I received a new credit inquiry alert. Now what?

‍What is a credit check or inquiry? 

A credit inquiry is a request to view your credit report. Hard credit inquiries appear on your credit report and may impact your credit score. They also may result in the creditor awarding you credit, which is why it’s so important to keep track of inquiries in your name.

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What triggers a new credit inquiry alert?

A hard inquiry is usually related to a specific transaction or application for credit. Common reasons include:

• Applying for a new credit card
• Applying for a loan, mortgage, or line of credit
• Financing a new purchase, such as a phone
• Applying for a financial loan
• Cosigning on a loan or credit card 

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Example of a New Credit Inquiry

The inquiry may list the underwriter’s information. In this example, you’ll see that Synchrony Bank is an underwriter for Chevron’s Credit Card: SYNCB/CHEVRON.

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Is there anything I should do?

If you recognize the inquiry, you can mark the Credit Check alert as resolved in Aura.

If you don’t recognize the inquiry, review the following questions as they may help you recognize the alert:

Was this application made by you or someone you know (like a family member)? An inquiry may appear on your credit report if you are an authorized user or co-signer.

Did you take any of the following actions on or around the date specified in your report? 

• Open a new loan or credit card
• Apply for a new auto loan, mortgage, or insurance
• Request changes to an existing account, such as a lower interest rate, special credit card program, or balance transfer

Do you recognize the name of the creditor? In some cases, the name shown on the credit report is abbreviated. Examples include:

• Bank of America may be listed as BOA, BofA, or Bk of Amer
• JP Morgan Chase Bank may be listed as JPMCB
• Costco Department Store credit card may list the Underwriter CBNA (CitiBank North America) 
• Home Depot Department Store Credit Card may be listed as THD/CBNA The Home Depot/ CitiBank North America

Do you recognize the creditor name as the name of an institution that either issues a credit card you applied for or is the underwriter for a loan you applied for? 

If you still don’t recognize the alert, we recommend contacting the creditor and letting them know about this credit alert. They should be able to help you identify it. The creditor's phone number should be included in the details of the alert you received.

In either case, we recommend the following:

• Review your current credit report to ensure you recognize the addresses, accounts, inquiries, and public records associated with your identity. You can visit annualcreditreport.com for a free credit report. 
• Keep your Aura Vault updated so we can continue to monitor your information on the dark web.

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