How to Remove SYNCB/HFT From Your Credit Report

SYNCB/HFT on your credit report decodes simply once you know the abbreviations. SYNCB stands for Synchrony Bank, and HFT stands for Harbor Freight Tools. If you’ve applied for the Harbor Freight credit card, either in one of their 1,600-plus stores or online, this is the hard inquiry that followed.

If you don’t recognize it, here’s what you need to know and what to do about it.

What Is SYNCB/HFT on Your Credit Report?

SYNCB/HFT is the credit bureau code for a Synchrony Bank hard inquiry tied to a Harbor Freight Tools credit card application. Synchrony Bank issues the Harbor Freight credit card, which offers 5% back in Harbor Freight Money on purchases, 0% interest financing on qualifying purchases of $299 or more, and can be used in stores, online, and by phone.

The hard inquiry is recorded on your credit report when Synchrony runs a credit check during the application process, regardless of whether you were approved or denied.

Why SYNCB/HFT Appears on Your Credit Report

This entry almost always traces back to a Harbor Freight credit card application. Here’s how it typically comes up:

• In-store application: Harbor Freight promotes their credit card at checkout, often with a first-purchase discount incentive. Many customers apply at the register without fully anticipating the credit check that follows.
• Online application: Applying through harborfreight.com generates the same Synchrony hard inquiry as an in-store application.
• Unauthorized application: If someone used your personal information to apply for the card without your knowledge, the hard inquiry still appears on your credit report.

How SYNCB/HFT Affects Your Credit Score

A single hard inquiry from Synchrony Bank causes a small dip in your credit score, typically just a few points. That’s not a meaningful concern on its own. The impact grows when multiple hard inquiries appear within a short period, which can signal to lenders that you’re actively seeking new credit.

The effect on your credit score fades within the first 12 months and becomes negligible well before the entry drops off your credit report.

How Long SYNCB/HFT Stays on Your Credit Report

Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for two years from the date they were pulled. All three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, display the entry during that window. Once the two years are up, it drops off automatically with no action required.

If your Harbor Freight card application was approved and an account was opened, that account also appears separately on your credit report as a tradeline, affecting your credit score based on payment history, credit utilization, and account age.

What to Do If You Don’t Recognize the SYNCB/HFT Entry

An unfamiliar SYNCB/HFT entry on your credit report is worth investigating. Here’s how to handle it:

• Contact Synchrony Bank directly: Ask them to confirm what triggered the inquiry, when it was pulled, and whether an account was opened as a result. They can verify whether the application was connected to your personal information.
• Dispute with the credit bureaus: If Synchrony cannot verify that you authorized the inquiry, file a formal dispute with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Include your personal details and a written explanation of why the entry should be removed from your credit report.
• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze: A fraud alert requires lenders to verify your identity before approving new applications. A credit freeze provides stronger protection by blocking new credit entirely until you lift it.

Synchrony Bank Contact Information

If you need to reach Synchrony Bank to ask about a SYNCB/HFT inquiry, here is their contact information:

Phone: (855) 341-3108

Mailing Address: Harbor Freight Tools Credit Card, P.O. Box 71710, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1710

Bottom Line

SYNCB/HFT on your credit report is a Synchrony Bank hard inquiry tied to a Harbor Freight Tools credit card application. If you recognize the application, the entry is legitimate and will age off your credit report after two years without any action needed.

If you don’t recognize it, contact Synchrony Bank to find out what triggered it and dispute the entry with the credit bureaus if you can’t verify it was authorized. A tool store card inquiry might feel minor, but an unauthorized one is always worth tracking down before it points to a larger problem.