Score before or after hard inquiry

[too-much-time]

A hard inquiry lowers one's FICO score. Does that mean that the score from the hard inquiry comes before or after that hard inquiry? I would imagine it's after, but then again maybe a software inquiry is done first to establish the score, then a hard to indicate applying for credit. (I'm referring to when lenders, not you, pull your scores.)

[gdale6]

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@too-much-time wrote:

A hard inquiry lowers one's FICO score. Does that mean that the score from the hard inquiry comes before or after that hard inquiry? I would imagine it's after, but then again maybe a software inquiry is done first to establish the score, then a hard to indicate applying for credit. (I'm referring to when lenders, not you, pull your scores.)

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The score is generated on info already on file with the CRA, since the inquiry is not present it isnt included in the score calculation. The score that they may send to you is the score prior to their hard inquiry being added...

[Gunnar419]

gdale, I've been curious about that, too. Thanks for the answer.

[Anonymous]

if they only scored you post pull, you'd never really get to apply with an inquiry free report.  Considering for a lot of people, that first inquiry inside of 12 months  may be the one that drops your score the most, it would kinda defeat the purpose.