I am disputing an inquiry on my credit report. After sending two letters to the creditor and receiving no response, I sent a final warning fax to the creditor stating that I was going to sue them. They responded via fax and stated that, if I provided them with my SSN# and my credit report, they would do a search to see if the inquiry was authorized. Now, I don't have a problem providing them with my credit report since I will just block out everything except my name and addres along with the inquiry. However, do they really need my SSN? I have disputed other inquiries in the past. Normally, I send the creditor / collection agency a letter with my name and address stating that I did not authorize their inquiry (but I give them no date about the inquiry). They respond stating, the inquiry made on XXX date was in error and we are removing it. My point is that, nobody else needs a SSN and credit report, so why should I give it to them? I just received a $1000 check in the mail a few days ago for one unauthorized inquiry and I didn't need to give them my SSN. What do you think?
I'd wouldn't send my SSN. I'd probably do like you did once again--send all the relevant account infomation listed on the credit report (partial account number, date opened, etc...) and tell them this is all they need to do research (and it should be!!!)...
I would not give them my ssn either. They have already breached your privacy once, why give them more ammo to do it again with?
"Please cite the LAW that requires me to provide my SS# to you to PROVE that YOU did something wrong"
I agree. They probably put the inquiry there without the SSN. If you send them the credit report with everything else blocked out, I think they should have an internal way to check. Tell them that since this isn't an employment matter or something dealing with banking or taxes, they have no legal right to request the SSN. It gets used way too much for things it wasn't intended to be used for.
And I forgot to add--Congratulations on getting $1000 for an inquiry. Maybe if more of us made them pay they'd get the idea that they can't just arbitrarily pull inquiries.
Thanks everyone for the help. The trick about getting the $1000 is to, at first, not even bring it up. Get them to say that they made the inquiry in error. And then, once they acknowledge that, you got 'em. The law very clearly states that any unauthorized inquiry, even one made in error is not allowed, so you get a slam dunk $1000. However, if you throw the $1000 around right up front, they are liable to say things like we received your application over the phone and we can't do anything for you as no signed application was required. You want to trick them into believing all you want is removal and if you can get that, your home free!
