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While examining your credit reports, you may also see a hodgepodge of codes or letters, especially in the inquiries section, indicating who has seen your credit files. These are abbreviations that reference some factoid in your credit file. Among the most common codes pertaining to inquiries are:

Code/Abbreviation Meaning of Code

PRM                                                    Inquiries with this prefix indicate that only your name and address were given to a credit grantor so they can provide you a firm offer of credit or insurance.(PRM inquiries remain for twelve months.)

AM or AR                                           These types of inquiries are done by one of your creditors as a routine review of your credit file. Any AM and AR inquiries will be reported on your credit file for 12 months.

EMPL                                                  Inquiries with this prefix indicate an employment inquiry. (EMPL inquiries remain for 24 months).

PR                                                       Inquiries with this prefix indicate that a creditor reviewed your account as part of a portfolio they are purchasing. (PR inquiries remain for 12 months.)

Equifax or EFX                                    Inquiries with these prefixes indicate Equifax’s activity in response to your contact with us for a copy of your credit file or a research request.

ND                                                      Inquiries with this prefix are general inquiries that do not display to credit grantors.(ND inquiries remain for 24 months.)

ND MR                                               Inquiries with this prefix indicate the reissue of a mortgage credit file containing information from your Equifax credit file to another company in connection with a mortgage loan. (ND inquiries remain for 24 months.)

Source: Equifax

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 Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach is a personal finance expert, speaker, and author of numerous books on personal finance. She appears frequently as an expert commentator on television, radio and in print.