Disputing Inquiries w/Eq

[Anonymous]

I took a closer look at my Equifax report in hopes that I can apply to PenFed soon and noticed two hard inquiries reported that never should have been. One was Wachovia whom I spoke with last year about the possibility of a heloc, but never supplied them with my social security number or gave them permission to pull the report. The other was Sterling Bank (local to me) who pulled my credit twice although I only applied once. So I disputed both online with Equifax, but I'm wondering if I should also shoot courtesy letters directly to the companies? Wachovia I'm not so worried about, but I have an account and overdraft line with Sterling and am perfectly happy with them other than this unauthorized credit pull. I was also thinking that it might make the dispute process faster if I sent them each a note saying I had disputed. Overkill, or a good idea??

[llecs]

Overkill. Inquiries are overrated. Damage usually occurs when your scores are in the 700 and beyond range and you are adding your first one or two. Moreover, inquiries only impact your score for the first year.

Unfortunately, there are some potential risks to disputing inquiries. The most common is a fraud alert. In a couple cases, some have posted that the OC deleted the TL (likely returns within a month if open) and read a solitary case of the OC closing the account permanently thinking that it was opened fraudulently.

If you ever see a questionable inquiry from a current creditor, then it is best to contact them directly. Most have the power to remove it right away.

[Anonymous]

Well I am in the 700s, but my real reason for wanting these inquiries removed from my Eq report is because PenFed is apparently so uppity about too many inquiries and new accounts. I was hoping that getting those two removed would help negate my two new accounts so that PenFed might approve me.

[smallfry]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Well I am in the 700s, but my real reason for wanting these inquiries removed from my Eq report is because PenFed is apparently so uppity about too many inquiries and new accounts. I was hoping that getting those two removed would help negate my two new accounts so that PenFed might approve me.

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Don't send the letters. I would bet both inquiries come off within one week. Everybody is pull crazy these days.

[Anonymous]

Smallfry, I wish I'd gotten your post before dropping the letters in the mail, the 2 I disputed on Friday are already gone! I'm sure the letters haven't even reached their destinations, so hopefully when they do that doesn't screw anything up on them already being deleted.

The Wachovia inquiry that is now off my Equifax report is on my Transunion and Experian reports still. I wish they had an easy online dispute process for inquiries. How do I dispute an inquiry with Transunion and Experian? Should I just try to dispute by mail?

Also, I'm not really sure where to look, but I don't see anything regarding a fraud alert on Equifax following that dispute. I checked the "I did not authorize this inquiry button" NOT the "This is a fraudulent inquiry" button, so maybe that's why other people ended up with fraud alerts following their disputes.

[haulingthescoreup]

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Mank wrote:

Also, I'm not really sure where to look, but I don't see anything regarding a fraud alert on Equifax following that dispute. I checked the "I did not authorize this inquiry button" NOT the "This is a fraudulent inquiry" button, so maybe that's why other people ended up with fraud alerts following their disputes. 

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The speculation around here is that the CRA's slap on the fraud alerts as a type of A-HA! revenge upon consumers. They read "I did not authorize this inquiry" as "Someone else authorized this inquiry", and that's their justification.