What is a credit inquiry?

When someone asks to see your credit report, it’s called a credit inquiry or credit check. Credit inquiries are generally either soft or hard, depending on their purpose. In this article, we’ll look at the difference between soft credit inquiries and hard credit inquiries and explain how they affect your credit score.

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

• Who might ask to see your credit?
• What is a hard credit inquiry?
• What is a soft credit inquiry?
• When do soft credit inquiries take place?
• Build a better credit history with Oportun

Who might ask to see your credit report?

A credit inquiry is a request to see your credit report. There are two types of credit inquiries: hard inquiries, which can lower your credit score temporarily, and soft inquiries, which don’t affect your credit score at all. Both types allow people to see your credit report.

Here are some of the businesses that may want to look at your credit report.

• Banks
• Credit card companies
• Lenders
• Property managers
• Employers
• Insurance companies

What is a hard credit inquiry?

A hard credit inquiry (sometimes called a hard check) takes place when a financial institution asks to see your credit report during a credit application. Reviewing your credit history in detail helps financial institutions, property managers, and others determine if you meet their eligibility requirements.

A hard inquiry can temporarily reduce your credit score by a few points. That’s because the FICO® credit scoring model looks at how recently and how frequently you have applied for new credit. If you have too many recent credit applications, it may indicate that you’re short on money and less able to pay back your debts on time. As a result, they can lower your credit score. This is something you should consider when applying for new credit.

What is a soft credit inquiry?

A soft credit inquiry, or soft check, is a review of your credit file, including reviews of existing accounts by lenders, prescreening inquiries by prospective lenders, and your requests for your annual credit report.

Soft inquiries appear on your credit report, but they don’t affect your credit score. By understanding the difference between hard and soft credit inquiries, you can better identify actions that can reduce your credit score.

When do soft credit checks take place?

There are many situations where someone might make a soft inquiry to view your credit report. In some cases, you may not even be aware that these credit checks are taking place. Here are a few cases which are typically shown as a soft inquiry.

You want to review your own credit history

It’s helpful to check your credit report regularly, especially before you apply for new credit. By reviewing your credit history, you can determine if you need to take steps to improve your credit score.

You can see your credit reports from the three major bureaus for free once a year by making a request at AnnualCreditReport.com. This allows you to view your credit history as it appears with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Some credit card companies and banks may also offer you soft credit checks at no cost.

If you’re reviewing your credit reports, check that everything is correct. Over 30 percent of credit reports contain at least one error. Errors can bring down your credit score, so if you find an one in your credit report, be sure to file a dispute directly with the credit bureaus to have it corrected. The credit bureaus are required to investigate and remove disputed errors within 30 days.

A potential employer wants to know more about you

Some employers use soft credit checks to learn more about the people who are applying for jobs with them. Looking at your credit history allows employers to verify your identity and see how responsible you are in handling credit.

If you apply for a new job where you’ll be managing money, your potential employer may ask for permission to view your credit report as part of their background check. Your credit report shows them how well you manage your own finances.

Your current lender wants to monitor your creditworthiness

If you already have a loan or credit card, your current lender may use soft credit checks to keep track of your creditworthiness. Some lenders may raise your interest rate or reduce your credit limit if your credit report shows negative history.

A financial institution wants to send you a preapproval offer

Financial institutions often use soft credit inquiries to prescreen people who might be interested in their financial services. Then they send preapproval offers to the people who qualify. This lets them attract more business from qualified applicants. If you receive a preapproval offer from a company, they likely used a soft credit inquiry to view your credit report beforehand.

You want to find out if you prequalify with a specific lender

If you’re considering taking out a new loan or credit card, it’s generally a good idea to see first if you prequalify with the lender first. Applying for prequalification can usually tell you if you meet a lender’s basic eligibility requirements. If you don’t meet the requirements, you can avoid making a formal application, which would result in a hard credit inquiry.

Oportun: Affordable lending options designed with you in mind

Now that you understand hard and soft credit inquiries, you can learn about how Oportun may be able to help you if you’re looking for affordable credit options. Visit our homepage to learn about:

1. Personal loans
2. Credit cards
3. Secured personal loans
4. Savings and investing
5. And more

Sources:
Consumer Protection Bureau. What’s a credit inquiry?
Consumer Reports. More than a third of volunteers in a Consumer Reports study found errors in their credit reports
Credit Karma. Hard credit inquiry vs soft credit inquiry: What they are and why they matter.
Experian. How long do credit report disputes take?
Experian. Which states restrict the use of credit scores in determining insurance rates?
Equifax. Understanding hard inquiries on your credit report

The information in this site, including any third-party content and opinions, is for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Oportun product or service to your unique circumstances. Contact your independent financial advisor for advice on your personal situation.


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