How to Remove Hard Inquiries From Your Credit Report

Hard inquiries on your credit report can slightly lower your credit score and remain visible for up to two years. These inquiries occur when you apply for new credit, such as a loan or a credit card, prompting a lender to review your creditworthiness. While a single inquiry typically has a minimal impact, multiple hard inquiries in a short period might signal increased risk to potential lenders. Only specific types of hard inquiries are eligible for dispute and potential removal.

Understanding Hard Inquiries Eligible for Removal

Hard inquiries can be removed from your credit report if they are unauthorized or inaccurate. Unauthorized inquiries often stem from identity theft, fraud, or situations where a credit pull occurred without your explicit consent for a credit application. For example, if someone applied for credit using your personal information without your knowledge, any resulting hard inquiry would be considered unauthorized.

Inaccurate inquiries can also be removed. This includes duplicate inquiries from the same lender for a single credit application, which might arise from system errors. Another scenario involves inquiries mistakenly placed on your credit report that actually belong to another individual. These errors misrepresent your credit-seeking behavior or are factual mistakes.

It is important to distinguish these removable inquiries from legitimate ones. Hard inquiries you authorized by applying for credit cannot be removed before their two-year reporting period ends. Although the impact on your credit score often lessens after 12 months, the inquiry remains on your report for the full two-year duration.

Preparing Your Dispute

To prepare your dispute, first identify the specific hard inquiry you wish to challenge on your credit report. Note the creditor’s name, the inquiry date, and the type of credit product involved. This precise information is essential for building your case.

Once identified, collect evidence to support your claim. If the inquiry resulted from identity theft, a police report or an official identity theft report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) serves as strong documentation. For inaccurate inquiries, such as duplicates or errors, evidence might include communications from the creditor acknowledging a mistake or proof that you did not submit an application.

When formulating your dispute, whether as a letter or for an online submission, include your full name, current address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Clearly specify the disputed inquiry’s details and state whether it was unauthorized or inaccurate. Remember to list all attached supporting documents, providing copies rather than originals. Since Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion maintain separate credit reports, prepare a distinct dispute for each bureau reporting the inquiry.

Submitting Your Dispute

With your dispute prepared, you can proceed with submission to the relevant credit bureaus. Each of the three major credit bureaus provides online portals for submitting disputes. These secure platforms allow you to enter necessary information and upload supporting documentation efficiently. Utilizing an online portal can often be the quickest way to initiate the investigation.

Alternatively, you may submit your dispute via mail. If mailing, send your dispute letter along with copies of all supporting documents using certified mail with a return receipt requested. This method provides verifiable proof of mailing and delivery, which is important for your records. Regardless of the chosen method, ensure all preparatory steps are complete before submission.

Following Up on Your Dispute

After submitting your dispute, credit bureaus are generally required to investigate the claim within 30 to 45 days. This period allows them to verify information with the initiating creditor and review your provided evidence. You should receive written notification from the credit bureau detailing the investigation’s outcome.

If the dispute is successful, the hard inquiry will be removed from your credit report. Obtain updated credit reports from all three bureaus to confirm the removal. If the dispute is denied, you have further options, such as requesting that a brief “statement of dispute” be added to your credit file, which explains your position to future creditors. Regularly monitoring your credit reports will help ensure the inquiry remains removed and to identify any unexpected activity.