How Hard & Soft Inquiries Affect Your Credit

A soft pull, or soft inquiry, happens when someone you authorize checks your credit report. A hard pull, on the other hand, is when you apply for a loan or credit card. It does impact your credit score.

Here Is What You Need To Know

A soft inquiry occurs when someone, or a company, checks your credit report. These pulls aren’t anything to worry about. Here are some of the most common examples of soft inquiries:

• A credit card company pre-approves you for a card
• You check your credit score
• A landlord checks your credit score

A hard pull occurs when you apply for one of the following

• Loans
• Credit card
• Mortgage

Downsides of Hard Pulls

• Can stay on your credit report for up to two years
• Can lower your credit score

Monitor Your Credit Report

You can see soft and hard inquiries on your credit report. To check what inquiries have been made, you’ll need to check your reports from all three credit bureaus. Remember: Checking your reports should be a habit. It’s free to do so and will help prevent identity theft. You can also keep your credit score high by catching and reporting incorrect information