How to Clear Credit Inquiries

When you apply for credit, an inquiry will appear on the bottom of your credit report. The inquiry will include the name and address of the creditor. An inquiry can lower your credit score. Credit scores are used by lenders to determine your credit worthiness. Sometimes an unauthorized inquiry will appear on your credit file. You can request that these be removed. Inquiries will remain on your credit file for two years and then drop off automatically. Too many inquiries send a warning to creditors that you may be trying to get approved for too much credit.

Instructions

1

Review your credit report to see if there are any unauthorized inquiries. You should look at a copy of your credit report issued from all three credit reporting agencies, which include TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. An address for the inquiries will appear only on Experian, according to the Illinois attorney general. If there are inquiries without creditor addresses (TransUnion and Equifax) on the other reports, you will need to match those inquiries with the ones on Experian to get an address.

2

Determine if there are inquiries that appear on TransUnion and Equifax but don't appear on Experian. If the names of creditors appear without addresses, you can get a phone listing by calling information. Call the creditor to get an address. Make a note of any inquiries you did not authorize.

3

Contact the creditors that made unauthorized inquiries on your credit report. Send a registered letter or certified mail to all creditors that left an inquiry on your credit file. The letter should include your name, address, Social Security number and the date of the inquiry. Ask the creditors to send proof that you gave them permission to review your credit report. If proof cannot be furnished, ask the creditor to remove the inquiry, according to the Illinois attorney general.