{"id":3193,"date":"2018-10-16T17:25:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T14:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lending-express.com\/blog\/?p=3193"},"modified":"2019-02-17T15:47:05","modified_gmt":"2019-02-17T13:47:05","slug":"credit-score-soft-inquiry-vs-hard-inquiry-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.become.co\/blog\/credit-score-soft-inquiry-vs-hard-inquiry-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Credit Score Soft Inquiry vs Hard Inquiry: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s the difference between hard and soft credit inquiries? <\/span><\/h2>\n

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Hard and soft inquiries are types of credit checks that are often confused. Understanding the difference is important when it comes to credit management, and applying for funding or a form of credit. Here we\u2019ll discuss the main differences between the two types of credit pulls. <\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Credit score soft inquiry vs hard inquiry:<\/span><\/h3>\n

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When applying for credit or skimming over your credit report, you may have come across the terms \u2018soft inquiry\u2019 or \u2018hard inquiry\u2019 also known as \u2018credit pulls\u2019 and wondered what it all actually means.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Every time you apply for new credit, the \u2018credit inquiries\u2019 section of your report will change and affect your credit score. But does this occur with a hard inquiry, a soft inquiry or both? What\u2019s the difference between the two and how do you conduct a credit inquiry removal? These are some of the questions we\u2019re about to answer (and more). <\/span>
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\n<\/span>But first, let\u2019s go back to basics…<\/span>
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What is a soft credit check?<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Soft inquiries (also known as soft pulls\/credit pulls), occur when a company, institution or individual checks your credit as part of a wide background check and may even occur without your permission. Soft inquiries aren\u2019t linked to any specific application for new credit and will only be visible to you.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Soft inquiries often happen without you even knowing it. Think about that credit card offer that just arrived in the mail – no company would waste their time or postage fees sending you the offer without first making sure you\u2019re a suitable borrower. Surprisingly, even some employer background checks include soft inquiries on the applicant\u2019s credit report. They want to make sure they\u2019re hiring responsible individuals, after all.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When you check your own credit report (which is something you should do annually or even quarterly) this counts as a soft inquiry, as do loan or mortgage pre-approvals.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, when you apply for loan offers through <\/span>Become<\/span><\/a>, there\u2019s no impact whatsoever on your credit score as only a soft pull is used.<\/span>
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A soft pull may occur due to:<\/b><\/p>\n