Can You Get Inquiries Removed From Your Credit Report?
Understand if and how specific credit inquiries can be removed from your credit report and learn the steps to dispute them effectively.
Credit inquiries appear on a credit report as a record of who has accessed your credit information. Understanding inquiry types and removal conditions is important for managing your credit profile.
Types of Credit Inquiries
Credit inquiries are categorized into two main types: hard inquiries and soft inquiries.
A hard inquiry occurs when a lender or creditor checks your credit report after you apply for new credit, such as a loan or credit card. These inquiries are visible to other lenders and can temporarily affect your credit score, typically by a few points. Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years, although their impact on your credit score lessens after 12 months.
In contrast, a soft inquiry happens when your credit report is accessed for purposes other than a new credit application. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and are generally only visible to you, not to other lenders. These types of inquiries may also appear on your report if an employer, landlord, or insurance company performs a background check, often with your permission.
Eligibility for Removal
Legitimate hard inquiries, which you authorized when applying for credit, cannot be removed from your credit report before their natural expiration, typically two years. These entries are a factual record of your credit-seeking activity.
However, a hard inquiry may be eligible for removal under specific, limited conditions.
An inquiry can be disputed and potentially removed if it is unauthorized or inaccurate.
This includes identity theft, where someone fraudulently applies for credit in your name, or if the inquiry contains errors like an incorrect date or a creditor you never interacted with.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides consumers with the right to dispute inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information on their credit reports.
Review your credit report for specific details like the inquiry date and creditor’s name to determine if it meets these criteria. Collect any supporting documentation, like police reports for identity theft, that might prove the inquiry was unauthorized or erroneous.
Steps to Dispute Inquiries
After identifying an unauthorized or inaccurate inquiry and gathering supporting documentation, dispute it with the credit bureaus.
The three major nationwide credit reporting agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You may need to dispute the item with each bureau that shows the error on your report.
Disputes can be submitted online, by mail, or over the phone. Online submission is often the fastest and most convenient method.
When disputing by mail, send your dispute letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested to maintain a record of delivery.
Your dispute letter should clearly identify the specific inquiry, state the reason for the dispute, and request its removal or correction. Include copies, not original documents, of any supporting evidence, such as police reports or communications with the creditor, along with your contact information and any relevant account numbers.
What Happens After a Dispute
After you submit a dispute, credit bureaus are required to investigate the disputed information.
This investigation typically takes about 30 days, though it can extend to 45 days if you provide additional supporting documentation.
During this period, the credit bureau contacts the entity that furnished the information to verify its accuracy.
Upon completion of the investigation, the credit bureau must notify you of the outcome. This notification usually occurs within five business days of the investigation’s conclusion.
If the investigation determines the inquiry was unauthorized or inaccurate, it will be removed from your credit report. If verified as accurate and legitimate, it will remain on your report until its natural expiration.