Removing Hard pulls via Equifax Online

LisaJ · ‎03-12-2009

I really hope I am putting this in the right place. I guess it could go in general or repairing. But hard pulls are discussed so much here, I thought it was appropriate and helpful.

Just wanted to share some success with using the Equifax dispute process online--I had two mortgage inquiries and one credit card hard pull removed. It moved my fico score up 5 point to boot! The hard pull I had removed was American Signature...they told me it would NOT be a hard pull and lo and behold, it was.

It was fast and easy...I backdoored my EQ credit report, used the online dispute system, and within a week they were removed. New EQ score--682! Getting there!

WOW! EQ when I joined myFICO: 657. Ups and downs and a few bumps and bruises, but finally back over 700. Whew!

llecs · ‎03-12-2009

Disputing inquiries is a quick way to get hit with a fraud alert and/or lose a TL. I wouldn't recommend it. If an inquiry is placed in error, then the best practice is to contact the creditor.

Anonymous · ‎03-12-2009

Just a friendly reminder to all that in addition to what llecs mentions, please remember that advocating unethical credit repair, such as disputing accurate information, is prohibited on the myFICO forums.

Please read the Credit Repair Discussion Guidelines, Terms of Service, and User Guidelines for further information.

moondog7324 · ‎03-12-2009

If you find unauthorized inquiries- you need to monitor your reports closely- This is where your going to find the first signs of ID theft. Yo may get stuck with a fraud alert. I don't advocate disputing legit inquiries- this seems to be a big topic on other forums.

Message Edited by moondog7324 on 03-15-2009 11:23 AM

Anonymous · ‎03-12-2009

@moondog7324 wrote:
Not a good idea. I hope you read the fine print before you did the disputes.

I think by now she has read and understands what she did. She probally just didnt know (like a lot of us new guys). No need to beat her up over it.

LisaJ · ‎03-13-2009

Not only am I feeling beat up, I am a little hurt. Actually, more than a little. I recognize that I am a bit of a sensitive person, so maybe I can chalk it up to that. This isn't the first time I have felt this way here, either.

Just to clarify, for anyone who is actually interested and not just assuming negative things about me, the two mortgage hits were not authorized. WAMU pulled my credit for my good faith app, which is not necessary. I was told that they would NOT be pulling my score until I looked over my GFE and decided upon the loan. They didn't even take my SS number at the time of app. (I am guessing they had my SS number because I had a credit card account with them.) I did call to fix this directly and they told me I would have to dispute it if I wanted it removed. I guess since they were in the process of going out of business, they didn't have time to help me. And I am pretty sure we all know where their mortgage practices landed them.

The second inquiry occurred at around the same time, when the LO at WAMU gave my information to a friend of his at another bank and they pulled my credit report, again, without my permission. Spoke to them, too. That gentleman and his friend no longer have a job, but the inquiries not authorized by me remained.

The salesperson at American Signature told me that the hit was a soft. Not a hard. I asked the guy three times. I wasn't as savvy when I applied as I am now, not having taken the time or benefit of really paying attention to and thoroughly reading the advice here. Management did agree to remove it, but it was still on there, so I disputed it, too, while I was at it. I have 4 other pulls, by the way, that I did not dispute, (including the legitimate one for my mortgage), because they were absolutely valid, I knew they would be hards, and I apped anyway. My issue is that I ONLY apped for the recently removed item after I was assured it was not a hard.

I am not a credit specialist, and I was not advocating being dishonest. Even when I had friends fix their credit apparently quickly with those so-called credit-cleaning places, I went about it the right way, came here, learned a lot, and signed up for both credit monitoring services that are offered. I am very proud that I have lifted my score so much in just a few months; I never, ever thought I would see a score over 650.

And by the way, I read the fine print. (In fact, as a teacher, I drill that into my students' heads almost daily!) Nor was I advocating being unethical. If there is an error on the report, or a credit pull was not authorized, or someone flat out lied to me to get a commission, I am not going to sit back and allow it to remain there if there is something I can do to fix it.

I am sorry for whatever I did to offend anyone here. I honestly thought that I was being helpful. I understand a slap on the wrist when necessary, but I just don't see where it came from. If it was my error, then I am truly sorry.

Message Edited by LisaJ on 03-13-2009 04:57 AM

Message Edited by LisaJ on 03-13-2009 05:02 AM

WOW! EQ when I joined myFICO: 657. Ups and downs and a few bumps and bruises, but finally back over 700. Whew!

Anonymous · ‎03-13-2009

LisaJ,

The reminder wasn't directed at just you, just a reminder to everyone. A reminder to those reading not to go out disputing accurate information because disputing something worked for someone else.

I do appreciate you explaining the reasons for disputing the inquiries. This does help make things a little clearer and helps us know why the information was disputed and that they appeared to be made without PP.

-sidewinder

LisaJ · ‎03-13-2009

Thanks, Sidewinder. I am mod on a different kind of forum (a mommy thing, lol) and I know it can be a tough, tough job...(you should see what happens over there when the "natural parenting" people start discussing vaccinations and medicated births on the"traditional" board!

I do appreciate the quick response. In fact, you probably responded before I edited to make it a little friendlier, and to get rid of the typos. LOL.

Again, I am a really sensitive person, it is early, and I was just so excited when I saw the removals and thought I was going to be oh-so-helpful for anyone in the same situation. I really did have good intentions.

Thanks so much again for your quick response.

WOW! EQ when I joined myFICO: 657. Ups and downs and a few bumps and bruises, but finally back over 700. Whew!

Anonymous · ‎03-14-2009

Would like to know how you made a dispute online for a false hard inquiry. I could not find that option online, and I prefer not to do it by mail. Online is much faster. I had hard inquiry on Equifax at a financial instiution that was not reuqesting a loan, just looking into me I guess, and I was never told a credit report would be looked up. There are different categories to file a dispute, but nothing exists for inquiry dispute. Does it fall under fraud dispute?

smallfry · ‎03-15-2009

@Anonymous wrote:
Would like to know how you made a dispute online for a false hard inquiry. I could not find that option online, and I prefer not to do it by mail. Online is much faster. I had hard inquiry on Equifax at a financial instiution that was not reuqesting a loan, just looking into me I guess, and I was never told a credit report would be looked up. There are different categories to file a dispute, but nothing exists for inquiry dispute. Does it fall under fraud dispute?

You need to get an online report. On the right hand side of the page you will see a place to dispute each and every line in the report if you so desire. Bear in mind Equifax is fond of throwing a 90 day fraud alert for disputing. Some even get 7 year fraud alerts. If you still want to dispute online you need to have a confirmation number.

Message Edited by smallfry on 03-15-2009 09:19 AM