When it comes to giving ANYONE your SSN, "I honestly don't remember" can't be part of the conversation. If you don't remember, then it is possible that you gave them authorization to run your credit. How can you be sure you did not, when you don't remember if you did?
Now, to be sure, they should be getting this in writing to cover their own backside, but many only care about a verbal so as not to upset the customer.
I would demand they remove the inquiries or I would walk and never buy anything from them. In this poor economy, especially for car sales, no one wants that to happen. Use the poor economy against them. They would certainly use a good economy against you if that were the case. Just ask the Toyota Prius Hybrid salesmen. "No Negotiating".
