AT&T Hard Inquiry

[Anonymous]

ATT was promoting internet service available in my area. I called and went through the process over the phone, they ran a hard inquiry on my credit report BEFORE telling me that in order to get ATT internet I had to ALSO sign up for Direct TV. I already have dish so I declined the new service. The problem is, now I have this hard inquiry based on bad marketing and misrepresentation. How do I get it removed from my report? Had i known there were stipulations prior to (i.e requiring new direct tv service) I would NOT have called ATT to begin with. Any suggestions? 

[rmduhon]

You could call AT&T and ask them to decide it as a SP but that's about your only option since you were trying to get service with them.

[Anonymous]

SP? 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

SP? 

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Soft pull.  You can call them and ask to have the inquiry reclassified as a soft pull vs hard pull.  A SP does not affect your credit score in any way and can only be seen by you.  I doubt you'll have much luck but can't hurt to try.

[RobertEG]

...or you can file a complaint with the FTC, CFPB, or the BBB, complaining of deception or bad business practice.

As a final resort, you can file a civil action against them.

It is of questionable value to challenge the inquiry, as it becomes excluded from FICO scoring after one year, which means you are not likely to get a resolution much sooner than it will cease to affect your scoring.

Re-coding to a soft inquiry, which is not considered in credit scoring, is the most expedient course......

[Anonymous]

I sent a letter and disputed 9 hard inquiries. Experian then removed them. I asked for a letter of proof. I have them.

[Thunderseven]

Robert, why is this a hrad inquiry in the first place?  They weren't applying for a loan/credit.

[AllCredit]

WhenI originally signed up with AT&T for cell service I received a HP, seems like it may be standard for new accounts?

[camniamom]

Many utilities and cable companies are doing hard pulls. I recently moved and switched to Comcast and they did a hard pull before they established service. 

[Thunderseven]

I did some checking and it looks like they can do either for cable and internet.  Go to the CK link and research "hard vs soft inquiries".  I guess you need to ask them prior to them making the hard or soft inquiry.