Credit Scoring and Soft Searches

Soft searches let you check your eligibility for credit products without affecting your credit score. For more information on credit scores, you can read about what constitutes a bad credit score.

What Is a Soft Search?

A soft search checks your credit information but doesn't leave a visible footprint on your file that other lenders can see. Understanding what employers can see on your credit report can also be beneficial.

When They're Used

Eligibility checkers, comparison sites, and some pre-approval processes use soft searches. It's important to know the risks of not doing thorough background screening when applying for credit.

Benefits

Soft searches let you shop around for credit without damaging your score through multiple hard searches.

Conclusion

Using soft searches to check eligibility before applying helps you avoid unnecessary hard searches that could lower your score.