Hard and soft inquiries serve different purposes
CFPB guidance describes hard inquiries as checks often tied to an application and soft inquiries as reviews such as consumer requests, certain account reviews, or prescreening. Hard inquiries may affect scores; soft inquiries do not.
An unfamiliar name needs investigation
A report can display a legal or financing name different from the store, dealer, or website the consumer remembers. Compare the inquiry date with applications and consent records before deciding it was unauthorized.
- Inquiry company
- Date
- Application or visit
- Consent record
- Business-name relationship
Rate shopping has limits
Some scoring models group inquiries for certain loan types within a window that can vary. Do not assume every credit-card, business, auto, and mortgage application will be combined or treated identically.
Common questions
Clear answers, clear limits.
Does checking my own report create a hard inquiry?
No. CFPB guidance says a consumer request for their own report is a soft inquiry and does not affect scores.
Should I dispute every hard inquiry?
No. Valid inquiries should not be disputed merely because they may affect a score.
How long is the rate-shopping window?
It depends on the scoring model and loan type. CFPB guidance describes windows ranging from 14 to 45 days in relevant situations.