How to Get Hard Inquiries Off Your Credit

A hard inquiry occurs when a lender reviews your credit history in response to an application for new credit. This process is a standard part of assessing your creditworthiness before extending a loan or opening an account. This article will guide you through identifying hard inquiries and the specific circumstances under which certain inquiries might be removed from your credit report.

What Are Hard Inquiries

A hard inquiry, sometimes called a “hard pull” or “hard credit check,” is a formal request by a lender to review your credit report. This typically happens when you apply for new credit products, such as a mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, credit card, or certain private student loans. Lenders use this information to evaluate your financial behavior and make lending decisions.

When a lender accesses your credit report for an application, a record of this action is added as a hard inquiry. This differs from a “soft inquiry,” which occurs when you check your own credit or a company pre-screens you for an offer, as soft inquiries do not impact your credit score. While a single hard inquiry typically has a minimal and temporary effect on your credit score, usually a reduction of fewer than five points, multiple inquiries within a short period can sometimes signal increased risk to lenders. However, for certain types of loans like mortgages or auto loans, multiple inquiries made within 14 to 45 days are often counted as a single inquiry to allow for rate shopping.

Identifying Hard Inquiries on Your Credit Report

To identify hard inquiries, obtain your free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You are entitled to one free copy from each bureau every 12 months via AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing all three reports is advisable, as information may vary slightly between them.

Once you have your credit reports, locate the section dedicated to inquiries. This section may be labeled “hard inquiries,” “credit inquiries,” or “inquiries.” Each entry typically includes the name of the creditor that made the inquiry and the date it occurred. Carefully review each entry to ensure you recognize the creditor and that the inquiry corresponds to an application you initiated.

When Hard Inquiries Can Be Removed

Legitimate hard inquiries, made with your explicit consent when you applied for credit, cannot be removed from your credit report before their natural expiration. These inquiries typically remain on your credit report for up to two years from the date of the inquiry. While they stay on your report for two years, their impact on your credit score often lessens after 12 months, as many credit scoring models give less weight to older inquiries.

However, certain circumstances allow for the active removal of a hard inquiry. An inquiry can be disputed and potentially removed if it is incorrect or unauthorized. This includes situations where an inquiry resulted from identity theft, or clerical errors made by a lender, such as an inquiry appearing on your report even though you never submitted an application, or if the inquiry was made without a permissible purpose. If you identify a hard inquiry that you do not recognize or did not authorize, it could be a sign of fraudulent activity or an error, making it a candidate for dispute.

Steps to Dispute Incorrect Hard Inquiries

If you identify an incorrect or unauthorized hard inquiry, you can dispute it with the credit bureaus and, in some cases, directly with the creditor. This process aims to correct inaccuracies.

Gathering Documentation

Begin by gathering all relevant supporting documentation that proves the inquiry is unauthorized or erroneous. This might include an identity theft report if your information was used fraudulently, or any correspondence that demonstrates you did not apply for the credit associated with the inquiry. Having clear evidence strengthens your dispute.

Initiating a Dispute with Credit Bureaus

Initiate a dispute with each of the three major credit bureaus where the incorrect inquiry appears: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each bureau offers multiple methods for filing a dispute, including online portals, mail, and sometimes phone.

When submitting your dispute, whether online or by mail, provide:

• The inquiry date
• The name of the creditor
• A concise explanation of why it should be removed (e.g., you never applied for credit, or it resulted from identity theft)

If disputing by mail, send a letter that clearly identifies the inquiry, explains why it is incorrect, and includes copies of your supporting documentation. Keep original documents for your records.

After receiving your dispute, the credit bureau is generally required to investigate the item within 30 to 45 days. During this investigation, the bureau will contact the creditor that made the inquiry to verify its legitimacy. If the creditor cannot verify the inquiry or if it is found to be truly unauthorized, the inquiry should be removed from your credit report.

Contacting the Original Creditor

While disputing with the credit bureaus, consider also contacting the original creditor directly. Explain to them that you did not authorize the inquiry and request that they remove it from your credit report. This supplementary step can sometimes expedite the resolution process.

Receiving Results

Upon completion of their investigation, the credit bureau will notify you of the results. If the inquiry is removed, you will receive an updated credit report reflecting this change. If the dispute is denied, the bureau will provide a reason for their decision. Should the inquiry not be removed, and you believe it is still incorrect, you have the option to add a brief statement to your credit report explaining your position. This statement will be included whenever your credit report is accessed by a potential lender.