How Do You Get Inquiries Off Your Credit Report?
Understand how credit report inquiries affect you. Learn the practical steps to manage and correct certain entries, ensuring your financial data is precise.
A credit inquiry appears on your credit report whenever a third party accesses your credit information. These entries reflect various financial activities and can influence your credit standing. While many inquiries are a normal part of financial interactions, some may appear due to errors or unauthorized access, leading consumers to seek their removal.
Understanding Credit Inquiries
Credit inquiries are categorized into two primary types: hard inquiries and soft inquiries. A hard inquiry occurs when a lender checks your credit report as part of an application for new credit, such as a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card. These inquiries are visible to other lenders and can temporarily affect your credit score. The impact is minor, often just a few points, and diminishes over time.
In contrast, a soft inquiry happens when someone checks your credit report without you applying for new credit. This can include when you check your own credit, when a prospective lender pre-qualifies you for an offer, or for employment verification. Soft inquiries are only visible to you and sometimes to the entity that performed them, and they do not affect your credit score. Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years, though their impact on your credit score lasts for only 12 months. Soft inquiries also remain on your report for one to two years, but they carry no scoring implications.
Circumstances for Inquiry Removal
Most legitimate hard inquiries cannot be removed from your credit report. If you applied for new credit and authorized a lender to check your credit, that inquiry will remain on your report for its standard duration. Disputing a legitimate inquiry will not result in its removal. Soft inquiries also cannot be removed because they do not negatively impact your credit score.
However, specific situations permit the removal of a hard inquiry. An inquiry can be removed if it was made without your authorization, such as in cases of identity theft or fraudulent applications. Another scenario for removal is if the inquiry is a duplicate from the same lender for the same application within a short period. An inquiry may also be removed if it resulted from a clerical error made by the lender or a credit reporting agency.
Preparing for an Inquiry Dispute
Before initiating a formal dispute, gather all necessary information and supporting documentation. Obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can access these reports weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review each report to identify the specific inquiry you intend to dispute, noting the date, creditor’s name, and any associated account numbers.
Once identified, collect evidence to support your claim that it is unauthorized or erroneous. For identity theft, a police report or a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Report is necessary. If the inquiry appears to be a clerical error, gather any written communication from the creditor acknowledging the mistake or proof that you did not apply for the credit. Contacting the original creditor directly can sometimes resolve the issue, as they may remove the inquiry if they confirm an error. When contacting a creditor, provide your personal identification and the inquiry details, requesting written confirmation of their action.
Disputing Inquiries with Credit Bureaus
After preparing your documentation, formally dispute the inquiry with the credit bureaus. Each of the three major bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—offers online dispute portals, and you can also dispute by mail. For online submission, navigate to the dispute section on their respective websites. When disputing by mail, send a detailed letter that includes your full name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, and a clear explanation of why you are disputing the inquiry.
Include a copy of your credit report with the disputed inquiry highlighted and attach copies of all supporting documents. Sending your dispute letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested provides proof of delivery. After submitting your dispute, credit bureaus are required to investigate the claim within 30 days. You will receive notification of the investigation’s results within five business days of its completion. If the dispute is successful, the inquiry will be removed from your credit report; otherwise, it will remain.