I posted the question yesterday but I didn't get a answer from anyone. I got a letter in the mail from a company saying I was denied credit for "insufficient recent activity on my credit report." 1. I never applied for this card!! 2. I have a fraud on my credit file and on my report it gives instructions to call me by phone (the number listed on my credit report) to verify that it is ACTUALLY ME!!! 3. They pulled my credit report, EQUIFAX Hard inquiry, with out calling me!!! HOW do I know they didn't call? B/C the phone number on Equifax doesn't exist anymore!! SOOO.. That would take care of ANYONE other than me trying to get credit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I wish to apply for credit I call Equifax and explain whom I am applying with and I put a 48 hour hold on the fraud alert!! This proves to me that fraud alerts do NOT work!!! IF the companies choose not to acknowledge them!!! My Question is......What else can I do along with writing the FTC!! MartysGirl
What are Equifax's obligations when you have a fraud alert? Do they have any? I am not too knowledgable about this. Never been through it, Thank God! breeze
Do you have any proof or documentation that Equifax put a fraud alert on your file. If so, have them send you a copy of the procedures and responsibilties with regard to fraud alerts. If they violated there own procedure then point it out and request immediate removal of the inquiry. I would also contact the credit card company and tell them that failure to remove the unauthorized inquiry immediately will result in a complaint to the FTC and a possible lawsuit.
Ok To Answer a few Questions. I do have a copy of my Fraud Alert from Equifax that gives instructions to Call me @ home before issuing any credit!! Equifax is not at fault here... They have to send the credit card company my statement demanding a phone call first. THIS is on the company to Contact me before giving a denial or issuing credit!!!! I called the CC company. I gave them the reference number that was sent to me by mail with the denial. I told the Rep I didn't apply for the card and I have a Fraud Alert b/c this has happened to me before. She carries on to say that she see's on her screen that I have an alert. I then asked why they didn't follow up with the alert and call? (BTW... knowing that the number is no longer in service so credit can't be issued) I demanded they delete the inquiry! She told me that Fraud would have to contact me and asked for a phone number they could reach me at!! What I want to know is./.... there anything other than writing to the FTC that I can do?? That way.... when I talk to fraud... I can let them know if they don't delete the inquiry! I will sue them and sound like I know what I am talking about. Does anyone know where I can find out what laws banks have to abide by with issuing credit and Identity Theft victims?? I have looked everywhere and have come up with nothing that pertains to my situation?? I am not sure If I could even sue them if it come down to it!! Thanks MartysGirl
Okay try this - I have done it with a few things - call the FTC consumer helpline - you will get a consumer counselor. Discuss this with the counselor. Pin the counselor down with "so I should tell them you said, blah blah blah...." Then when you talk to the bank's fraud dept (or any one else there) say, "on such and such a date, I spoke with a representative at the FTC, and he/she told me to tell you........" It has worked for me. The FTC logs your calls and the subject. breeze
