Why was my credit score lowered?

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Inquiries can come from a lot of places that do credit checks, like an apartment, or a bank, not just credit cards. If you worried about your credit score being lowered or where youre getting inqueries from you should try a credit score tracker that will alert you whenever something changes or whenever there is new info on your credit report. I've been using mine for the last few months now and it's helped me a lot. Check out my links below to find the credit tracker from MyFico....Show more

You have to read your credit report to find out. All inquiries are on it.

But, you did apply for something, or you wouldn't have been denied credit! It doesn't have to be a credit card. It could be a credit inquiry done when you applied for a job (if you authorized them to check your credit, if you didn't authorize a credit check, it wouldn't affect your rating); or went to lease a new apartment; or checked out buying a car; or you yourself asked for a copy of your credit report on-line. Almost any financial transaction you take can result in an inquiry.

Order a copy of your credit report. Because you were just denied credit, they're obligated to send you one (or do it on-line.) You'll need the "denial letter" to do it though.

Finally, if you really didn't do anything that caused the "too many inquiries" flag--then someone else might be! That's the very reason you want to check your credit once a year or more--so you can see if you've been a little too loose with your personal information. (Anyone else know your social security number?)...Show more

A lot of the answers here are slightly wrong.

A credit inquiry which affects your credit score comes from something you applied for. And, an employment credit inquiry doesn't count. But, a tenant inquiry, or any other financial transaction inquiry where you've applied for something, will create a hard post which may affect your credit score.

And the worst possibility of all is that somebody else has applied for something using your identity, which could mean your identity has been stolen and you risk much more than a slightly imperfect credit score....Show more

The first answer on here is correct. (The one just before I wrote this--who said the others were wrong--is WRONG!) He clearly hasn't applied for a job before. (That may be why he is a "top contributor"--perhaps he doesn't work for a living?)

Applying for any professional job usually involves a credit check. It is a "hard check" against your credit. It is done to show potential lenders that the borrower may have recently changed jobs. It is necessary if the position requires "bonding" that is if the potential employee is an executive, works in payroll or accounting, or otherwise handles cash.
A "soft check" doesn't count against you--but that is for stuff like credit card companies that send out mass mailings to a zillion people in order to get someone to take their credit card. Those "don't count" against you. Applying for any real job usually does count (precisely because it will likely affect your ability to pay the debts you have.)...Show more

You can get a credit report on-line to find out who inquired. Remember your credit gets checked for more reasons then just credit card applications, but unless you have given consent for someone to check your credit it should not count against you.
How did you find out your credit score was lowered? You must have applied for something. If you were turned down because of negative credit info. you are entitled to a free credit report from the credit agency who supplied your credit info. You need to find out from the people who turned you down, what credit agency gave the report (get a phone number so you can contact that credit agency; give them your personal info. and they will send you copy of your report)...Show more