Have you seen hard inquiries on your TransUnion credit report that you didn’t approve? These unauthorized checks can hurt your credit score. This might cost you thousands in higher interest rates or even stop you from getting loans when you need them most. Many people don’t know they have rights when companies check their credit without permission.

At Haseeb Legal, our consumer law team in Chicago focuses on credit reporting violations. We have helped clients nationwide remove unauthorized inquiries and get compensation. Recognized by Super Lawyers, USA Today, NewsNation, and Law360, we know how damaging these checks can be to your finances.

This guide explains hard inquiries, their effect on your credit score, and how to remove unauthorized inquiries from your TransUnion report. We’ll also cover your legal rights and how our skilled attorneys can help if TransUnion doesn’t fix errors on your report.

What is a Credit Inquiry?

When you check your TransUnion credit report, look for the “inquiries” section. This shows records of companies that reviewed your credit information. Think of credit inquiries like footprints that reveal who has examined your financial history. Every time a bank, credit card company, or auto dealer checks your credit report, TransUnion records it. These checks occur when you apply for loans, credit cards, apartments, or some jobs.

Credit inquiries come in two types: hard and soft. Hard inquiries happen when you apply for new credit and may lower your credit score. Soft inquiries occur when you check your own credit or when companies check your credit for promotional offers. These do not affect your score.

Understanding these checks is important. Too many hard inquiries in a short time can make lenders think you are desperate for money or taking on too much debt.

What is a credit score?

Your credit score is like a financial report card that tells lenders how reliable you are with money. TransUnion generates a three-digit credit score between 300 and 850. They classify these scores into different ranges:

• 300-600: Very poor credit
• 601-660: Poor credit
• 661-720: Fair credit
• 721-780: Good credit
• 781-850: Excellent credit

Your credit score shows lenders how likely you are to repay borrowed money. A higher score helps you get approved for loans, credit cards, and even apartments. It also affects your interest rates. Better scores usually mean lower rates, which can save you thousands over time.

Hard inquiries can drop your score by 5 to 10 points each. One inquiry won’t hurt your credit much, but several in a few months can lower it significantly. For example, losing 40 points can move you from “good” to “fair” credit. This change may lead to higher interest rates or even loan denials.

Lenders also check how many inquiries are on your report recently. Multiple inquiries might suggest that you’re financially stressed or taking on too much debt.

TransUnion is a Consumer Reporting Agency

Most people call TransUnion a “credit bureau,” but it’s officially a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA). TransUnion is one of the three major CRAs in the U.S., along with Equifax and Experian. These agencies don’t just track your financial history on their own. They collect information as large businesses. TransUnion gathers data from various sources, organizes it, and sells access to companies checking your creditworthiness.

Where does TransUnion get its information? From two main sources:

1. Data furnishers are companies you work with, like banks and credit card firms. They report your payment history to TransUnion.
2. Public records—information from court documents, property records, and other public sources

TransUnion uses this information to create your credit report. This report is the basis for your credit score. The company earns money by selling your information to lenders. It also sells credit monitoring services directly to consumers.

TransUnion, Credit Inquiries, and the FCRA

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law. It regulates how TransUnion and other consumer reporting agencies manage your information. This key law grants you rights about your credit report. Under the FCRA, you have the right to:

• Access your credit report once every 12 months for free from each major bureau
• Dispute inaccurate information on your report
• Know when information in your file has been used against you
• Have outdated negative information removed (most negative items must be removed after 7 years)

The law specifically addresses credit inquiries as well. TransUnion must:

• Only allow authorized access to your credit report
• Record who accessed your information and when
• Remove hard inquiries from your report after two years
• Only include inquiries from companies that actually requested your report

Most importantly, the FCRA gives you the legal right to accuracy. This means TransUnion must ensure all information on your report—including inquiries—is verifiably true and not misleading. If you find unauthorized inquiries on your report, the FCRA gives you the right to dispute them.

Types of Credit Inquiries: How Do They Impact Your Score?

In your TransUnion credit report, there’s a section called “Inquiries.” This part lists all the companies that checked your credit history. Not every credit check impacts your score the same way. Knowing the difference between inquiry types can help you protect your credit score from harm.

Credit inquiries happen when a company reviews your credit information. These checks leave a record on your TransUnion report, showing who looked at your credit and when. Let’s break down the two main types of inquiries and their effects on your credit score.

Soft Credit Inquiries: What Are They?

Soft inquiries are credit checks that don’t impact your credit score. These happen when:

• You check your own TransUnion credit report.
• Companies send you “pre-approved” credit card offers.
• Employers run background checks.
• Insurance companies review your credit.
• Current creditors check your account for review.

Think of soft inquiries like window shopping—you’re looking but not buying. For example, using a credit monitoring service to view your report results in a soft pull recorded by TransUnion. These inquiries only show up on credit reports you request, not on those lenders see. Many consumers worry that checking their own credit harms their score. This myth prevents people from monitoring their credit regularly. The truth is, you can check your own credit as often as you want without any negative effects.

