Consumer complaint received 2025-06-17 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: Experian Information Solutions Inc.
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint because my Experian credit report contains multiple unauthorized hard inquiries that I did not initiate, approve, or authorize. These inquiries have damaged my credit score and were made without my informed consent. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I visited a local auto dealership to explore financing options for a potential vehicle purchase. I clearly stated to the dealer that no credit inquiry should be performed without my direct written consent. I never filled out or signed any credit application. Despite this, my credit report shows that numerous lenders and financial institutions pulled my credit on the same day and in the days following, suggesting that my personal information was shared across several lenders without my knowledge. 

This practice is known as credit application shotgunning, and it is both predatory and harmful. It violates my privacy and has led to a drop in my credit score. I also do not have any business relationship or open application with many of the companies listed below. 

I disputed these inquiries directly with Experian and requested they either delete the inquiries or provide proof of my authorization. Experian responded without providing any evidence of my consent, nor did they remove the inquiries, despite my rights under the law. 

Inquiries I am disputing : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXX/XX/XXXX Several of these inquiries are duplicated on the same day, further indicating abuse of my information.

Laws that support my complaint : FCRA 604 ( a ) ( 2 ) : A consumer report may only be accessed with the written authorization of the consumer. I never gave written or verbal consent to most of these companies.

FCRA 604 ( f ) : No entity shall obtain a consumer report without a permissible purpose. Most of these companies had no reason to access my credit file.

FCRA 607 ( b ) : Requires credit reporting agencies to follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy of consumer information. Allowing multiple unauthorized inquiries violates this standard.

FCRA 611 : Grants consumers the right to dispute any inaccurate or unverifiable item on their credit report. Experian failed to provide any verification or proof of my authorization.

Requested resolution : I am requesting the CFPB to investigate this matter and direct Experian to either : Remove all the unauthorized inquiries listed above, or Provide copies of signed authorization documents proving that I gave express permission for each credit inquiry.

Absent such proof, these inquiries must be removed in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

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