If you’ve spotted “EMS” on your credit report, you’re probably wondering what it means—and whether it’s hurting your credit score. Here’s what you need to know and what to do if the inquiry doesn’t belong.
What EMS Means on Your Credit Report
EMS stands for Equifax Mortgage Services (also called Equifax Mortgage Solutions). It’s a division of Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
When you apply for a mortgage, the lender may use EMS to pull your credit report and evaluate your credit history. This shows up as a hard inquiry on your credit report. You might see it listed under names like:
- EMS LACS
- EMS Atlanta
- Equifax MTG
- Equifax Mortgage Servi
Why EMS Appears on Your Credit Report
If you recently applied for a mortgage or prequalification, EMS likely ran a credit check on behalf of your lender. Even if you didn’t move forward with the loan, the inquiry can still appear.
Mortgage lenders use these checks to evaluate your risk as a borrower, and Equifax handles the backend work through EMS.
How EMS Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score
Hard inquiries typically lower your credit score by a few points. One or two inquiries won’t have a big impact, but several in a short time can add up. Lenders may see that as a sign you’re taking on too much credit at once.
The impact is temporary, but it can matter if you’re applying for other loans or credit cards soon after.
How Long EMS Stays on Your Credit Report
An EMS hard inquiry will remain on your credit report for up to two years. It’s recorded by all three credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. That said, it only affects your credit score for about 12 months. After that, it still shows up but won’t count against you as much.
Tips for Minimizing the Impact of Hard Inquiries
To protect your credit score while applying for loans:
- Submit mortgage applications within a short timeframe: Credit scoring models often treat multiple inquiries for the same type of loan as one, as long as they happen within a 14–45 day window.
- Avoid back-to-back applications: Give your credit time to recover between hard pulls.
- Monitor your credit reports: Regular checks can help you catch unauthorized or inaccurate inquiries early.
What to Do About Unauthorized EMS Inquiries
If you didn’t apply for a mortgage or don’t recognize the lender who pulled the EMS inquiry, take action:
- Contact the lender directly: Ask for details about the inquiry and why it was made.
- Dispute the entry: If it was made in error or without your permission, file a dispute with each credit bureau.
- Consider identity theft protection: If it turns out someone else applied using your information, you may need to freeze your credit and take additional steps.
Can You Remove EMS From Your Credit Report?
If the inquiry was legitimate, it usually can’t be removed early. But if it’s inaccurate or unauthorized, you can dispute it—and it may be removed entirely.
Need help? A trusted credit repair company like Credit Saint can work on your behalf to challenge questionable items on your credit report, including:
- late payments
- collections
- charge-offs
- foreclosures
- repossessions
- bankruptcies
Get Help Fixing Your Credit
If you’re ready to clean up your credit, Credit Saint is one of the most trusted names in the industry. They even offer a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
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