How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report [Step by Step]
Last updated on May 10, 2023 / By
A hard inquiry is a type of credit report inquiry that occurs when a lender or creditor requests your credit report to make a lending or credit decision. Hard inquiries can negatively impact your credit score and remain on your credit report for up to two years.
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If you have multiple hard inquiries on your credit report, it can have a significant impact on your credit score, and you may be wondering how to remove them. Here are the steps you can take to remove hard inquiries from your credit report:
Check Your Credit Report: The first step is to obtain a copy of your credit report from the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to identify the hard inquiries that you want to remove. You can get a free credit report once a year from each bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com.
Identify Unauthorized Inquiries: Look for unauthorized inquiries on your credit report. If you find an inquiry that you did not authorize, you can dispute it with the credit bureau to have it removed. You can also contact the creditor directly to request that they remove the inquiry.
Dispute Inaccurate Inquiries: If you find inaccurate information on your credit report, such as a hard inquiry that you did not initiate, you can dispute it with the credit bureau. The credit bureau will investigate the inquiry and remove it if it is found to be inaccurate or fraudulent.
Request Removal from Creditor: If you authorized the inquiry but believe it was not necessary, you can contact the creditor and request that they remove it. Explain your situation and provide any supporting documents that may help your case. The creditor may or may not agree to remove the inquiry.
Wait for Inquiries to Age Off: Hard inquiries typically remain on your credit report for up to two years, but their impact on your credit score decreases over time. If you have multiple inquiries on your credit report, you can wait for them to age off naturally.
Consider a Credit Repair Company: If you are struggling to remove hard inquiries on your own, you may want to consider hiring a credit repair company. These companies specialize in helping consumers improve their credit scores by removing negative information from their credit reports, including hard inquiries. Be cautious when choosing a credit repair company and do your research to ensure that they are reputable and legitimate.
In conclusion, removing hard inquiries from your credit report can be a time-consuming process, but it is possible. By following these steps, you can improve your credit score and increase your chances of obtaining credit in the future. Remember to regularly check your credit report for errors and unauthorized inquiries to ensure that your credit report is accurate and up to date
