If you’ve spotted WFDS on your credit report, you might be wondering what it means and whether it’s hurting your credit score. Here’s a breakdown of what WFDS is, why it appears on your credit report, and how to get it removed if needed.
What Is WFDS?
WFDS stands for Wells Fargo Dealer Services, which is part of Wells Fargo Bank. They provide auto financing, including loans for new and used vehicles, as well as auto loan refinancing.
If you’ve applied for an auto loan through a dealership that works with Wells Fargo, WFDS may appear on your credit report as a hard inquiry or account.
Why WFDS Appears on Your Credit Report
There are a few reasons WFDS could show up on your credit report:
- Auto Loan Application: If you applied for vehicle financing through a dealership partnered with Wells Fargo Dealer Services, WFDS would appear as a hard inquiry.
- Cosigned Loan: If you cosigned an auto loan financed by WFDS, that account and related inquiries will show up on your credit report. Cosigning makes you equally responsible for the loan.
- Identity Theft or Errors: If WFDS appears on your credit report but you didn’t apply for an auto loan, it could be a reporting mistake or identity theft. It’s important to address this quickly.
How WFDS Hard Inquiries Affect Your Credit Score
A hard inquiry from WFDS can lower your credit score by a few points. This is normal when applying for auto loans, credit cards, or other forms of financing.
One hard inquiry has a small impact, but several inquiries in a short period can hurt your credit score more. Lenders may also see multiple inquiries as a sign you’re actively seeking credit, which can raise concerns.
How Long WFDS Inquiries Stay on Your Credit Report
A hard inquiry from WFDS stays on your credit report for up to two years. The inquiry appears on reports from all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
The effect on your credit score fades over time, with the biggest impact typically happening in the first year. After two years, the inquiry automatically drops off your credit report.
How to Handle Unauthorized WFDS Inquiries
If you see a WFDS inquiry you don’t recognize, take action right away:
- Contact Wells Fargo: Ask them to verify the inquiry and explain why it was made.
- Dispute With the Credit Bureaus: If the inquiry is unauthorized, file a dispute to have it removed.
Unauthorized inquiries can result from reporting mistakes or identity theft. If proven inaccurate, the credit bureaus are required to remove them.
Wells Fargo Dealer Services Contact Information
Here’s how to reach Wells Fargo Auto for inquiry verification:
Address:
Wells Fargo Auto
P.O. Box 168048
Irving, TX 75016-8048
Phone: (800) 289-8004
Can You Remove WFDS From Your Credit Report?
If the WFDS inquiry is legitimate—meaning you applied for auto financing—it will stay on your credit report for up to two years and cannot be removed early.
But if the inquiry is inaccurate, unauthorized, or linked to identity theft, you have the right to dispute it. You can handle this process yourself, or work with a professional.
How Credit Saint Can Help With Hard Inquiries and Negative Marks
If you’re dealing with unauthorized WFDS inquiries or other negative information on your credit report, Credit Saint may be able to help.
They assist with disputing and potentially removing:
- Hard inquiries
- Late payments
- Collections
- Charge-offs
- Foreclosures
- Repossessions
- Bankruptcies
Credit Saint offers free consultations to review your credit situation. They even provide a 90-day money-back guarantee, giving you peace of mind as you work to improve your credit.
Want to take control of your credit? Visit their website to learn more and schedule your free consultation.
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