FEDERAL LAW · PRE-VERIFIED
Hard vs. Soft Inquiries — Permissible Purpose
Fair Credit Reporting Act · 15 U.S.C. § 1681b
✓ VERIFIED
Hard inquiries require your permission or a permissible purpose under the FCRA. Unauthorized hard inquiries can be disputed directly with the credit bureau under Section 611.
Primary Statute
Fair Credit Reporting Act
15 U.S.C. § 1681b
Section 604 defines permissible purposes for accessing consumer reports. Hard inquiries occur when a creditor pulls your report for a credit decision — they appear on your report for 2 years and may affect your score for up to 12 months. Soft inquiries do not affect your score and are not visible to creditors.
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act