A soft credit check doesn't lower your credit score
A soft credit check is a quick look at your credit history that doesn't show up on your credit report and doesn't affect your score at all. Lenders, employers, and other companies use soft checks to screen you without leaving a mark. Hard checks — the kind that happen when you explore for a mortgage, car loan, or credit card — do show up and can lower your score by a few points. Soft checks are invisible to everyone but you.
The difference matters because soft checks happen constantly and you often don't know they're happening. A credit card company might run one to see if you're worth a pre-approved offer. Your employer might run one during a background check. Your phone company might run one before signing you up for a plan. None of these lower your score or appear on the credit report that lenders see when you actually explore for something.
Key Takeaways
- Soft checks don't appear on your credit report and don't lower your score, while hard checks do both.
- Companies run soft checks to screen you for pre-approved offers, background checks, and account reviews without your permission.
- You can see soft checks on your own credit report, but lenders and other third parties cannot.
- Hard checks only happen when you actively explore for credit, and each one can lower your score by a few points.
Who runs soft checks and why
Credit card companies run soft checks to find people to send pre-approved offers to. They're looking for customers who fit their risk profile without actually asking you to explore. Insurance companies run soft checks during underwriting. Employers run them as part of background screening. Utility companies, phone companies, and landlords sometimes run them too — though landlords more often run hard checks because they're making a real lending decision.
The reason companies use soft checks is speed and volume. They can screen thousands of people cheaply without triggering the formal credit inquiry process. You don't have to consent to a soft check the way you do to a hard check. Many happen in the background, and you'll only know about them if you look at your own credit report.
How soft checks appear on your credit report
When you pull your own credit report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, soft checks show up in a section separate from hard inquiries. The three major credit bureaus track them, but they don't share that information with lenders. Only you can see the soft checks on your report. A lender who pulls your credit report for a mortgage process will see the hard inquiries you've had in the past two years, but not the soft ones.
This separation is why soft checks don't affect your credit score. The scoring models — FICO and VantageScore — only count hard inquiries. A hard inquiry can lower your score by a few points, and the effect fades over time. Soft inquiries have zero impact on the number itself.
The difference between soft and hard checks
| Soft Check | Hard Check |
|---|---|
| Doesn't require your permission | Requires your written consent |
| Doesn't appear on lender reports | Appears on lender reports for 2 years |
| Doesn't lower your score | Can lower your score by a few points |
| Used for pre-screening and background checks | Used when you explore for credit |
| You see it only on your own report | Any lender can see it |
Hard checks happen when you explore for a credit card, mortgage, auto loan, personal loan, or anything else that requires a lender to make a real decision about lending you money. You have to sign something authorizing the check. The inquiry stays on your report for two years, though its impact on your score weakens after about six months.
Multiple hard checks in a short time can signal to lenders that you're desperate for credit, which makes them less likely to lend to you. Soft checks don't send that signal because lenders can't see them. You can have fifty soft checks in a month and it won't matter to anyone but you.
When you might see a soft check
You'll see soft checks on your credit report when you request it from any of the three bureaus. You're may have access to to one free report per year from each bureau at annualcreditreport.com. When you look at it, soft inquiries appear in their own section, usually labeled "Inquiries — Soft" or "Inquiries — Not Reported to Creditors."
Common reasons for soft checks include credit card companies sending pre-approved offers, your current credit card company reviewing your account to decide whether to raise your limit, insurance companies checking your credit during underwriting, employers running background checks, and utility or phone companies screening new customers. Some of these happen without you knowing. Others you'll see coming — like when you know you're about to start a job and the employer mentions a background check.
Why soft checks matter even though they don't hurt your score
Soft checks don't lower your score, but they're still worth paying attention to. They're a sign that companies are looking at your credit and making decisions about you. If you see a soft check from a company you don't recognize, it might mean someone is trying to open an account in your name. Reviewing your soft inquiries regularly is one way to catch fraud early.
Soft checks also tell you which companies think you're a good customer. If a credit card company keeps running soft checks on you, they're probably going to send you a pre-approved offer soon. If your current card issuer runs frequent soft checks, they might be considering a credit limit increase. These aren't guarantees, but they're signals about how lenders see you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a soft check lower my credit score?
No. Soft checks have no impact on your credit score at all. Only hard inquiries can lower your score, and they typically lower it by just a few points. The effect fades over time, and after about six months the impact becomes minimal.
Do I have to consent to a soft check?
No. Companies can run soft checks without your permission. Hard checks require your written consent, but soft checks don't. This is why you might see soft inquiries on your report from companies you never applied to.
Will a lender see the soft checks on my credit report?
No. Lenders only see hard inquiries when they pull your credit report. Soft checks appear only on the credit report you pull yourself. The three credit bureaus keep them separate so lenders can't access that information.
How many soft checks can I have before it affects my score?
There's no limit. You can have hundreds of soft checks and your score won't move at all. Soft inquiries are completely invisible to credit scoring models. Only hard inquiries count toward your score.
What should I do if I see a soft check from a company I don't recognize?
Look up the company name to see what they do. If it's a legitimate business like an insurance company or employer you applied to, it's probably fine. If you don't recognize the company and didn't interact with them, it could be fraud. Contact the company directly to ask why they ran the check, and consider placing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus if you're concerned.