My credit report shows a hard enquiry from a bank I didn't apply to, or one where I never gave consent. How do I get it removed, and who is responsible?
1 Answers
Yes, an enquiry you never authorised can be removed, but it has to come from the lender that made it.
- Get your full credit report, not just the score. The enquiry section shows the lender, date and purpose, and the report has an ECN (reference number) you'll need to quote.
- Write to the lender (customer care, then the Nodal Officer): give the enquiry date and ECN, state that you made no application and gave no consent, and ask them to (a) withdraw the enquiry with the bureau and (b) tell you how it was triggered, for example which channel or partner submitted an application in your name.
- Raise a dispute with CIBIL as well, choosing "enquiry not made by me". CIBIL forwards it to the lender, so pick the reason carefully: if you did apply but the lender pulled the wrong profile or acted without consent, don't choose "never applied", or the lender will simply confirm you applied and the dispute will close.
- Escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if the lender doesn't remove it or explain it within 30 days. An unauthorised enquiry is a deficiency in how it handles your credit information.
It's worth pursuing. Hard enquiries can lower your score and lead other lenders to reject applications. I've won compensation on exactly this issue, including a case where the bank told RBI my score was "-1": my ₹5,000 win against IndusInd Bank.
