How to Remove Avantus From Your Credit Report

By Talk About Debt Team
Reviewed by Ben Jackson
Last Updated: February 17, 2026
6 min read
The Bottom Line

Avantus appears on your credit report as a hard or soft inquiry when lenders check your credit history. Unauthorized inquiries can damage your credit score and result from identity theft or reporting errors. You can remove inaccurate Avantus inquiries by disputing them with credit bureaus within 30 days under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Dispute Avantus Now

Avantus is a credit reporting agency that provides financial institutions with extensive background checks. The company helps lenders assess borrowers’ credibility and expose fraud or criminal activities. Avantus recently rebranded as Xactus, but we’ll use their former name here.

Manual verification of borrower information takes time. Avantus provides cost-effective and reliable credit information to mortgage companies, credit unions, banks, and other lenders. The company is well-known for mortgage credit reporting but offers other services:

Fight Back Against Avantus Errors

Unauthorized inquiries from Avantus are damaging your credit score right now. Take action today to dispute these inquiries and protect your financial future.

Respond to Avantus Now
  • Tenant screening
  • Tax return verification
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Soft credit checks
  • Verification of employment
  • Social Security number verification

Avantus has been in business for over 75 years. The company has a B- rating from the Better Business Bureau but isn’t BBB accredited. Consumer complaints against Avantus include inaccurate credit reporting, unauthorized hard inquiries, and failing to remove inquiries.

Why Is Avantus on Your Credit Report?

Avantus usually appears on credit reports as an inquiry. The company investigates your credit history and assesses how you manage debt. Two main reasons explain Avantus appearing on your report:

  1. Recent credit application
  2. Identity theft

You Recently Applied for Credit

Avantus appears when a prospective lender requests a credit check. They want to determine whether to give you a loan or extend credit. The inquiry shows up as either a hard or soft inquiry.

A hard inquiry means you applied for new credit. You might have applied for a car loan, mortgage, or credit card. Hard inquiries reduce your credit score by several points. Multiple inquiries in a short period worsen the damage.

A soft inquiry appears when a creditor checks your credit without your direct permission. Creditors do this for preapproval quotes before loan applications. An existing creditor may check your current credit situation. Soft inquiries don’t affect your credit score.

Identity Theft Could Be the Culprit

You might be a victim of identity theft if Avantus appears without you applying for credit. Someone may have stolen your information to apply for loans. Take these steps immediately:

  • Contact the Federal Trade Commission and report the identity theft
  • Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to request a fraud alert
  • Contact Avantus or the company that hired them for application details

Avantus Contact Information:
Physical Address: 70 Jefferson Blvd, 4th Floor, Warwick, RI 02888
Phone number: (800) 243-0120
Website: Avantus

Monitor your credit reports regularly once you suspect identity theft. You’re legally entitled to get a free credit report yearly from the three main credit bureaus.

Avantus Can Make Errors on Your Report

Avantus gathers information from various sources when performing credit checks. Errors can occur during this process, resulting in inaccurate negative reports. Potential credit report errors include:

  • Mixing up your file with someone else’s information
  • Including outdated information on previously unpaid debts you later cleared
  • Reporting wrongful debt entries that you successfully disputed
  • Listing you as a suspected money launderer, terrorist, or drug trafficker due to mistaken identity

Erroneous information can result in loan denials, higher mortgage payments, or fraud charges. If you suspect incorrect information, our partner Solo can help you respond effectively.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act prevents credit reporting companies from including false information. Alert Avantus to any errors immediately. They must correct the errors within 30 days.

Fight Back Against Avantus Errors

Unauthorized inquiries from Avantus are damaging your credit score right now. Take action today to dispute these inquiries and protect your financial future.

Respond to Avantus Now

How to Remove Avantus From Your Credit Report

Hard inquiries lower your credit score and create obstacles. You might face job rejections, higher insurance premiums, or rental application denials. You can remove Avantus through two main approaches:

Step 1: Dispute the Inquiry

Send a credit inquiry dispute letter to all three credit bureaus if you never authorized the inquiry. Request removal of the inquiry from your report. The credit bureaus must investigate with Avantus and prove you authorized the credit check.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Avantus has 30 days to provide proof of your authorization. Without proof, they must remove the hard inquiry from your credit report.

A legitimate hard inquiry stays on your report for two years. The inquiry only affects your credit score during the first year. After two years, send a credit inquiry removal letter if it still appears.

Step 2: Work With a Credit Repair Company

Some consumers prefer working with credit repair companies to save time and hassle. These companies prepare the necessary documents and communicate with Avantus and credit bureaus on your behalf.

Credit repair companies cannot remove valid inquiries or improve your credit score overnight. They don’t necessarily do a better job than you can do yourself. You’re paying for convenience, not unique services.

How to Respond to Avantus Effectively

You need the right documents to respond to creditors and improve your credit score. If you’ve been sued for debt related to an Avantus inquiry, you must act quickly. A judgment will hurt your credit score even more.

Our partner Solo helps you respond to debt lawsuits and block judgments. You can settle the debt without going to court. The process protects your credit and saves you money on legal fees.

Document everything in your communications with Avantus. Keep copies of all letters, dispute forms, and responses. Written records prove your efforts to resolve credit report errors.

Your Rights Under Federal Law

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you powerful rights against credit reporting errors. You can dispute inaccurate information at no cost. Credit reporting agencies must investigate your disputes within 30 days.

You have the right to know what’s in your credit file. You can request your credit report from each bureau once per year for free. You also have the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information.

Credit reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information. They typically must remove disputed information within 30 days unless they verify it as accurate.

Protect Your Credit Score Today

Unauthorized Avantus inquiries damage your credit score and financial opportunities. You deserve accurate credit reporting. Take action now to dispute errors and protect your credit.

Monitor your credit reports regularly for suspicious activity. Check all three bureaus because they may contain different information. Early detection prevents long-term damage to your credit score.

Build positive credit history while resolving Avantus issues. Pay bills on time and keep credit card balances low. Positive actions gradually improve your credit score over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Avantus and why is it on my credit report?

Avantus (now Xactus) is a credit reporting agency that appears on your credit report when lenders request background checks. The company provides credit history, employment verification, and fraud screening services to mortgage lenders, banks, and credit unions. Avantus appears as either a hard inquiry when you apply for credit or a soft inquiry for preapproval checks.

How do I remove Avantus from my credit report?

You can remove Avantus by disputing unauthorized inquiries with all three credit bureaus. Send a credit inquiry dispute letter requesting removal if you never authorized the credit check. The bureaus must investigate within 30 days, and Avantus must provide proof of your authorization or remove the inquiry. Hard inquiries automatically fall off after two years.

Can Avantus inquiries hurt my credit score?

Yes, hard inquiries from Avantus can lower your credit score by several points. Hard inquiries occur when you apply for new credit like mortgages or car loans. The impact lasts for one year, though the inquiry remains on your report for two years. Soft inquiries for preapproval checks don't affect your credit score at all.

What should I do if Avantus is on my credit report without my permission?

Contact the FTC immediately to report potential identity theft if you see Avantus inquiries you didn't authorize. Place fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus and contact Avantus directly at (800) 243-0120 to get details about the inquiry. Send dispute letters to the credit bureaus requesting removal of unauthorized inquiries under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

How long does Avantus stay on my credit report?

Hard inquiries from Avantus remain on your credit report for two years from the inquiry date. However, they only affect your credit score during the first year. After two years, if the inquiry still appears, send a removal request to Avantus and the credit bureaus. Soft inquiries appear on your report but don't impact your score.