An inquiry removal is the process of disputing or eliminating unauthorized, inaccurate, or unverifiable credit inquiries from a consumer’s credit report. Credit inquiries appear when a lender or company accesses your credit file, and hard inquiries can negatively impact your credit score if they were not authorized or were obtained under false pretenses.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), specifically 15 U.S.C. §1681b, credit bureaus are required to ensure that all inquiries listed on a credit report have a permissible purpose. If a creditor cannot provide proof of authorization—such as a signed application or documented consent—the inquiry must be removed.

Removing unauthorized inquiries can help:

• Increase your credit score

• Improve credit profile accuracy

• Reduce lender risk perception

• Strengthen approval odds for funding, housing, and credit products

Inquiry removals are typically disputed directly with the credit bureaus and, when necessary, with the furnishing creditor to ensure compliance with federal credit reporting laws.