Hard Inquiry Removal Letter Template (for Unauthorized Inquiries)

Free hard inquiry removal letter for inquiries you never authorized. Hard inquiries stay on reports for 2 years, and the bureau has 30 days to investigate.

CSBy Credit Saint Editorial TeamUpdated October 18, 2026How we review content6 min read

The short answer

A hard inquiry removal letter disputes a credit check you did not authorize and asks the bureau, and the company that pulled your report, to remove it. Hard inquiries stay on your report for 2 years and count in FICO scores for 12 months. Inquiries you authorized, such as a loan or card you applied for, are accurate and are not grounds for removal.

Only dispute hard inquiries you did not authorize. An inquiry from a credit application you made is accurate.
A company needs a permissible purpose under the FCRA (15 U.S.C. 1681b) to pull your report, usually your application or written permission.
Hard inquiries remain on credit reports for 2 years, and FICO scores only count those from the past 12 months.
Send one letter to the bureau and a second to the company that made the inquiry, because both can correct it.
If you see several inquiries you do not recognize, treat it as possible identity theft and freeze your credit.

A hard inquiry shows up when a lender checks your credit after you apply. If you see one you never authorized, it is an error you can dispute for free. This page gives you two short letters, one for the credit bureau and one for the company that pulled your report, plus the rules on when an inquiry can and cannot be challenged.

When to use a hard inquiry removal letter

Use these letters when a hard inquiry on your report came from a company you never gave permission to check your credit. Examples:

A lender, card issuer or utility you never contacted or applied with
An inquiry dated on a day you did not apply for anything
A company that checked your credit for a purpose you did not agree to, such as a hard pull when you only asked for a quote
An inquiry tied to an application someone else made in your name

Under the FCRA, a company can only get your report with a permissible purpose (15 U.S.C. 1681b). For credit, that usually means you applied or gave written permission. An inquiry without a permissible purpose is inaccurate and can be disputed under 15 U.S.C. 1681i.

When not to use it

You applied for the credit. Even if you were denied, the inquiry is accurate.
A dealer or broker sent your application to several lenders. If you applied for financing through them, those inquiries are generally authorized. FICO scores count multiple mortgage, auto or student loan inquiries within a short window (45 days for newer FICO versions, 14 days for older ones) as one.
It is a soft inquiry. Soft inquiries do not affect your score.
There are several unknown inquiries plus new accounts. That points to identity theft. Use the identity theft dispute letter, which carries a faster 4-business-day block under FCRA section 605B.

Hard inquiry removal letter to the credit bureau

Send this to each bureau that shows the inquiry. Replace every [BRACKET].

[YOUR FULL NAME] [STREET ADDRESS] [CITY, STATE ZIP] Date of birth: [MM/DD/YYYY] Social Security number: [SSN] [DATE] [BUREAU NAME] [BUREAU DISPUTE MAILING ADDRESS] Re: Dispute of unauthorized hard inquiry To whom it may concern: I am writing under section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681i, to dispute the following hard inquiry in my credit file. It is circled on the enclosed copy of my report. Company name as shown: [COMPANY NAME] Date of inquiry: [MM/DD/YYYY] I did not apply for credit with this company, and I did not authorize it to obtain my credit report. [OPTIONAL: I contacted the company on [DATE] and it could not find an application from me.] Because the inquiry was not made with my authorization or for a permissible purpose under 15 U.S.C. 1681b, it is inaccurate. Please investigate, contact the company that made the inquiry, and delete the inquiry if it cannot be verified as authorized. Please send me the written results of your investigation as required by 15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(6). Enclosures: 1. Copy of my [DRIVER'S LICENSE OR STATE ID] 2. Copy of my [UTILITY BILL OR BANK STATEMENT] showing my current address 3. Copy of my credit report with the inquiry circled 4. [OPTIONAL: COPY OF ANY RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY] Sincerely, [SIGNATURE] [YOUR PRINTED NAME]

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Hard inquiry letter to the company that pulled your report

Bureaus often check with the company, and the company can ask the bureau to remove its own inquiry. Send this at the same time.

