This number is used by Citi Group to deflect humans from doing anything about their actions. Citi is the parent company for Citimortgage, Citifinancial, Citibank, etc etc which is a foreign corporation in India doing business in the U.S. It is a bad actor of the first order! They have been fined, sued, and investigated by fed and state governments and individuals to no avail. Congress will not allow them or any other "financial" institution to be held accountable for their frauds, felonies and misdemeanors. Until the financial industries are held to account we will continue to be their victims. Write and call your congress persons although they seem to be powerless against special interests. The only reason they do these credit inquiries on their customers as far as I can see is to cause them as much pain as possible since they have nothing to gain from it except their delight in exploiting and doing damage to consumers. Citi is one of only 5 mortgage holders in the USA so they can hold the govt hostage since they can crash our economy. What do they care--they're from a foreign country! Sanjiv Das is the pres and vp and seems to be immune to public outcry or prosecution.
I called Citi mortgage and they admitted it was them doing the hard credit check. They claim that as long as I'm trying to apply for a refi they can check my credit rating anytime they want.
They have done it twice to me. Citi is the hardest bank to deal with. If you are thinking of getting a mortgage through them, do not do it. Find another way. I am warning you. I rather not buy a house then deal with them ever again.