Challenging Hard Inquiry Authorizations

Submitted by jeremyjelder on Wed, 06/17/2009 - 02:18
Forums
Credit repair

I ordered my TransUnion and Equifax reports for the first time today and am reading up on the difference between hard/soft inquiries. I'm in Ontario, Canada, by the way.

Both reports show different organizations and dates, some of which I recognize and some I don't.

1. As I understand, my next step is to send a certified letter to these creditors asking they provide me written confirmation that I authorized the hard pulls.

2. Is it worth sending letters to each (even ones that I think may be valid, but which I don't remember)? If they don't sent me written proof of my authorization, even if it's possible that I did authorize it, can I still use their lack of sending me proof to get the hard inquiries pulled?

3. I'm having trouble finding how many years a hard inquiry stays on an Equifax report. I found on the TransUnion site that it's 6 years. On the Equifax report I have hard pulls longer than 2 years. Does anyone know?

Thanks for your time.

rachael

Hi jeremy,

As far as I know, a hard inquiry stays on your credit report for 2 years. A hard inquiry can lower your score by 2 to 50 points. So removing a hard inquiry will surely increase your score. To remove multiple hard inquiries you will have to send a "Letter for Removal of Hard Inquiry", to each creditor listed on your credit report. Send your letter through certified mail, with a return receipt requested.

By doing this, you can definitely remove hard pulls from creditors you have not authorized. You may be successful in removing authorized hard inquiries as well, if the creditor is unable to verify them (in case the records are very old). The creditor should reply to your "Letter for Removal of Hard Inquiry" within 30 days, with a written proof that the inquiry was authorized by you. If you do not receive a reply within the 30 days, you can dispute with the bureaus to remove the inquiry, on the ground that the creditor was unable to verify the hard inquiry.

Using the above mentioned ways, you may not be able to remove all the hard inquiries. But even if you able to remove a few of them, it will have a positive impact on your credit report.

Wed, 06/17/2009 - 06:06 Permalink
AMIT

Is it worth sending letters to each (even ones that I think may be valid, but which I don't remember)?

yes!! it is worth.If you really want to save your credit from going deep in valley. (just joking)...

At experian it is for 6 months.

for more details you can also visit official website of experian.

http://www.experian.com/ask_max/max091708a.html

Wed, 06/17/2009 - 06:10 Permalink
HELP PR (not verified)

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF IT BETTER TRY TO DISPUTE A HARD INQUIRIE SAYIN THAT YOU DIDN'T AUTHIRIZED IT OR SAYING THAT IS NOT MINE. PLEASE ANY ADVISE WILL BE GREAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ILEGAL TO LIE TO A CREDIT BUREAUS. YOU KNOW SOMETIME YOU RECOGNIZED THE INQUIRIES BUT YOU STILL WANT TOO DELETE THEM.

Sat, 11/28/2009 - 00:19 Permalink
Tanner (not verified)

Hello All,

Recently I had 2 hard inquiries listed on my report from a collections agency.

I sent them a DV and they were not able to produce any information that I requested. I challenged the listing information with the CRA's and they immediatly removed (deleted) the listing.

Being that this debt was never valid did the collections agency ever have permissible purpose to pull my credit report?

Thu, 09/16/2010 - 17:07 Permalink
Adrienne (not verified)

I sent a letter certified mail to the collections agency that did a hard inquiry on my credit report without authorization. The sent me a letter back asking me to verify more personal information (ss#, DOB, etc.)

Should I provide them with this information?

Thanks,
Adrienne

Tue, 04/12/2011 - 16:30 Permalink
cherie johnson (not verified)

What is the fastest way to get rid of a credit inquires?

Thu, 04/11/2013 - 02:41 Permalink
urophan (not verified)

Good subject. I just found 5 Hard pulls after checking my credit, i just sued all 5 collection agencies yesterday one of them from finger hut non collection.. It is a $1,000 fine for a non permissible purpose credit check hard/soft they still need permissible purpose says the law! 15 U.S.C. § 1681n : US Code - Section 1681N: Civil liability for willful noncompliance

(a) In general
Any person who willfully fails to comply with any requirement
imposed under this subchapter with respect to any consumer is
liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of -
(1)(A) any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result
of the failure or damages of not less than $100 and not more than
$1,000; or
(B) in the case of liability of a natural person for obtaining
a consumer report under false pretenses or knowingly without a
permissible purpose, actual damages sustained by the consumer as
a result of the failure or $1,000, whichever is greater;
(2) such amount of punitive damages as the court may allow; and
(3) in the case of any successful action to enforce any
liability under this section, the costs of the action together
with reasonable attorney's fees as determined by the court.
(b) Civil liability for knowing noncompliance
Any person who obtains a consumer report from a consumer
reporting agency under false pretenses or knowingly without a
permissible purpose shall be liable to the consumer reporting
agency for actual damages sustained by the consumer reporting
agency or $1,000, whichever is greater.
(c) Attorney's fees
Upon a finding by the court that an unsuccessful pleading,
motion, or other paper filed in connection with an action under
this section was filed in bad faith or for purposes of harassment,
the court shall award to the prevailing party attorney's fees
reasonable in relation to the work expended in responding to the
pleading, motion, or other paper.
(d) Clarification of willful noncompliance
For the purposes of this section, any person who printed an
expiration date on any receipt provided to a consumer cardholder at
a point of sale or transaction between December 4, 2004, and June
3, 2008, but otherwise complied with the requirements of section
1681c(g) of this title for such receipt shall not be in willful
noncompliance with section 1681c(g) of this title by reason of
printing such expiration date on the receipt.

Any one else in my situation please post!

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 19:10 Permalink
Urophan (not verified)

STOP BEING A VICTIM - SUE THE DEBT COLLECTORS FREE

Every person is entitled to be treated with respect, told the truth, and be free of undue harassment and other unethical practices by collectors trying to collect a debt. For example, Debt Collectors may not contact you at unreasonable times or places; such as, before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. The use of auto-dialers is strictly prohibited when calling your cell phone. Debt Collectors who are calling you to try to coerce you into paying your deceased relatives’ debts are acting outside the bounds of the law – sue them. Lying about possible consequences; such as, threatening to throw you out of your house, or send you to jail, or threatening you with other dire consequences are legally impermissible. Get Revenge – sue the debt collector, collect money damages.

Infractions of the Fair Debt Collection Act (FDCPA) can lead to an award of money damages and the payments of your attorney fees as a result of a successful prosecution of the case in federal court. In other words, it cost you NOTHING to sue debt collectors. That is what I call “sweet revenge!”

Debts that fall under the FDCPA include consumer debts where the transaction was for personal, family or household purposes – not commercial debt. The following are covered by the FDCPA:

• Obligations Discharged in Bankruptcy

• Credit Cards

• Medical debt

• Student loans

• Insurance bills and claims

• Dishonored checks By suing the Debt Collectors you may:

• Receive up to $1000 or more in money damages

• Have the Debt reduced or even eliminated

• Have your credit Report cleared of Negative Reports

Wed, 08/14/2013 - 22:27 Permalink
matzcrorkz (not verified)

82et8W Thank you ever so for you blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on...

Wed, 08/06/2014 - 02:52 Permalink