Consumer complaint received 2025-12-15 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Unable to get your credit report or credit score — Other problem getting your report or credit score
Company: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: IL

Complaint narrative:
on or around about, XXXX XXXX  - XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, XXXX the " consumer '' called the credit reporting agency , Experian. After several long excruciating hours of attempting to reach any employee, in which I did. Those two Experian employees would be ( XXXX ) and ( XXXX ) of this establishment on two separate times and attempts. The first would be XXXX and the second would be XXXX. While speaking with Experian employee XXXX, she expressed to me that in order for the " consumer '' to get any help or to be able to get and acess the " consumer 's report and profile '', that the " consumer '', would first have to " provide '' the " consumer 's '' " private information '', SPECIFICALLY, the " consumer 's, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. The " consumer '', " explained '' that, this " information '' was not currently available and that " other '' " private information '' could be provided. The " consumer 's '' first and last name, date of birth, home address, telephone number and email address was provided and then Experian employee XXXX began to tell me that she could not access this information for me and she could no longer help the " consumer ''. The " consumer '' went to state to Employee XXXX that she was violating the FCRA and Section 7 of the Privacy Act of 1974, codified as " note '' to 5 U.S.C. 552a, under heading, " Disclosure of Social Security Number '', and that it provides that, federal, state and local government agencies, generally can not deny the " consumer '' a legal right, benefit, or privilege just because the " consumer '' refuse to " disclose it's SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. Letting her know by doing this, " injury '', " pain and suffering '', " irreparable harm '' and " damages '' will likely occur, XXXX, punitive and injunctive. The " consumer '' went on to let her know that she was also violating the " consumer 's '' 4th, 5th, 6th, amendment of the united States Constitution along with the " consumer 's '' state Constitution, Article I Section 2 and Article I Section 6 of the illinois state constitution of 1970. She carried on and I instructed her to connect with her " superior brass '' or someone knowledgeable and the call was transferred to Experian employee staff, XXXX which was a " witness '' and very well versed in the understanding of the " consumers rights '' and she " informed '' the " consumer '' that she apologize for her employee behavior incorrectness for telling that " access was denied '' and that the information Experian employee XXXX, her coworker gave was " accurate ''. She stated that the information that the " consumer '' provided as mentioned above, could access the " consumer 's credit report and profile '' and gave complete access with no hesitation nor restrictions and the " consumer '' was able to be " secured in it's personal, family and household purpose/benefits, as provided by " federal law ''. Experian employee XXXX did thee " exact same thing '' as " Experian employee '' XXXX did. All phones were and are on a recorded line by " Experian Credit Reporting Agency '' and shall be entered and preserved on and in the record as evidence and error. Both " employees '' shall be held accountable for the Law states, that " ignorance of the law is of none excuse ''. on or around about, XXXX XXXX  - XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX the " consumer '' called the credit reporting agency , Experian. After several long excruciating hours of attemping to reach any employee, in which I did. Those two Experian employees would be ( XXXX ) and ( XXXX ) of this establishment on two separate times and attempts. The first would be XXXX and the second would be XXXX. While speaking with Experian employee XXXX, she expressed to me that in order for the " consumer '' to get any help or to be able to get and acess the " consumer 's report and profile '', that the " consumer '', would first have to " provide '' the " consumer 's '' " private information '', SPECIFICALLY, the " consumer 's, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. The " consumer '', " explained '' that, this " information '' was not currently available and that " other '' " private information '' could be provided. The " consumer 's '' first and last name, date of birth, home address, telephone number, email address ( multiple identifiers ) that were able to be used to " match and maintain files '' that were provided and then Experian employee XXXX began to tell the " consumer '' that she could not use " ONLY THIS INFORMATION '' to access the " consumer data/profile/report '' and that she could no longer help the " consumer ''. The " consumer '' went to state to Employee XXXX that she was violating the FCRA, which states, " once you make a request and provide proper identification, they must disclose your file ; regulators have stressed that " consumers '' only need to request their report and provide " proper identification '', and the company must then provide the complete file. Also, Section 7 of the Privacy Act of 1974, codified as " note '' to 5 U.S.C. 552a, under heading, " Disclosure of Social Security Number '', and that it provides that, federal, state, and local government agencies, generally can not deny the " consumer '' a legal right, benefit, or privilege just because the " consumer '' refuse to " disclose it's SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER and that those ( PRIVATE AGENCIES SUCH AS EXPERIAN ) must still state whether this is mandatory or vouluntary and if so by what standard of law and regulations along with what will the social security number be used for. This " vital information '' was never offered nor given by either " Experian Employee XXXX or XXXX. Letting her know by doing this, " injury '', " pain and suffering '', " irreparable harm '' and " damages '' will likely occur that the " consumer '' has been " discriminated against and treated differently by two different " Experian employees '', ( XXXX and XXXX ) despite giving the same identifiers them both working in the same agency that was being recorded on a recorded line and they " both '' XXXX and XXXX did not give any much concern, care or thought after constantly being " reminded '' of the law, harm and damages they were causing by displaying this type of character and behavior by a professional staff, Causing Defamation of character, slander, XXXX, libel, for willful intent to cause injury and harm and that this all will be filed under, Tort, punitive and injunctive relief for the damages caused. The " consumer '' went on to let ( XXXX and employee XXXX XXXX know that they were also violating the " consumer 's '' 4th, 5th, 6th amendment ( along with a bunch others ) of the united States Constitution along with the " consumer 's '' state Constitution, Article I Section 2 and Article I Section 6 of the illinois state constitution of 1970 ; etc. She carried on and I instructed her to fix this huge error and learn the law and she did not " incline '' and decided to ignore my " concerns and out of nowhere I transferred to an " Experian employee staff '', name XXXX which " witnessed '' this and she was very well versed in the understanding of the " consumers rights '' law and she " informed '' the " consumer '' that she apologize for her employee behavior and incorrectness for telling the " consumer '' that their " access was denied '' and that the information Experian employee XXXX, her coworker gave and provided was inaccurate and not correct. She stated that the information that the " consumer '' provided as mentioned above, could access the " consumer 's credit report and profile '' as they are considered ( multiple identifiers ) and gave complete access with no hesitation nor restrictions to the " consumer and the " consumer '' was able to be conduct it's personal affairs for the purposes of family and household benefits, as provided by " federal law ''. Experian employee XXXX followed with thee " exact behavior '' as " Experian employee '' XXXX did. All phones calls were and are on a recorded line by the " Experian Credit Reporting Agency '' and shall be entered and preserved on and in the record as evidence and error. Both " employees '' shall be held accountable for their behaviors and actions and the damages they have caused, in their " personal capacities '' as well as their " EMPLOYER EXPERIAN CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY, '' for the " Law '' states, that " ignorance of the law is of none excuse ''. This has shown that the " Experian Credit Reporting Agency '' can en-fact access a " consumer 's '' file " WITHOUT THE SSN ''.

