A hard inquiry occurs when a lender pulls your credit report as part of an application for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your score by a few points and stays on your report for 2 years. Under the FCRA, inquiries can only be made with your explicit authorization — any inquiry you didn't approve is disputable.
Understand Hard vs. Soft Inquiries
Hard inquiries (from credit card applications, auto loans, mortgages) affect your score. Soft inquiries (from background checks, pre-approval offers, your own report pulls) do not. Only hard inquiries are disputable in terms of score impact.
Step 1: Identify Unauthorized Inquiries
Review your credit report and look at the "inquiries" section. Any inquiry from a company you didn't apply to is potentially unauthorized. Common causes include identity theft, dealer financing you didn't authorize, or applications submitted in your name without your knowledge.
Step 2: Contact the Creditor Directly
Before filing a bureau dispute, contact the lender who made the inquiry. Ask them to confirm you authorized it and to provide the application date and method. If they cannot confirm your authorization, request that they remove the inquiry.
Step 3: File a Dispute With the Credit Bureau
Write a dispute letter to the bureau identifying the specific inquiry (name of lender, date). State that you did not authorize the inquiry and request its removal. If you suspect identity theft, attach your FTC Identity Theft Report.
Step 4: Place a Fraud Alert or Freeze Your Credit
If multiple unauthorized inquiries appear, that's a sign your personal information has been compromised. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze immediately to prevent further unauthorized access to your credit file.
What Not to Dispute
Do not dispute hard inquiries from lenders you actually applied with, even if your application was denied. The inquiry itself is authorized regardless of the outcome. Frivolous disputes can complicate your record.