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💵 Step-by-Step to Build Your Credit Now
Course overview
Lesson Overview

2.5 – What Are Hard Inquiries, and Which Ones Hurt Your Score: Hard inquiries happen when a lender checks your credit for approval, and understanding them helps you control your score. Every time you apply for a loan, credit card, or new account, the lender requests your credit file. Too many hard pulls in a short time can make you look risky to lenders. However, not all inquiries hurt you equally. Soft inquiries, like checking your own score or pre-approval offers, have no impact at all. A single hard inquiry may drop your score by a few points, but multiple in a month can add up. Some inquiries are grouped together if you’re rate-shopping for a mortgage or auto loan. It’s smart to limit unnecessary applications to protect your rating. When reviewing your report, list every inquiry you see. Ask yourself if you actually applied for that company. If not, it could signal fraud. Make sure each one shows the correct date and type. Hard inquiries stay on your report for about two years but only affect your score for the first twelve months. Disputing unauthorized ones helps clean your record. Remember that lenders also see these when judging your stability. Too many inquiries can suggest financial stress or overextension. Responsible use of credit applications shows patience and planning. Managing inquiries wisely helps keep your score steady and your borrowing power strong. Awareness of how they work lets you be in charge of your financial image.

About this course

Credit repair is the process of correcting errors on your credit report, removing negative items, and rebuilding your credit score through smart financial habits and responsible credit use.

This course includes:
  • Daily Step-by-Step Lessons for 6 months (180 days)
  • Video & Audio Guides explaining key credit concepts in plain language
  • Real-World Scenarios and case studies to guide smart credit decisions
  • Credit Builder Card and Loan Recommendations

Our platform is HIPAA, Medicaid, Medicare, and GDPR-compliant. We protect your data with secure systems, never sell your information, and only collect what is necessary to support your care and wellness. learn more

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