How To Remove Inquiries From A Credit Report

What Are Inquiries?

Credit inquiries occur when a lender or creditor checks your credit report in response to an application for credit. There are two types: hard inquiries and soft inquiries.

• Hard inquiries: These occur when you apply for credit, such as a mortgage, auto loan, or credit card. They can have a negative impact on your credit score, as they suggest you may be taking on new debt. Each hard inquiry typically lowers your score by a few points.
• Soft inquiries: These do not affect your credit score and occur when you check your own credit report, or when a lender checks your report for pre-approval offers. Soft inquiries are not related to specific credit applications.

Multiple hard inquiries within a short period, such as when shopping for a mortgage, may be treated as a single inquiry to minimize the impact on your score. It’s important to be mindful of hard inquiries, as too many can temporarily lower your creditworthiness.

What to Do About Inaccurate Inquiries

If you discover inaccurate inquiries on your credit report, taking prompt action is crucial. The FCRA gives you the right to be told if information in your credit file is used against you to deny your application for credit, employment, or insurance. The FCRA also gives you the right to request and access all the information a consumer reporting agency has about you.

Obtain a copy of your credit report from the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to identify inaccurate inquiries. If you identify wrongful inquiries, collect supporting documents, such as application denials or records showing you didn’t apply for the credit in question.

Formally dispute the inquiries with the proper credit reporting agencies (CRAs). This process is most efficiently handled online at the following:

• Experian
• Equifax
• Transunion

Write a formal dispute to the CRA that issued the report. Clearly state the inaccuracies and provide any supporting documents.

If the inquiries are found to be inaccurate, they must be removed from your credit report. If the inquiries are not removed, follow up with both the CRA and the creditor.

If your dispute is not resolved satisfactorily, consulting with a consumer protection attorney who handles credit reporting issues under the FCRA can provide valuable guidance and representation.