How to Get Inquiries Off Your Credit Report

Credit inquiries appear on your credit report, recording who has accessed your credit information. While many are legitimate, unauthorized or erroneous inquiries may need removal to maintain an accurate credit profile.

Understanding Credit Inquiries

There are two primary types of credit inquiries: soft inquiries and hard inquiries.

Soft inquiries occur when your credit report is accessed for purposes other than evaluating a new credit application. These can include checking your own credit score, pre-screened offers of credit or insurance, or when a current lender reviews your account. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and are only visible to you when you access your own credit report.

Hard inquiries, conversely, happen when a lender or creditor checks your credit report because you have applied for new credit, such as a loan, credit card, or mortgage. Each hard inquiry can slightly reduce your credit score for a temporary period, typically up to two years, though their impact diminishes over time. These inquiries are visible to other lenders and can signal a higher credit seeking activity, which might be viewed as a risk.

Identifying Disputable Inquiries

To identify disputable inquiries, obtain free copies of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. This official website provides weekly access to your reports.

Once you have your credit reports, carefully examine the inquiries listed to identify any that seem unfamiliar or unauthorized. Inquiries that are potentially disputable include those resulting from identity theft, applications you did not initiate, or errors by the credit bureau or a lender. For instance, if you find an inquiry from a company you never contacted for credit, it may be an unauthorized entry.

Gathering supporting documentation is important before initiating a dispute. For identity theft, a police report or a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Report serves as strong evidence. If the inquiry resulted from an error, any correspondence or records confirming you did not apply for credit from that entity will be helpful.

Steps for Inquiry Removal

To formally request removal, initiate a dispute directly with each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. While online dispute portals are often the fastest method, sending a written dispute letter via certified mail with a return receipt provides a verifiable paper trail.

When disputing online, navigate to the specific credit bureau’s dispute center, such as Experian’s dispute center, Equifax’s online portal, or TransUnion’s service center. You will typically need to create an account or log in to submit your claim. Provide clear details about the inquiry you are disputing, including the account number if applicable, and explain why you believe it is inaccurate or unauthorized.

If sending a dispute letter by mail, ensure it includes your full name, address, Social Security number, and a copy of your credit report with the disputed inquiry highlighted. Clearly state that you are disputing an unauthorized inquiry and request its removal. Attach copies of all supporting documents, such as identity theft reports or proof of non-application, but never send original documents as they will not be returned.

After submitting your dispute, credit bureaus are required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to investigate the matter within 30 days, which can extend to 45 days if you provide additional information or if you accessed your report through AnnualCreditReport.com. Following the investigation, the bureau must notify you of its findings within five business days. If the inquiry is found to be inaccurate or unauthorized, it will be removed from your credit report.

Post-Removal Actions and Prevention

After initiating a dispute, follow up to verify that the inquiries have been removed from your credit reports. Regularly check your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to confirm changes. This ongoing monitoring helps ensure the accuracy of your financial data.

To prevent future unauthorized inquiries and enhance your credit security, consider implementing protective measures. Placing a fraud alert on your credit report signals to potential creditors that they should take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. You can place an initial fraud alert, which lasts for one year, by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus; that bureau will then notify the others.

A more robust protection is a security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, which restricts access to your credit report entirely. This measure can help prevent new credit accounts from being opened in your name, even by legitimate creditors, unless you temporarily lift the freeze. You must place a security freeze with each of the three credit bureaus separately, though the process is free and can often be managed online or by phone.