How to Erase Inquiries on a Credit Report

Though everyone’s entitled to one free credit report a year, many people don’t bother to order one. They should. Any fraudulent activity, such as an identify thief applying for a credit card in your name, will show up as an inquiry. You’ll want to remove these inquiries quickly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Order a copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com. Other outfits may offer a free credit reports, but many of these will also charge you for additional credit monitoring.
2. On the last page of your credit report you’ll find the list of inquiries. These indicate creditors checking your credit when you've applied for financing or a loan. Review the list to make sure each inquiry is legitimate. The report may go back years, so don’t automatically suspect fraud if you see an inquiry that you do not recognize. You may have forgotten a failed transaction.
3. If you find suspicious inquiries, circle them on the report.
4. Write a letter explaining the circled inaccuracies on your credit report. Note that you’re contesting an “unauthorized credit inquiry.” Send this letter, and copies of the credit report, to the three main credit bureaus Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Also send it to the place where the inquiry originated.

Tips & Warnings

• This process can take a month or more to be resolved, so be patient.
• After refuting the inquiry, order another copy of your credit report. You will still be eligible for a free credit report if it’s to monitor a change, such as erasing fraudulent activity.