How to Remove Hard Inquiries From Your Credit Report
Learn the legitimate methods to address certain hard inquiries on your credit report. Understand when and how to dispute inaccurate or unauthorized entries.
Hard inquiries on a credit report reflect a lender’s request to review your credit history when you apply for new credit. This article explains how to identify and address certain hard inquiries that may appear on your credit report.
Understanding Hard Inquiries
A hard inquiry occurs when a lender formally requests to view your credit report as part of a credit application. This happens when you apply for new credit, such as a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or personal loan. The inquiry serves as a record that you sought new credit and a lender evaluated your creditworthiness.
In contrast, a soft inquiry occurs when your credit is checked for purposes other than a new credit application. Examples include checking your own credit report, pre-qualifying for a loan offer, or when a company reviews your account for promotional offers. Soft inquiries do not impact your credit score, while hard inquiries do. Both types of inquiries can remain on your credit report for up to two years.
Identifying Removable Inquiries
Not all hard inquiries can be removed from your credit report. Legitimate inquiries, those you authorized by applying for credit, remain on your report for up to two years. However, if a hard inquiry appears on your credit report that you did not authorize or that contains factual errors, it may be possible to have it removed.
An unauthorized inquiry occurs when a credit check is performed without your permission or a legitimate application. This could indicate identity theft, where someone used your information to apply for credit, or an error by a lender. Inaccurate inquiries involve errors such as an incorrect date or a duplicate entry for a single application.
Gathering Information for a Dispute
Before initiating a dispute, it is important to gather all necessary information. Obtain copies of your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each bureau once every 12 months through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Once you have your reports, carefully review them to identify any hard inquiries you believe are unauthorized or inaccurate. Note the name of the inquiring company and the date of the inquiry. If you suspect identity theft, consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov, as this can provide valuable documentation.
Collecting supporting evidence is crucial for your dispute. This might include police reports if identity theft is involved, written communication with the lender clarifying that no application was made, or bank statements that show no associated account was opened. Any documentation that helps prove the inquiry was unauthorized or erroneous will strengthen your case.
Submitting a Dispute
Once you have gathered your information and identified the specific inquiries you wish to dispute, you can formally submit your claim to the credit bureaus. You can file a dispute with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion online, by mail, or by phone. It is often recommended to dispute by certified mail to maintain a record of your submission.
When submitting your dispute, clearly explain why you believe the inquiry is unauthorized or inaccurate and include copies of any supporting documentation you collected. The credit bureau is required to investigate your dispute within 30 to 45 days. They will contact the entity that made the inquiry to verify the information.
You also have the option to contact the original creditor or company that made the inquiry directly. You can request them to verify the legitimacy of the inquiry and, if it was an error, ask them to notify the credit bureaus to remove it. After the credit bureau completes its investigation, they will notify you of the outcome, and if the inquiry is found to be unauthorized or inaccurate, it will be removed from your credit report.