( 1 ). 15 U.S.C. 1681g ( a ) ( 1 ) : Requires consumer reporting agencies ( CRAs ) like Experian to disclose all information in the consumers file upon request by the consumer, once proper identification is provided. Willful noncompliance allows actual damages, statutory damages ( {$100.00} {$1000.00} per violation ), punitive damages, and attorney fees.

( 2 ) .15 U.S.C. 1681h ( a ) : CRAs must provide disclosures upon request and proper identification of any consumer. No specific list of identifiers is mandated ; courts interpret proper as reasonable under the circumstances, especially if prior access occurred without SSN.

( 3 ). 15 U.S.C. 1681e ( b ) : CRAs must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy in matching consumers and files, supporting claims of violation if inconsistent treatment shows they can locate your file without SSN A fair resolution according to FRCA : Under 15 U.S.C. 1681n ( willful noncompliance ), courts award statutory damages of {$100.00} {$1000.00} per violation, plus actual damages ( e.g., harm from denied credit ), punitive damages, and attorney fees the " consumers '' evidence shows of one employee accessing the file without SSN but another refusing makes willfulness ( reckless disregard ) more plausible than mere negligence under 1681o.

According to : 12 U.S.C. 5511 outlines the core purpose, objectives, and functions of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), empowering it as the primary federal regulator to implement and enforce federal consumer financial laws, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ).

( a ) Purpose : The Bureau shall seek to implement and, where applicable, enforce Federal consumer financial law consistently to ensure consumers have access to fair, transparent, and competitive markets for consumer financial products and services.

( b ) Objectives : The Bureau exercises its authorities to : Educate and empower consumers on financial products.

Collect, investigate, and respond to consumer complaints.

Supervise covered persons ( like credit bureaus ) for FCRA compliance and take enforcement actions against violations. Issue rules, orders, and guidance.

FCRA 1681g and 1681n for willful noncompliance.

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