How to Remove Hard Pulls From Credit Report

Understanding and managing hard inquiries on your credit report is an important aspect of maintaining financial health. These inquiries, often referred to as “hard pulls,” can influence your credit standing and are a record of your applications for new credit. While many hard inquiries are legitimate and expected, certain circumstances may allow for their removal, which can be beneficial for your credit profile. Navigating this process requires a clear understanding of what constitutes a removable inquiry and the proper steps for dispute.

Understanding Hard Inquiries

A hard inquiry occurs when you apply for new credit, such as a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card, and the potential lender reviews your credit report to assess your creditworthiness. This type of inquiry signals to other lenders that you are seeking additional credit, which can sometimes be viewed as an increased risk. Hard inquiries typically cause a minor, temporary dip in your credit score, often by fewer than five points. Although they remain on your credit report for up to two years, their impact on your credit score generally lessens after a few months and typically ceases to affect your score after 12 months.

Hard inquiries differ from soft inquiries, which do not affect your credit score. Soft inquiries occur when you check your own credit report or when a lender pre-approves you for an offer without a formal application. These checks are for informational purposes or promotional offers and are not visible to other lenders.

Multiple hard inquiries for the same type of loan (e.g., mortgage, auto loan) within a short period (typically 14 to 45 days) are often counted as a single inquiry by credit scoring models. This “rate shopping” exception generally does not apply to other credit types, such as credit cards. Legitimate hard inquiries, resulting from valid credit applications you authorized, cannot be removed from your credit report until their two-year reporting period expires.

Identifying Removable Hard Inquiries

Only certain types of hard inquiries may be eligible for removal from your credit report. These are generally inquiries that are unauthorized, fraudulent, or the result of a clear error. For instance, if a hard inquiry appears on your report due to identity theft, where someone applied for credit in your name without your consent, it can often be disputed. Inquiries resulting from clerical mistakes, such as a lender accidentally pulling your report multiple times for a single application outside of the rate-shopping window, may also be challenged.

To identify potentially removable inquiries, you should regularly obtain and review your credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Federal law grants you the right to a free credit report from each bureau weekly through AnnualCreditReport.com. When reviewing these reports, look for company names you do not recognize or inquiry dates that do not align with any credit applications you made. If you encounter an unfamiliar inquiry, contact the company listed to verify its legitimacy before initiating a formal dispute.

Disputing Erroneous Hard Inquiries

Once you have identified a hard inquiry you believe is erroneous or unauthorized, gathering the necessary documentation is the first preparatory step. This includes a copy of your credit report with the specific inquiry highlighted, along with any correspondence you may have had with the creditor concerning the inquiry. If the inquiry is a result of identity theft, a police report or a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Report serves as evidence. Organizing these documents systematically will streamline the dispute process and strengthen your claim.

Initiate a dispute directly with each credit bureau where the erroneous inquiry appears, as well as with the original creditor. Most credit bureaus offer online dispute portals, mail addresses, and phone numbers for submitting disputes. When submitting your dispute, clearly state your identifying information, precisely identify the inquiry, and provide a detailed explanation of why you believe it is erroneous. Always include copies of your supporting documentation, never the originals, and explicitly request the removal or correction of the inquiry.

Also dispute the inquiry directly with the creditor that reported it, providing them with the same comprehensive information and supporting evidence. Maintain records of all communications, including dates, times, names of representatives, and copies of all sent and received letters, to track the progression of your dispute.

Following Up on Your Dispute

After submitting your dispute, the credit bureaus are generally required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to investigate the matter within 30 days. This timeframe can extend to 45 days if you provided additional information during the investigation or if you submitted the dispute after accessing your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com. Upon completion of their investigation, the credit bureaus will notify you of their findings, typically through mail, or via email if you initiated the dispute online or by phone.

The outcome of your dispute will either result in the removal of the inquiry if it is found to be erroneous, or its verification if it is deemed legitimate. If your dispute is denied but you still believe the inquiry is inaccurate, you have further avenues to pursue. You may consider re-disputing the item with additional supporting evidence or filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which oversees consumer financial products and services. Continuously monitoring your credit reports for any changes or new unauthorized activity remains a prudent practice to safeguard your financial information.