Extended Fraud Alert treated more seriously with good credit

[ISOgoodTacos]

So far 2022 has brought me a few new rounds of identity theft. I expect it because my personal data has been exposed in multiple data breaches over the years. What I did not expect was this line in a form letter response Bank of America sent me after I disputed a hard pull it made with complete disregard for the extended seven year fraud alert on my credit report, "Please note that Bank of America only contacts clients with Consumer Alerts on their bureaus if the application would be approved."

It looks as though BofA would never have removed its unauthorized inquiry of its own volition. From other users' experiences, is it actually normal that being less credit worthy for a particular loan or card means that banks feel freer to access your records and leave their fingerprint marks in your credit reports? 

[Remedios]

Well, that's standard. Fraud alert never stops the HP, I mean...how would they even know you have fraud alert without pulling your credit. 

Sometimes lenders will re-code HP to SP after being contacted, and others require identity theft process be followed before removing inquiries. 

For the most part, they can tell where application originated (your stated address vs IP location etc), so if it was not you, you can file complaint with CFPB if you have a proof you filed identity theft report. 

If you did not, you can still file complaint, I'm not sure if BoA will remove it since they aren't breaking any laws/regulations. 

Typically HPs cannot be disputed directly with CRAs, that tends to be dead end, but you can call and see what happens

None of that has anything to do with credit worthiness, it has everything to do opening and reporting new account in the presence of fraud alert.

Besides, you already think/know you've been a victim of identity theft, so freeze your reports and leave them frozen unless you're applying for something. 

[ISOgoodTacos]

All good points. I think I got a bit too spoiled with Amex. They stop everything immediately and call to ask before proceeding with hard pulls. 

Transunion, Equifax, and some of the smaller cra reports were frozen during my last bout of identity theft. Now that Experian has removed some road blocks and made it easier to freeze their reports, they are finally on ice.