[YOUR FULL NAME] [STREET ADDRESS] [CITY, STATE ZIP] [DATE] [COMPANY NAME] Attn: Credit Reporting Department [COMPANY MAILING ADDRESS] Re: Unauthorized credit inquiry dated [MM/DD/YYYY] at [BUREAU NAME] To whom it may concern: My [BUREAU NAME] credit report shows a hard inquiry by your company on [MM/DD/YYYY]. I did not apply for credit with you or authorize you to obtain my credit report. Please send me a copy of any application or written authorization you relied on. If you do not have one, please contact [BUREAU NAME] and request removal of this inquiry, and send me written confirmation that you have done so. If an application was made in my name, please tell me so I can report identity theft. Sincerely, [SIGNATURE] [YOUR PRINTED NAME]

How to send your inquiry dispute

Download all three reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. Inquiries are listed separately from accounts, and each bureau shows only the inquiries made to it.
Check your own records for any application, quote or account opening near the inquiry date before you dispute. Search your email for the company name.
Call the company first if you are unsure. Ask whether it has an application in your name. Note the date and the person you spoke with.
Fill in the bureau letter for each bureau that shows the inquiry, and the company letter for each company.
Enclose copies of your ID, a proof of address and the report page with the inquiry circled. Never send originals.
Mail each letter by USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt and keep copies of everything.
Set reminders for 30 and 45 days after the bureau receives your letter.

Bureau mailing addresses and online dispute links are in the credit dispute letter guide.

What happens after you send it

When	What happens
Within 5 business days	The bureau notifies the company that made the inquiry (15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(2))
30 days from receipt	Investigation complete, or up to 45 days if you send more information during the investigation
Within 5 business days after	The bureau sends you the written results
2 years from the inquiry date	The inquiry drops off on its own, whatever the outcome

If the bureau keeps the inquiry because the company says you authorized it, ask the company for a copy of the application. If you never signed one, file a complaint with the CFPB. If the inquiry came from an application someone else made, report it at IdentityTheft.gov, place a security freeze with each bureau, and switch to the identity theft letter.

How much an unauthorized inquiry affects your score

One hard inquiry usually costs a FICO score fewer than 5 points, and FICO stops counting it after 12 months even though it stays visible for 2 years. The effect is larger if you have few accounts or several new inquiries close together.

That means the score benefit of removing a single unauthorized inquiry is usually small. The bigger reason to act is what the inquiry may signal. An inquiry you never authorized can be the first sign that someone is applying for credit in your name. Before you send the letters, check each report for:

New accounts you did not open
Addresses or phone numbers that are not yours
Other inquiries from lenders you never contacted
Collection accounts for debts you do not recognize

If you find any of these, freeze your credit with each bureau and move to the identity theft process. If the inquiry is the only problem, the letters above are enough.

Customize your inquiry letter

Use the company name and date exactly as the bureau lists them
Dispute only inquiries you did not authorize
Include what you learned if you called the company
Send the bureau letter only to bureaus that show the inquiry
Send the company letter to a correspondence address, not a payment address
Keep copies and mail receipts for both letters

Guides that go with this letter

For the full guide, including how much inquiries affect scores, read how to remove inquiries from your credit report and does checking your credit score hurt it. For other errors, see how to dispute negative items on your credit report.

Credit Saint's Credit Remodel and Clean Slate plans include inquiry targeting, which challenges inquiries you believe were not authorized. Plans start at $79.99 a month with a 90-day money-back guarantee. Compare them on the packages page. You can always dispute an unauthorized inquiry yourself for free.

Frequently asked questions

Can I remove a hard inquiry I authorized?

No. If you applied for credit and the lender checked your report, the inquiry is accurate and can stay for 2 years. Its effect on your score is usually small and fades within a year. A dispute claiming you did not authorize it would be false.

How many points does a hard inquiry cost?

For most people a single hard inquiry lowers a FICO score by fewer than 5 points, and the effect fades over 12 months. Several new inquiries in a short time can matter more, especially with a thin credit file.

What if a car dealer pulled my credit with several lenders?

If you applied for financing at the dealer, those inquiries are generally authorized, even if you did not expect so many. FICO scores treat multiple auto, mortgage or student loan inquiries within a short window as a single inquiry for scoring, so the score impact is usually limited.

Do soft inquiries hurt my credit?

No. Soft inquiries, such as checking your own credit, prescreened offers and account reviews by your current lenders, do not affect your scores and are visible only to you. There is no reason to dispute them.

What should I do if I see inquiries from lenders I never contacted?

Contact the lender to ask whether an application was made in your name, place a free security freeze with all three bureaus, and check for new accounts. If someone applied in your name, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov and use the identity theft dispute letter.

This article is for educational purposes and isn't legal advice. Credit Saint is a credit repair organization. Results vary, and no credit repair company can promise a specific outcome or score change.

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