How to Get Hard Inquiries Removed From Your Credit Report

A hard inquiry occurs when a lender or creditor reviews your credit report in response to an application for new credit, such as a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card. This process allows them to assess your creditworthiness. While hard inquiries are a routine part of applying for credit, their presence on your credit report can influence your credit score. Many inquiries in a short timeframe may signal increased risk to potential lenders.

Understanding Hard Inquiries and Their Impact

Hard inquiries are entries on your credit report that include the date of the inquiry and the name of the creditor. These inquiries generally remain on your credit report for up to two years. Their impact on your credit score is typically temporary, often affecting the score for about 12 months. A single hard inquiry usually results in a minor score reduction, often by fewer than five points.

It is important to distinguish between authorized and unauthorized hard inquiries. Authorized inquiries are those legitimately made when you apply for credit and grant permission for a credit check. Unauthorized inquiries occur without your consent, potentially due to identity theft, error, or an application you never submitted. Only unauthorized inquiries are eligible for removal from your credit report.

Preparing to Dispute Unauthorized Inquiries

Before initiating a dispute for an unauthorized hard inquiry, gather necessary information. Obtain a free copy of your credit report weekly from each of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—through AnnualCreditReport.com. Review these reports carefully to identify any inquiries you do not recognize, noting the date and the name of the creditor. A recognized store name might appear under a different financial institution’s name, so verify thoroughly before concluding it’s unauthorized.

An inquiry is considered unauthorized if it resulted from identity theft, a clear error, or if you never applied for the credit. If identity theft is suspected, obtaining a police report or filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov can provide crucial supporting documentation. Any correspondence with the creditor or personal notes regarding the application can also serve as evidence. Compiling all relevant personal identification information, such as your full name, address, and Social Security number, will be necessary for the dispute process.

Disputing Unauthorized Inquiries

Once you have gathered all necessary information, formally dispute unauthorized hard inquiries with the credit bureaus. You can initiate a dispute online, by mail, or by phone; written disputes are often recommended as they provide a clear record of your submission. Your dispute should clearly state your personal details, identify the specific inquiry you wish to remove, explain why it is unauthorized, and include any supporting documentation you collected. The credit bureaus typically have 30 to 45 days to investigate and respond to your dispute.

In parallel with disputing through the credit bureaus, you may also directly contact the creditor that made the unauthorized inquiry. Request that they provide proof the inquiry was authorized. If they confirm it was an error or unauthorized, ask them to notify the credit bureaus to remove it. Document all communications, including dates, names of representatives, and summaries of conversations.

Managing Authorized Inquiries and Preventing New Ones

Authorized hard inquiries, which result from legitimate credit applications, cannot be removed from your credit report. Their impact on your credit score lessens over time and typically becomes negligible after about 12 months, even though the inquiry remains on your report for up to two years. When shopping for loans like mortgages or auto loans, multiple inquiries within a short timeframe (typically 14 to 45 days, depending on the scoring model) are often treated as a single inquiry, minimizing their collective impact. This “rate shopping” allows you to compare offers without significantly penalizing your score.

To prevent future unwanted or unauthorized inquiries, regularly monitor your credit reports. You can place a fraud alert on your credit report, which prompts creditors to verify your identity before extending new credit. This alert typically lasts one year, but can be renewed. You can also place a credit freeze, which restricts access to your credit report, making it difficult for new accounts to be opened in your name. You must contact each of the three major credit bureaus individually to place a credit freeze. Neither a fraud alert nor a credit freeze will negatively affect your credit score.