NCFE Civics Practice Exam 2025 - Free Civics Practice Questions and Study Guide

Inquiring about a credit card charge does not affect your credit score because these types of inquiries are considered "soft inquiries." Soft inquiries occur when you check your own credit or when a lender checks your credit background for purposes other than lending, such as when you've made a request for your own credit report or when companies conduct pre-approval for credit offers.

Hard inquiries, on the other hand, happen when a lender reviews your credit report as part of their decision-making process for lending you money. These hard inquiries can have a minor and temporary effect on your credit score. However, a simple inquiry about a specific charge on an existing credit card is not classified as a hard inquiry, and therefore, it does not impact your credit score at all. Understanding the distinction between soft and hard inquiries is crucial when considering how your actions might influence your credit standing.