Your FICO score is a three-digit number that represents your creditworthiness. The higher your FICO score, the more likely you are to be approved for loans and credit cards with favorable terms. If you have a low FICO score, there are several steps you can take to raise it quickly. One of the most effective ways to boost your FICO score is by deleting hard inquiries from your credit report.
Hard inquiries occur when a lender pulls your credit report in response to an application for credit. Each hard inquiry can lower your FICO score by a few points, so having multiple inquiries on your credit report can have a significant impact on your score. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove hard inquiries from your credit report.
The first step to deleting hard inquiries is to review your credit report and identify any inquiries that you believe are inaccurate or unauthorized. You can request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion – once per year by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
If you find any hard inquiries on your credit report that you believe are inaccurate or unauthorized, you can dispute them with the credit bureaus. To do this, you will need to submit a formal dispute letter that explains why the inquiry is inaccurate or unauthorized and provides any supporting documentation you have. The credit bureaus are required to investigate your dispute within 30 days and remove the inquiry from your credit report if they determine that it is invalid.
Another way to delete hard inquiries from your credit report is to contact the lender directly and ask them to remove the inquiry. Some lenders may be willing to help you with this, especially if you can provide evidence that the inquiry was unauthorized or occurred as a result of identity theft.
If you are unable to get a hard inquiry removed from your credit report through the credit bureaus or the lender, you can also try using a credit repair company. These companies specialize in helping consumers improve their credit scores and can work on your behalf to get inaccurate or unauthorized inquiries removed from your credit report.
In conclusion, deleting hard inquiries from your credit report is a powerful way to raise your FICO score quickly. By reviewing your credit report, disputing inaccurate or unauthorized inquiries, and seeking assistance from a credit repair company if necessary, you can improve your creditworthiness and qualify for better loan and credit card terms.
