How to Dispute Equifax Hard Inquiry?

You locate hard inquiries on your Equifax credit report by logging into your online account or requesting the free annual report.

1. Visit Annual Credit Report website or Equifax's own portal and start the 'Get My Report' flow.
2. Verify your identity with the required personal questions, social security number, and a valid email or phone number.
3. Once the report loads, scroll to the 'Inquiries' section - usually near the bottom of the document.
4. Look for entries labeled 'hard inquiry'; note the creditor name, date of pull, and whether it appears authorized.
5. Capture the details (screenshot, PDF, or handwritten note) for later reference in the 'confirm whether you authorized the inquiry' step.

Check the hard inquiry entry on your Equifax credit report, note the creditor's name and the date, and compare it to any credit cards, loans, or services you applied for around that time. If the lender and timing line up with an application you remember, the inquiry is authorized; if nothing matches, it is likely unauthorized.

When you cannot recall the inquiry, call the listed creditor, ask for the purpose and the account that triggered the pull, and request written verification. A refusal or inability to confirm your identity confirms an unauthorized inquiry and leads you to the next step of gathering proof.

Gather documentation that proves you never authorized the hard inquiry. This proof strengthens your Equifax dispute and speeds removal.

• Copy recent credit‑card or loan statements that show no application to the company that pulled the inquiry.
• Save email or text messages where you denied permission or never responded to a request.
• Keep signed contracts or account‑opening forms that do not list the creditor in question.
• File a police report or FTC Identity Theft Report if you suspect fraud.
• Capture screenshots of your Equifax credit report highlighting the unauthorized hard inquiry with date stamps.

Reach out to the creditor that pulled the hard inquiry on your Equifax credit report directly - use the phone number on the inquiry notice or the contact page on their website - state the inquiry is unauthorized, give your name, last four of SSN, and the inquiry date, then attach the proof you gathered earlier. Request immediate removal and ask for written confirmation of their action.

Keep the email or call log as proof; most creditors must investigate within 30 business days. If they deny the request, proceed to the next step - submitting an Equifax dispute online (see how to dispute a credit report error).

To file an online Equifax dispute for an unauthorized hard inquiry, sign in to your Equifax account, go to the Dispute Center, select the hard‑inquiry entry, attach the proof you collected, and submit the request.

• Visit Equifax online dispute portal and log in (or create a free account)
• Choose 'Dispute a credit report item,' then 'Hard inquiry'
• Enter the inquiry details and state that it is unauthorized
• Upload supporting documents such as credit‑freeze confirmations or denial letters
• Review the summary, record the dispute reference number, and click 'Submit'

Mail a certified‑letter dispute to Equifax to trigger a formal review of the unauthorized hard inquiry. Use certified mail with a return‑receipt request so you have proof of delivery.

• Write the letter on plain paper, 12‑point font, single‑spaced.
• Include your full name, current address, and Social Security number (or last four digits).
• Cite the specific hard inquiry by date and creditor name, and state that you did not authorize it.
• Attach copies of proof you gathered in earlier steps (e.g., denial letters, account statements).
• Request that Equifax delete the inquiry from your Equifax credit report.
• Sign the letter and attach a photocopy of a government ID for verification.
• Send the packet to Equifax's certified‑mail dispute address, using 'Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested.'

After mailing, keep the receipt and a copy of everything you sent. Equifax typically has 30 business days to investigate and will reply in writing. If the inquiry remains, move to the next section on '5 exact phrases to use in your dispute letter' for stronger wording.

Here are five exact phrases that make your Equifax dispute hard inquiry letter clear and compelling. Copy them verbatim; the credit bureaus respond best to concise, factual language.

• I dispute the unauthorized hard inquiry listed on my Equifax credit report dated [date].
• I have not authorized this hard inquiry and request its immediate removal.
• Enclosed is proof that I did not give consent for the inquiry (e.g., a signed statement or account record).
• Please investigate this unauthorized inquiry under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and correct my Equifax credit report.
• I expect confirmation of removal within the 30‑business‑day investigation period of my Equifax dispute.

Equifax usually resolves a dispute within 30 business days of receipt.

When you file an Equifax dispute - online or by certified mail - the agency has up to 30 business days to investigate the hard inquiry on your Equifax credit report. It contacts the creditor, requests verification, and then sends you a written results notice. If the creditor cannot prove the inquiry was authorized, Equifax must delete it; if verification is provided, the inquiry stays but the notice explains why.

Typical outcomes

•  Deletion - your unauthorized hard inquiry disappears from the report, improving your score.
•  Partial correction - Equifax updates the entry's status (e.g., marks it 'disputed') but the inquiry remains because the creditor supplied valid consent.
•  No change - the investigation finds the inquiry legitimate; Equifax posts the original entry and includes the creditor's confirmation in the results notice.

For a real‑world illustration, a consumer who disputed a loan‑originated inquiry received a deletion after the lender could not produce a signed authorization. Another consumer's dispute resulted in a 'disputed' label because the credit card issuer provided a signed consent form, so the hard inquiry stayed on the report.

If you receive a denial, see the next section on 'next steps if Equifax denies your dispute' for escalation options.

For official timing guidelines, refer to the Federal Trade Commission dispute guide.

If Equifax denies your dispute, act fast and follow these steps.

1. Read the denial notice carefully.
   Note the specific reason Equifax gave and the deadline for a reconsideration, usually 30 business days from receipt.
2. Gather any new or missing evidence.
   This may include a signed statement from the creditor, a police report for identity theft, or a court order clearing the unauthorized hard inquiry.
3. Submit a second dispute.
   Use the same online portal or certified‑mail format, but attach the additional proof and reference the original case number.
   Mention that you are exercising your right to a re‑investigation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
4. Escalate to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
   File a complaint at File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and include copies of both dispute letters and the denial.
5. Consider legal counsel.
   If the inquiry remains on your Equifax credit report after the re‑investigation, consult an attorney who specializes in credit‑reporting disputes; they can advise on a potential lawsuit for statutory damages.
6. Protect future credit.
   As discussed in the next section, placing a credit freeze can stop further unauthorized hard inquiries while you resolve this issue.

A credit freeze locks your Equifax credit report, so no hard inquiry can appear without your explicit permission, effectively blocking unauthorized inquiries.

To activate a freeze, go to Equifax's freeze portal or call their toll‑free line, provide your Social Security number, birth date, and a government‑issued ID; the freeze is typically free and becomes effective within one business day. Equifax will issue a PIN or password that you'll need to lift the freeze for any legitimate lender.

When you need a permitted hard inquiry, temporarily lift the freeze using the PIN, then reinstate it afterward; keep the PIN in a secure place and track the dates you unfreeze to avoid accidental exposure. For detailed steps, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guide on credit freezes.