Unauthorized Inquiries
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My credit report is filled with credit inquiries from companies I never applied for credit with. I have nearly two pages full with unauthorized inquiries. Is it hurting my credit? What can I do about it?
You’ve probably been screened for mailing lists
Did you receive any pre-approved credit card or loan offers last year? I bet that you did, and all these inquiries aren’t hard inquiries.
The FACT Act gives the credit bureaus permission to sell your credit information to credit lending companies, which screen potential clients and put them on mailing lists. When any of these lending companies pull your credit file, it generated a credit inquiry.
However, as per the FACT Act these inquiries are considered as (Soft Inquiries) and have zero effect on your credit score. Although they appear on your file, they are not considered by the Fico formula because they were NOT caused by your search for new credit.
You have the right to exclude yourself from receiving such pre-approved mailing offers. You can ask the 3 major credit bureaus to exclude your name from lists for pre-approved, unsolicited credit and insurance offers by calling 1-888-5-OPT OUT (1–888–567–8688).
Another option (not likely, but you can’t be too sure) is that your identity has been stolen and someone is trying to apply for credit in your name. To make sure – contact a few of the companies (you should have contact information for each of them in the Contact Information Section) and inquire whether they screened you, or did someone actually applied for credit with your information.
In the rare event that your identity had been stolen, follow this link for more information.
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