What It Means
A soft inquiry (also called a soft pull) is a credit check that does not impact your credit score. Soft inquiries occur when you check your own credit, when a company checks your credit for pre-approval offers, when an employer runs a background check, or when existing creditors review your account. Unlike hard inquiries, soft inquiries are only visible to you on your credit report - other lenders cannot see them. Common soft inquiry scenarios include using credit monitoring services, receiving pre-qualified credit card offers, and insurance companies checking your credit. You can have unlimited soft inquiries without any effect on your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does checking your own credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own credit is always a soft inquiry and has zero impact on your score. You can check as often as you want without any negative effect.
Can you tell the difference between hard and soft inquiries?
Yes. Your credit report lists inquiries separately. Hard inquiries appear in a section visible to lenders, while soft inquiries appear in a section only you can see.