A hard inquiry you do not recognize

A hard inquiry is a record that a company checked your credit because of an application. If you applied, the inquiry is accurate and it stays. If you never applied and never agreed, it is either a mistake or the first footprint of identity theft, and it is worth taking seriously either way.

If you never authorized it

1. Scan the whole report for other surprises: accounts, addresses, or name variations that are not yours.
2. Contact the company named in the inquiry and ask what application it holds in your name. Write down the answer, the date, and who you spoke with.
3. Dispute the inquiry with the bureau that lists it, as not authorized by you, using the dispute letter.
4. If you find more signs of fraud, follow the identity theft sequence and consider a free credit freeze.

If you did apply

An accurate inquiry generally remains on a report for two years as a matter of bureau practice. It is a small factor next to payment history and balances, and its effect fades with time. There is no honest way to remove an accurate inquiry early, and any service selling that removal is selling something it cannot deliver. Spacing out applications keeps inquiries from piling up at once.

Common questions

Do soft inquiries show up or matter?

Soft inquiries, like checking your own report or pre-approved offers, are visible to you on your report and do not affect scores.

Can a dealer or landlord inquiry be wrong?

If you signed an application or agreed to a credit check, the inquiry is authorized even if you did not buy anything. If you never agreed, dispute it as unauthorized.

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