Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry – What They Mean and When to Worry
Most credit reports show two types of checks: hard inquiries and soft inquiries. They look similar on a consumer copy of your report, but lenders and scoring models treat them very differently. Understanding the difference helps you decide when to relax—and when to take action.
What is a hard inquiry?
A hard inquiry (often called a hard pull) is recorded when you authorize a lender or service provider to review your credit for an application—credit card, auto loan, personal loan, mortgage, some utilities, and sometimes wireless accounts. Hard inquiries are visible to other lenders and are considered in most credit–decision models.
How long they stick around:
Hard inquiries typically remain on your reports for about 24 months; most scoring models weigh them primarily during the first 12 months. Their influence fades over time.
Why they exist:
They show a lender that you’ve recently sought new credit. One or two isn’t a big deal; a cluster of new pulls in a short period may signal elevated risk—especially on a thin file or alongside several new accounts.
What is a soft inquiry?
A soft inquiry (or soft pull) occurs when a company checks your report without a new credit application or when you check your own credit. Examples include pre-approval screenings, account reviews by existing creditors, employment background checks in some cases, and educational monitoring services.
Crucially:
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Soft inquiries do not affect lending decisions in most scoring models.
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They are not visible to other lenders reviewing your file; they only appear on the consumer copy you receive.
Soft pulls are normal background noise on a healthy report.
Where to find each on your report
Consumer disclosures from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion separate inquiries into two sections. The “hard inquiries” (sometimes labeled inquiries shared with others) section lists date, company, and sometimes a category (e.g., “auto,” “credit card”). The soft inquiries section lists pre-screen checks and account reviews that only you can see.
If you use monitoring tools, you’ll often get an alert for hard inquiries but not always for soft ones.
Examples (so you can spot them fast)
Hard inquiry examples
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You applied for a new credit card online and clicked the box granting permission.
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An auto dealer sent your application to three lenders—each may generate a hard pull.
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You opened a store card at checkout.
Soft inquiry examples
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“You’re pre-approved!” screening mailers.
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You logged in to your monitoring service to view your score.
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Your current card issuer reviewed your account (account review).
Rate-shopping rules (so you aren’t double-penalized)
Scoring models aim not to punish smart comparison shopping. Auto, mortgage, and student-loan pulls within a tight window are often de-duplicated and treated like a single inquiry for scoring. Older models may use a ~14-day window; newer ones allow up to about 45 days. Plan your shopping in a compressed period to minimize impact. (Credit card applications typically don’t get rate-shopping treatment—apply selectively.)
When hard inquiries become a problem
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You see a pull from a lender you never contacted.
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There are multiple pulls you don’t recognize in a short span.
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A company name/location doesn’t match anything you did.
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A broker or dealership sent your application far wider than you expected.
These are the moments to pause and review eligibility for removal.
When removal may apply—and when it won’t
Removal focus: Unauthorized or unapproved hard pulls. If you didn’t recognize the company and didn’t provide consent, you can request verification of permissible purpose. A targeted, documented dispute asks the furnisher/bureau to show that the pull was authorized. If they can’t verify, the inquiry should be corrected or removed.
Usually not removable: Authorized inquiries—where you applied and consented (including fine-print checkboxes or broad broker authorizations). Those typically remain until they age off.
Practical steps if something looks wrong
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Pull all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). Inquiries can differ across files.
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List each suspicious pull with date, bureau(s), and why you believe it’s unapproved.
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Request verification of permissible purpose from the furnisher and/or bureau—be specific to the inquiry.
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Track timelines (responses often arrive in 15–45 days). Follow up as needed.
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Verify outcomes by comparing before/after reports and saving letters/case numbers.
If you don’t want to manage the cadence across three bureaus and multiple furnishers, a done-for-you service can coordinate disputes, follow-ups, and verification month to month.
Do soft inquiries ever matter?
Not for lending decisions in most models. But soft pulls can be useful signals for you: a sudden spike in soft screenings could mean your data is being shopped for offers or that an account review is underway. They’re informational—not a reason to worry.
Prevention tips (for fewer headaches later)
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Monitor regularly: Turn on alerts for new hard inquiries.
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Freeze when not applying: Freezes are free and reduce the chance of unapproved hard pulls.
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Read consent language: Many online forms authorize a hard pull; don’t click through blindly.
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Keep rate-shopping tight: Group auto/mortgage applications inside a single window.
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Log applications and brokers: A simple note on who, when, and why makes verifying pulls much easier.
Bottom line
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Hard inquiries follow applications you authorize; they’re visible to lenders and weighed for about 12 months, then age off around 24 months.
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Soft inquiries are routine and don’t affect lending decisions; only you see them.
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Removal efforts should target unapproved hard pulls; authorized pulls generally stay.
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Plan applications thoughtfully, monitor your file, and act quickly if a pull looks wrong.
Need help reviewing what qualifies? We manage unauthorized/unapproved hard-inquiry removal for you—intake, targeted disputes, follow-ups, and final re-checks—with live updates across all three bureaus.
