How to Get Rid of Hard Inquiries on Credit Report

A hard inquiry on your credit report occurs when a lender or company reviews your credit file as part of a lending decision, such as for a loan or credit card application. While most hard inquiries are legitimate and will remain on your credit report, specific circumstances allow for their removal.

Understanding Hard Inquiries and Removal Conditions

A hard inquiry, also known as a “hard pull” or “hard credit check,” happens when a financial institution accesses your credit report because you have applied for new credit. Hard inquiries typically appear on your credit report and can cause a small, temporary dip in your credit score.

Hard inquiries usually remain on your credit report for up to two years. However, their impact on your credit score generally diminishes after the first 12 months. While all hard inquiries will be listed, only those you genuinely authorized will remain on your report permanently for their two-year duration.

The ability to remove a hard inquiry from your credit report is generally limited to specific scenarios. An inquiry can typically be removed if it was placed due to an error, meaning it was made without your authorization or resulted from a mistake, such as being placed on the wrong person’s report. Additionally, removal is possible if the inquiry resulted from fraudulent activity, like identity theft, where someone applied for credit in your name without your knowledge. It is important to understand that legitimate inquiries, those you authorized when applying for credit, cannot be removed, even if you later decide against the credit product.

Preparing for Your Dispute

Gather all necessary information and documentation before initiating any dispute. Obtain copies of your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You can access free weekly reports from each bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing these reports will help you identify the specific hard inquiry or inquiries you intend to dispute.

Once you have your credit reports, carefully identify the hard inquiry in question, noting its date, the name of the creditor who made the inquiry, and any associated account number if applicable. Collecting specific evidence to support your claim of error or fraud is a crucial step. For inquiries made in error, such as those you did not authorize, gather documentation that proves your lack of authorization or mistaken identity. This might include utility bills, a driver’s license to verify your address or identity, or a statement from the creditor acknowledging their mistake.

If the inquiry is a result of fraud, such as identity theft, obtaining a police report is recommended, along with an official identity theft affidavit, often available through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov. Any proof of account closure for fraudulent accounts can also serve as supporting evidence. Additionally, ensure you have accurate personal identification information, including your full name, current and previous addresses, date of birth, and Social Security Number, as these will be required for verification when contacting credit bureaus or creditors.

Disputing Hard Inquiries

Once your documentation is prepared, proceed with disputing the hard inquiry. The primary method involves contacting the credit bureaus directly. You can typically submit a dispute online through their respective websites, by mail, or over the phone. When filing the dispute, clearly state which inquiry you are disputing, explain why you believe it is inaccurate or fraudulent, and attach all relevant supporting documents you gathered during your preparation.

Credit bureaus are generally required to investigate disputes within 30 to 45 days of receiving your submission. During this period, they will contact the creditor that reported the inquiry to verify the information. If the investigation determines the inquiry was indeed erroneous or fraudulent, it will be removed from your credit report. You will be notified of the outcome of their investigation.

While not always mandatory, contacting the creditor who made the inquiry directly can also be beneficial, especially if you suspect the inquiry was a mistake on their part. You can find their contact information listed with the inquiry on your credit report. Explain the error and request its removal; sometimes, a direct request can lead to a quicker resolution if the creditor acknowledges a mistake.