Consumer complaint received 2025-09-02 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Improper use of your report — Reporting company used your report improperly
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
Subject : Formal Complaint Regarding Unauthorized Hard Inquiries, Identity Theft, and Failure to Investigate by Lenders and Credit Bureaus To Whom It May Concern : I am writing to file a formal complaint under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ) concerning multiple unauthorized hard inquiries on my credit report. I am also a confirmed victim of identity theft, and despite my efforts to resolve this directly with the respective financial institutions and the three major credit bureaus ( Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion ), I have not received an adequate resolution.

My personal identifying information, including my Social Security Number and date of birth, was previously compromised in a data breach. This information is now being used by criminals to apply for credit in my name. I have filed a report with the [ Name of Your Local Police Department ] on [ Date you filed the report ] regarding the identity theft ( please see attached copy of the police report and FTC Identity Theft Affidavit ). 

1. List of Unauthorized Hard Inquiries : The following hard inquiries appear on my credit report ( s ) for which I did not apply nor authorize. These inquiries are the direct result of fraudulent applications made using my stolen identity : 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Actions I Have Already Taken : As recommended by the FTC 's guidelines for identity theft victims, I have taken the following steps : Placed Fraud Alerts : I have placed an extended fraud alert with all three nationwide credit bureaus. 

Disputed with Credit Bureaus : I have filed formal disputes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion regarding each of these unauthorized inquiries, citing identity theft. The bureaus have either failed to conduct a reasonable investigation or have deemed the inquiries " frivolous '' and left them on my report. 

Contacted the Lenders/Creditors : I have contacted each of the lenders listed above ( to the best of my ability, given the often-limited contact information provided on credit reports ) to inform them that the applications are fraudulent. I have requested that they provide me with documentation of the application and their proof that I authorized this hard pull, as is my right under the FCRA. To date, I have received no substantive response or proof from any of them. Their inaction has prevented me from effectively disputing these items with the credit bureaus. 

Filed a Police Report : I reported the crime to my local police department and obtained a report. 

FTC Identity Theft Report : I have filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.

3. The Impact : These unauthorized hard inquiries are damaging my credit score. As you know, hard inquiries can lower a credit score and remain on a report for up to two years 1. More importantly, their presence is a glaring indicator of ongoing identity theft and poses a significant barrier to me obtaining legitimate credit for my own needs. The volume of inquiries in a short period, particularly the cluster on XX/XX/XXXX, makes it appear to any legitimate lender that I am desperately seeking credit, which is not the case XXXX. 

XXXX. My Request to the CFPB : I urge the CFPB to investigate this matter. Specifically, I request that you : Instruct the three nationwide credit bureaus to immediately and permanently delete all of the fraudulent hard inquiries listed above from my credit file. 

Inquire into the practices of the lenders involved ( particularly those with multiple hits like XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding their procedures for verifying the identity of an applicant before initiating a hard credit pull. 

Ensure these lenders comply with the FCRA and respond to my requests for information and documentation regarding these fraudulent applications. 

I have been proactive in trying to resolve this identity theft, but I have hit a wall with the credit bureaus and lenders. I need the intervention of the CFPB to protect my credit history and hold these entities accountable for their role in facilitating this fraud through inadequate verification procedures. 

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I am available to provide any further information or documentation required.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation