Got tricked into applying for the same credit card and now my credit score is ruined.

TL;DR: New credit card applications under existing credit card options made me apply thinking it was an upgrade. They did a hard inquiry into my credit score that took 3 years to build.

I've had New Mastercard for over two years now. Once in a while I would request an upgrade or credit limit raise. It usually is located under my existing credit card options.

A few days ago I checked again. I logged into my Neo account > tapped on my Mastercard > tapped on the card again > Explore card options. There is a list of several credit cards which I thought is an upgrade for the existing one. Why would they put new credit card application under existing card options????

I was tires and didn't pay much attention hit on the one that looked like mine. It did its thing and told me I am approved.

But instead for an upgrade they issues me a new credit card which is EXACTLY the same I already had. They also did hard inquiry into my credit score per TransUnion.

I called Neo, but as you all know they don't want to talk on the phone. The chat reps told me they can't withdraw the hard inquire. It took me 3 years to build a nice credit score. Now there is an extra hard inquire that I don't even get anything for.

I initiated a hard inquiry dispute with TransUnion, but as far as I understand, they can only remove it if it wasn't authorized.

I am very sad about this whole thing. I was a good Neo customer and used their cc every day.

I understand that it partially my mistake for not paying attention, but I would never apply if I hadn't thought it was an upgrade. They should have not put new credit card applications under existing ones to trick customer to apply.

Any thoughts? Thanks for reading.