Sezzle does not run a hard credit check when you open an account or make a purchase
Sezzle uses a soft credit inquiry to review your account, which does not affect your credit score. A soft inquiry is a background check that credit bureaus do not report to lenders, so it will not lower your score or show up on your credit report the way a hard inquiry does.
When you sign up for Sezzle or make your first purchase, the company pulls information from your credit file to assess risk — but this is a soft pull, not a hard pull. You will not see it damage your credit, and it will not count against you if you are shopping around with other lenders in the same window.
Key Takeaways
- Sezzle performs a soft credit check, which does not lower your credit score or appear on your credit report.
- You do not need a credit score above a certain threshold to use Sezzle, and the company does not require a credit history.
- Sezzle reports your payment history to credit bureaus once you have an active account, so on-time payments can help your score over time.
- Late payments on Sezzle purchases will be reported to credit bureaus and can hurt your credit score.
What Sezzle actually checks during signup
Sezzle looks at your name, address, phone number, email, and bank account information. The company verifies that your bank account is real and that you have funds available, but this is not a credit check — it is a bank verification.
Sezzle also reviews your Sezzle account history if you already have one. If you have missed payments or had disputes in the past, that history influences whether the company will approve your purchase. But this is Sezzle's own internal record, not a hard credit inquiry.
How Sezzle reports to credit bureaus
Once you have an active Sezzle account and a payment history, Sezzle reports your account to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This means your on-time payments will show up on your credit report and can help build your credit score over time.
If you miss a payment or pay late, that negative information is also reported. A late payment on Sezzle works the same way as a late payment on any other account — it can lower your score and stay on your report for up to seven years.
The difference between a soft inquiry and a hard inquiry
A soft inquiry is a background check that does not affect your credit score. Employers, insurance companies, and services like Sezzle use soft inquiries to review your financial history without triggering a score drop. Soft inquiries do not appear on the credit report that lenders see.
A hard inquiry happens when you explore for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, or other credit product. Hard inquiries lower your score by a few points and stay on your report for about two years. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can signal to lenders that you are desperate for credit.
Because Sezzle uses a soft inquiry, you can sign up without worrying about score damage. You can also use Sezzle while you are shopping for a mortgage or car loan without the Sezzle check interfering with those applications.
Whether you need good credit to use Sezzle
Sezzle does not have a minimum credit score requirement. The company will work with people who have no credit history, poor credit, or excellent credit. What matters to Sezzle is whether your bank account has funds and whether you have a history of paying Sezzle on time.
This makes Sezzle a real option if you are rebuilding credit or have never borrowed before. You can use Sezzle to make purchases and build a positive payment history at the same time — as long as you pay on schedule.
What happens if Sezzle declines your purchase
If Sezzle declines a purchase, it is usually because your bank account does not have enough funds for the first payment, or because you have missed payments on a previous Sezzle order. Sezzle will tell you the reason when the decline happens.
A decline from Sezzle does not hurt your credit score. It is not a hard inquiry, and it does not show up on your credit report. You can try again with a different purchase amount or after you have made a payment on an outstanding Sezzle order.
How Sezzle affects your credit score over time
If you use Sezzle and pay on time, your score can go up. Sezzle reports your account as an installment loan, and on-time payments on installment accounts help your score. The longer your account stays open and active with no missed payments, the more it can help.
If you miss a payment, your score will drop. A single late payment can lower your score by 50 to 100 points depending on your current score and credit history. Multiple missed payments or a payment sent to collections will hurt much more.
Sezzle also affects your credit utilization if the company reports a credit limit. Some buy-now-pay-later services do not report a limit, which means they do not affect this part of your score. Check your Sezzle account or contact the company if you want to know whether a limit is reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Sezzle hurt my credit score when I sign up?
No. Sezzle uses a soft inquiry, which does not lower your score or show up on your credit report. Your score will only be affected if you miss a payment after you start using Sezzle.
Can I use Sezzle while I am explore for a mortgage or car loan?
Yes. Sezzle's soft inquiry will not interfere with mortgage or auto loan applications, which use hard inquiries. You can sign up for Sezzle without worrying that it will hurt your chances with a lender.
Does Sezzle check my bank account?
Sezzle verifies that your bank account exists and has funds for the first payment, but this is not a credit check. The company does not pull your full banking history or report to credit bureaus based on your bank account alone.
What if I have no credit history — can I still use Sezzle?
Yes. Sezzle does not require a credit score or credit history. The company focuses on whether you have a working bank account and whether you have paid Sezzle on time in the past. Using Sezzle responsibly can help you build credit from scratch.
How long does a missed Sezzle payment stay on my credit report?
A late payment stays on your credit report for up to seven years. However, its impact on your score weakens over time, especially if you make all your other payments on time going forward.