Hard Credit Inquiries: What Makes Them Different?

Hard inquiries can lower your credit score and stay on your TransUnion report for two years. These occur when you actively apply for new credit, such as:

• Mortgage applications
• Auto loans
• Credit cards
• Student loans
• Personal loans
• Apartment rental applications (sometimes)

Each hard inquiry usually lowers your score by 5 to 10 points. A single hard inquiry won’t ruin your credit. However, multiple inquiries in a short time can lead to larger drops. Lenders see several hard inquiries as a red flag. They may think you’re desperately seeking credit or taking on too much debt at once.

The frustrating part? Hard inquiries can show up on your report without your consent. Some businesses conduct hard credit checks without explaining it clearly. This often occurs with car dealerships, cell phone providers, and furniture stores that offer “no interest” financing.

How to Lessen Authorized Credit Inquiries

Smart planning can help you reduce the impact of hard inquiries on your credit score. Here are some practical strategies to limit unnecessary hits to your TransUnion report:

Rate shop wisely: When looking for loans like mortgages or auto financing, submit all applications within 14 to 45 days. Credit scoring models often treat multiple inquiries for the same type of loan in this period as just one inquiry.

Do your homework first: Research thoroughly before applying for credit. For example, when shopping for a car:

• Research vehicle options online first
• Check your own credit score (soft inquiry) to know what rates you qualify for
• Get pre-qualified with lenders before visiting dealerships
• Narrow down your choice to one or two models before allowing credit checks

Ask about the inquiry type: Always check if a company will use a hard or soft inquiry before they check your credit. Many retailers and service providers can pre-qualify you with just a soft pull.

Get pre-qualified before shopping: Many lenders use soft inquiries for pre-qualification. This lets you see your approval chances and potential rates before applying for credit, which triggers hard inquiries.

At Haseeb Legal, we’ve helped many clients who were surprised by unauthorized hard inquiries on their TransUnion reports. Understanding the types of inquiries helps you control your credit score. If you see inquiries you didn’t authorize, you can dispute them. Our firm is ready to help you with this process.

How Can Credit Inquiries Hurt Your Credit Score?

Finding unauthorized hard inquiries on your TransUnion report feels like finding footprints in your home after being away. These unwanted credit checks can harm your financial health in key ways. Hard inquiries usually lower your credit score by 5-10 points each time. While this seems minor, multiple inquiries can add up quickly. For instance, five unauthorized inquiries could reduce your score by 25-50 points. That drop might push you from “good” credit to “fair” credit.

The timing of these inquiries is important too. If hard inquiries occur close together, it sends a warning signal to lenders. They may think you’re urgently seeking credit or taking on too much debt. This perception can lead lenders to deny your applications or offer less favorable terms.

Hard inquiries remain on your TransUnion report for two full years. During this time, any lender, landlord, or employer who checks your credit will see these inquiries. The impact goes beyond just a score drop; it can limit real-life opportunities like:

• Higher interest rates on loans and credit cards
• Denial of mortgage applications
• Rejection for apartment rentals
• Lost job opportunities when employers run credit checks
• Difficulty getting approved for cell phone plans

The financial impact adds up quickly. Just a half-percent increase in your mortgage interest rate due to credit score damage could cost you thousands of extra dollars over the life of your loan. This makes addressing unauthorized inquiries crucial for protecting your financial future.

Also Know About Cisive Background Screening Reports

Can You Remove Inquiries From Your Credit Score?

Yes! You can remove some hard inquiries from your TransUnion credit report. The main factor is whether you authorized the inquiry. Authorized inquiries occur when you allow a company to check your credit. These valid inquiries stay on your report for two years. Examples include credit checks you approved for a car loan, mortgage, or credit card.

However, unauthorized inquiries—those you did not approve—can and should be removed right away. They may show up on your report when:

• A company runs a hard check without your permission
• Someone uses your identity to apply for credit fraudulently
• A lender runs multiple credit checks when only one was authorized
• A business pulls your credit for one purpose but uses a code for another purpose
• A company checks your credit after you merely inquired about their services

Haseeb Legal’s legal team helps clients remove unauthorized inquiries. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) lets you dispute and remove inaccurate information, including unauthorized hard inquiries. When you follow the right steps, the success rate for removing these inquiries is high. Many consumers notice their TransUnion scores improve within 30 to 60 days after successful disputes.

How to Dispute Hard Inquiries on a TransUnion Report

Disputing unauthorized hard inquiries requires following specific steps to ensure success. Here’s our proven approach:

1. Review your TransUnion report carefully First, get a free copy of your report from annualcreditreport.com. Circle every hard inquiry you don’t recognize or remember authorizing.

