How to Remove Hard Inquiries?

How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report?

Hard inquiries occur when a lender or financial institution checks your credit report as part of a loan or credit card application. While a single hard inquiry may only slightly impact your credit score, multiple inquiries in a short period can lower your score significantly. Fortunately, there are ways to dispute and remove unauthorized or inaccurate hard inquiries.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What hard inquiries are and how they affect your credit
• The difference between hard and soft inquiries
• Legitimate ways to remove hard inquiries
• Steps to dispute inaccurate inquiries
• Tips to minimize future hard inquiries

What Is a Hard Inquiry?

A hard inquiry (also called a "hard pull") is a credit check initiated when you apply for new credit, such as:

• Credit cards
• Auto loans
• Mortgages
• Personal loans
• Apartment rentals (in some cases)

Each hard inquiry can lower your credit score by a few points and stays on your report for two years, though its impact lessens over time.

How Do Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score?

• FICO Score: Typically drops 5-10 points per inquiry.
• Vantage Score: May be slightly more sensitive to multiple inquiries.
• Rate Shopping: Multiple inquiries for the same type of loan (e.g., mortgage or auto loan) within a 14–45-day window (depending on the scoring model) count as a single inquiry.

Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry

Not all credit checks affect your score. Here’s the difference:

Examples of Soft Inquiries:

• Checking your credit report
• Employer background checks
• Pre-approved credit card offers
• Utility company checks

Can You Remove Hard Inquiries?

Yes, but only under certain conditions:

1. Unauthorized Inquiries – If you didn’t apply for credit.
2. Inaccurate Inquiries – Wrong lender or duplicate entries.
3. Fraudulent Inquiries – Result of identity theft.

Note: You cannot remove legitimate hard inquiries that you authorized.

How to Dispute and Remove Unauthorized Hard Inquiries?

Step 1: Check Your Credit Reports

Get free reports from all three bureaus. Review each for unauthorized inquiries.

Step 2: Gather Evidence

• Note the creditor’s name and inquiry date.
• Collect proof if you didn’t authorize the check (e.g., no application was submitted).

Step 3: File a Dispute

Mail a Dispute Letter
Send a certified letter with:

• Your details
• Inquiry details (creditor name, date)
• Reason for dispute
• Supporting documents

Step 4: Follow Up

• Credit bureaus have 30 days to respond.
• If the inquiry is removed, check your report again to confirm.

What If the Creditor Refuses to Remove It?

If the creditor verifies the inquiry as legitimate (but you disagree):

1. Contact the Creditor Directly – Ask for proof of your authorization.
2. Submit a Complaint to the CFPB – File at ConsumerFinance.gov.
3. Add a Fraud Alert – If you suspect identity theft, place a fraud alert or freeze your credit.

How to Minimize Hard Inquiries in the Future?

1. Apply for Credit Sparingly – Only submit applications when necessary.
2. Use Pre-Qualification Tools – Many lenders offer soft inquiry pre-approvals.
3. Monitor Your Credit – Use free services like Credit Karma or Experian to track inquiries.
4. Freeze Your Credit – Prevent unauthorized checks by freezing your reports at all three bureaus.

Final Thoughts

While you can’t remove legitimate hard inquiries, you can dispute unauthorized or fraudulent ones. Regularly monitoring your credit report helps catch errors early. If you’re rate shopping for a loan, try to complete applications within a short window to minimize score damage.

Don't let a low credit score hold you back—call (888) 803-7889 for a personalized action plan!