Two Types of Credit Inquiries
When someone checks your credit, it's recorded as an inquiry. There are two types: hard inquiries (which affect your score) and soft inquiries (which don't).
Hard Inquiries
A hard inquiry occurs when you apply for credit — a credit card, auto loan, mortgage, or personal loan. The lender pulls your full credit report to make a lending decision. Hard inquiries:
- Lower your score by 5–10 points temporarily
- Stay on your report for 2 years
- Impact your score for about 12 months
- Multiple hard inquiries can be treated as one if rate shopping (within 14–45 days)
Soft Inquiries
Soft inquiries don't affect your score at all. They occur when:
- You check your own credit
- An employer does a background check
- A lender pre-approves you for an offer
- Existing creditors review your account
Can You Dispute Hard Inquiries?
Yes — if a hard inquiry was made without your permission (unauthorized inquiry), you can dispute it with the credit bureau under the FCRA. Legitimate hard inquiries you authorized cannot be removed early. Learn more about disputing credit report errors.
Strategy: Minimize Hard Inquiries
Apply for new credit only when necessary. When shopping for a mortgage or auto loan, do all your applications within a 14-day window — FICO treats them as one inquiry. Avoid applying for multiple credit cards in a short period.