2. Gather supporting evidence Collect any documentation that helps prove you didn’t authorize the inquiry. This might include:

• Emails showing you only requested information (not applied for credit)
• Proof that you were not at the business location on the date of inquiry
• Evidence of identity theft if relevant

3. Submit Your Dispute to TransUnion You can dispute online, but we recommend sending a formal letter by certified mail. This creates a paper trail and starts legal timelines. 

Send your dispute to: TransUnion Consumer Solutions P.O. Box 2000 Chester, PA 19016-2000

4. Monitor the Response Timeline TransUnion must investigate and respond within 30 days. Mark this deadline on your calendar.

5. Review TransUnion’s Response If they remove the inquiry, check your credit score for changes. If they deny your request, consider seeking legal help to enforce your rights under the FCRA.

Many consumers make the mistake of relying on TransUnion’s online dispute system, leading to generic responses. Our experience shows that formal written disputes yield much better results.

Why Should You Consider Professional Legal Support When Dealing with TransUnion?

Removing unauthorized hard inquiries from your TransUnion report can feel tough. Many consumers spend months sending letters, making calls, and filing disputes. Often, they meet rejection or silence from TransUnion. This frustrating process can leave people feeling powerless against a big corporation.

At Haseeb Legal, we’ve helped thousands of clients remove unauthorized inquiries and gain compensation when TransUnion violates consumer protection laws. Our experience shows that having legal support can really improve your chances of success for several reasons:

1. We understand TransUnion’s legal duties. TransUnion has specific responsibilities under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Our attorneys know the law and how to hold TransUnion accountable. Most consumers don’t realize that TransUnion must verify the accuracy of inquiries within 30 days or remove them, which they often fail to do.
   
2. We know how to tackle common roadblocks. Sometimes, TransUnion claims they “verified” an inquiry without proof or ignores your dispute. Our legal team knows how to counter these tactics effectively, using strategies built from years of experience.
   
3. We can take legal action when disputes fail. If TransUnion won’t remove unauthorized inquiries despite valid disputes, we can file a lawsuit to enforce your rights. The threat of legal action often pushes TransUnion to solve issues quickly, knowing we have a strong track record against credit bureaus.
   
4. We help you recover financial compensation. Many clients don’t realize they may be entitled to damages when TransUnion violates the FCRA. Our attorneys can help you seek compensation for:
   1. Actual damages (like higher interest rates you paid due to credit score damage)
   2. Statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation
   3. Punitive damages in cases of willful noncompliance
   4. Attorney fees and costs
      
5. We save you time and stress. Fighting TransUnion alone can take up a lot of time and create stress. Our team takes care of everything—from filing disputes to litigation—so you can focus on your life while we restore your credit.
   
6. Our Chicago-based consumer law firm appears in Super Lawyers, USA Today, NewsNation, and Law360 because we deliver results. When TransUnion violates your rights, having Haseeb Legal by your side can make a big difference.

How Much Does Legal Help Cost?

Here’s the best part about working with Haseeb Legal on your TransUnion dispute: It typically costs you nothing out-of-pocket.Our firm offers:

• Free initial consultations to evaluate your case
• No upfront fees for representation
• Contingency fee arrangements where we only get paid if we win your case

The Fair Credit Reporting Act has a fee-shifting provision. This means TransUnion must pay your attorney fees and costs if we prove they broke the law. This strong protection allows you to get legal help without worrying about costs.

Many people hesitate to call a lawyer because of high fees. However, consumer protection laws aim to ensure you can access legal help, no matter your financial situation. The law understands the power gap between consumers and big companies like TransUnion. That’s why it places the financial burden on the company that broke the law.

Even if you are unsure about your case, our free consultation lets you talk to an experienced consumer attorney. They can help you understand your options.

Ready to Remove Unauthorized Inquiries? Contact Us Today

Unauthorized hard inquiries are more than just annoying—they can cost you money. Higher interest rates, denied loans, and missed chances can add up. Each day these inquiries stay on your TransUnion report can hurt your finances. Our team at Haseeb Legal knows what’s at stake. We’ve helped clients nationwide achieve success by:

• Remove unauthorized hard inquiries
• Restore damaged credit scores
• Recover financial compensation for violations
• Hold TransUnion accountable for breaking consumer protection laws

Taking the first step is easy. Contact us using any of these methods:

Call: +1 630-534-2527

Email: [email protected]

Website: Fill out our secure online form.

During your free consultation, we will:

1. Review your TransUnion report with you.
2. Identify unauthorized inquiries and other potential violations.
3. Explain your legal rights in straightforward terms.
4. Outline a clear strategy for resolving your case.
5. Answer all your questions with no pressure or obligation.

Don’t let TransUnion hurt your credit score with unauthorized inquiries. Our skilled consumer protection attorneys are here to fight for your rights and restore your credit health. One phone call can turn frustration into success. Remember, the law protects your right to accurate credit reporting. Let us help you uphold that right.