How to Remove Hard Inquiries from Your Credit Report

Hard inquiries from credit applications can lower your score — but in most cases, the damage is modest and temporary. Here is what you need to know.

How Long Do Hard Inquiries Stay on Your Report?

Hard inquiries stay on your credit report for 2 years. However, FICO only counts inquiries from the last 12 months in your score calculation. After 12 months, they no longer hurt your score even though they still appear on your report.

How Much Do Hard Inquiries Hurt?

A single hard inquiry typically drops your score 5-10 points. Multiple inquiries in a short period can drop it more — though FICO groups multiple mortgage, auto, or student loan inquiries within a 45-day window as a single inquiry (rate shopping protection).

When Can You Remove a Hard Inquiry?

Unauthorized inquiries can be removed. If you see a hard inquiry from a company you never applied to, that is a violation of the FCRA. You have the right to dispute unauthorized inquiries and they must be removed.

Authorized inquiries cannot be removed early. If you applied for credit and authorized the inquiry, it is accurate information and will stay for 2 years. No legitimate credit repair company can remove authorized hard inquiries.

How to Dispute an Unauthorized Inquiry

Contact the bureau that shows the inquiry and file a dispute. State that you did not authorize this inquiry and request its removal. Include any evidence you have — receipts from that date showing you were elsewhere, statements that you never applied to that company, etc.

CreditGM disputes unauthorized inquiries as part of our credit repair services. Get your free analysis today.