What's Length of Credit History?
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What is a Hard Inquiry?
4 min read
Published September 11, 2025
Key Takeaways
- A hard credit inquiry occurs when a financial institution reviews your credit report as they evaluate your credit application.
- Multiple credit inquiries within a short period may hurt your score.
- If you’re shopping for a mortgage, student loan, or auto loan, multiple applications within a short timeframe may count as one inquiry.
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