Consumer complaint received 2025-07-26 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Other personal consumer report
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
I was advised by XXXX ( XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ) yesterday at XXXX pm that a XXXX XXXX of XXXXXXXX XXXX had attempted to open a credit card, with him as a co-signer, in my name saying he had power of attorney to do so. They told me he had my social security number and used it to open said account. After I advised them that this was completely false, they then connected me to a XXXX XXXX, saying he was ( XXXX XXXX ) at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He assigned a case number of XXXX XXXX to my " case. '' He took basic information, then said he needed to call me back today, which he did, calling from ( XXXX ) XXXX. He went on to state that he needed to confirm my credit card numbers, balances, expiration dates and XXXX digit codes. He said he had access to all the information but needed to verify I had it. Now I'm afraid that I've set the stage for major fraudulent activities against me, perhaps even by this man who said he was with the CFPB. XXXX XXXX went on to inform me that the high interest rates with my credit cards qualified me for protection under the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Such protection included having 50 % ( {$6700.00} ) of my credit card debt " eliminated '' because the interest rates on my credit cards far exceeded bank interest rates of 6.1 % After availing myself of the " help '' provided by the advisor and the CFPB I could pay off the remaining 50 % ( {$6700.00} ) over time with a new 0 % interest rate. More discussion with XXXX XXXX ensued, to confirm the numbers and the amounts, and the additional fact that this debt relief would be provided at no cost to me, that the credit card companies would be paying for the relief, because they had charged such usurious rates. ( my term, not his ) However, I would have to sign various papers that would begin to be drawn up when I spoke to a credit advisor in the XXXX XXXX XXXX  ' ( sic ). This advisor would put in motion my debt relief program. I asked if I could have the number of the advisor in the debt reduction department, but that was not possible. XXXX XXXX had to make the introduction. I was then transferred to a man identifying himself as XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX. I asked where XXXX XXXX was physicially located and he said XXXX XXXX. He clarified that he was with an independent entity, not a part of the XXXX. Further, he stated that the total cost to me to use the solution he would provide me would be around " {$8400.00}. '' I asked if it was indeed true that his payment would come from the credit card companies, not me, and he hedged - not giving a clear answer. When I asked why the additional monies would be owed by me over and above the {$6700.00}, he said that it depended on interest rates and then something about legal fees. Both XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX told me that upon entering this relief program, all my open credit cards would be closed, I would have to move my banking accounts to a another bank.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation