There are two types of enquiries that can show up on your credit report - these are 'application' and 'quotation' enquiries.
A hard enquiry is a more in-depth look at your credit history. This stays on your report for five years and can initially lower your credit score – the impact will decrease over time.
Too many hard enquiries in a short period could bring your credit score down because lenders might think you rely too much on credit.
You might see hard enquiry when you apply for a:
• Loan, credit card or mortgage
• Offer – using a price comparison site (a search may be carried out by themselves or their partners).