How to improve credit score after hard inquiry?
Follow this advice to improve your credit score after a hard enquiry:
- Make sure all EMIs, loan instalments, and credit card bills are cleared by the due date. A strong payment history offsets the effect of hard pulls.
- Keep your credit card usage below 30% of the total limit. High balances give the impression of dependency on credit, which drags your score down.
- Too many requests within a short time can add more hard inquiries. Give it at least 6–12 months before applying again.
- Regularly monitor for errors or unauthorised entries. Correcting mistakes can instantly improve your profile.
The key is consistency. A hard inquiry can lower your credit score slightly, but the good news is that the impact is temporary.
Hard inquiries remain on your credit report for up to two years, but they typically impact your credit score for only about one year. So yes, you can bounce back with the right approach.