputed accounts within 4 business days, as required by FCRA 605B. However, when I followed up, I was informed that no action had been taken to block the fraudulent inquiries.

FCRA 605B requires consumer reporting agencies to : Block fraudulent information from a consumers file within 4 business days upon receiving a valid identity theft report ; Not reinsert the blocked information unless certified as accurate by the furnisher.

Equifaxs failure to block these fraudulent inquiries despite receiving a police report and an FTC identity theft affidavit is a direct violation of federal law.

REQUESTED RESOLUTIONS Due to Equifaxs failure to comply with the FCRA and properly handle my identity theft dispute, I formally request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) take action to : Immediately investigate Equifaxs non-compliance with the FCRA ; Require Equifax to remove and permanently block the unauthorized inquiries from my credit file ; Hold Equifax accountable for its failure to process disputes properly and impose regulatory penalties ; Ensure that Equifax improves its dispute-handling procedures to prevent further harm to consumers ; Provide me with a written statement confirming compliance with this request.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief