A hard inquiry appears when a lender checks your credit for an application. Each one needs a permissible purpose. We match every inquiry to your applications and accounts, and dispute inquiries you did not authorize.
Common situations
- A bank or dealership you never approached
- Several inquiries after applying with only one provider
- Inquiries caused by identity theft
Our approach
- Compare each inquiry with opened accounts and applications
- Dispute inquiries whose source cannot be explained
- Help you avoid new applications during the process
What to prepare
- Approximate dates of loan and card applications over the past two years
Official references
Frequently asked questions
How long do hard inquiries stay on my report?
Hard inquiries can remain for up to two years. FICO scores generally consider only inquiries from the past 12 months.
Will shopping for a mortgage or auto loan hurt my score several times?
FICO scores treat multiple mortgage, auto or student loan inquiries made within a short shopping window as a single inquiry. The length of the window depends on the scoring version.
What is the difference between a hard and a soft inquiry?
Soft inquiries, such as checking your own report or account reviews by existing creditors, do not affect your scores. Hard inquiries come from credit applications and may lower scores slightly.
Accurate, verifiable records may legally remain. We do not guarantee removal or any specific score. You may also dispute errors directly with the credit bureaus for free.
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