| When thinking of all of the ways that your credit score | | | | companies with whom you have an existing credit |
| can be improved or made worse, few people give | | | | account. These companies periodically check your |
| much thought to the inquiries that they perform. While | | | | credit to ensure that you are still being offered terms |
| ordering your credit report from one of the major | | | | that match your credit standing. Even employers can |
| credit bureaus is what is known as a "soft inquiry" and | | | | make a hard credit pull when determining if they wish |
| has no negative effects, inquiries made on your behalf | | | | to hire you or not. A hard pull lowers your credit score |
| by other companies certainly can impact your score. In | | | | for about six months and will remain visible for quite |
| fact, when you are trying to repair your credit score, | | | | some time. Because of this, it is advised that you have |
| making a number of hard inquiries is a very bad idea | | | | as few pulls as possible. |
| indeed. | | | | If you are looking to fix your credit score, you might be |
| So, what constitutes a hard inquiry? These are | | | | surprised to learn that you can contest hard pulls done |
| requests for your credit report by lenders, credit card | | | | without your permission. While these pulls are legal, |
| companies, mortgage companies, and other people | | | | they are not supposed to be able to affect your |
| with whom you have applied for credit. While it is | | | | score. With credit repair software, you can easily find |
| certainly recommended that people compare credit | | | | these hard pulls on your credit report and access the |
| card offers when possible, applying for multiple cards | | | | contact information of the company that requested |
| can actually serve to worsen your credit score rather | | | | them. This will enable you to file a dispute to have the |
| than to boost it. Creditors want to know how often | | | | information taken off of your FICO score. When you |
| you are seeking credit, and too many inquiries simply | | | | are looking to improve your credit score, you don't |
| looks bad on your report. | | | | have to spend money on credit repair programs. What |
| Hard credit checks can also be done without your | | | | you do need to do, however, is remain vigilant and |
| permission. This can be done by companies looking to | | | | work to remove any improper items that are lowering |
| "prequalify" you for a loan or credit offer as well as by | | | | your score. |