Hard inquiries are small compared to a collection or charge-off, but unauthorized ones can be a sign of something bigger. Here is what to know.
Hard vs. soft pulls
A hard inquiry happens when you apply for credit and a lender checks your report. A soft pull, like checking your own score, does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries can cost points.
How much they matter
A single hard inquiry usually costs only a few points and stops affecting your score after about a year, though it stays visible for two. Many inquiries in a short time can look riskier to lenders.
When to dispute one
If you see a hard inquiry you did not authorize, one you do not recognize, it may be an error or a sign of identity theft, and you can dispute it. Inquiries you did authorize generally cannot be removed just because you do not like them.
Unauthorized inquiries can be the first sign someone is applying for credit in your name. If you spot one, dispute it and consider a fraud alert or freeze. Authorized inquiries that are reported correctly are not disputable.
If your report shows hard inquiries you never authorized, we help clients identify them and dispute the ones that do not belong.
An accurate item that has to stay does not mean your credit can't improve. Your score is built from several parts — payment history, balances, the age of your accounts, and your credit mix — so there are still legitimate ways to move it forward, such as adding a positive tradeline, lowering your balances, and building new on-time history. This is exactly where a credit coach can help.
See how credit scores work →These guides are general educational information, not legal or financial advice. Individual results are unique and vary. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your own credit report at no cost.