A Soft Credit Inquiry (or Soft Credit Pull) is a type of credit check that does not impact your credit score. It occurs when a person or company checks your credit report for non-lending purposes. Unlike a hard inquiry, which happens when a lender reviews your credit for loan or credit approval, soft inquiries are typically used for:
- Pre-approved credit offers (e.g., credit card companies checking if you qualify for an offer)
- Personal credit checks (when you check your own credit score)
- Employer background checks (some employers may review credit history during hiring)
- Rental applications (landlords may conduct a soft pull when screening tenants)
- Insurance quotes
- Employment verifications
Soft inquiries are only visible to you and do not affect your credit score, whereas hard inquiries can slightly lower your score and are visible to lenders.
There are two types of soft credit checks:
Marketing pre-screen credit checks: The result of the marketing pre-screen credit checks companies use to pre-approve you for their products. Example: Pre-approval letters for loans or credit cards you receive in the mail
Consumer-initiated inquiries: Example: Checking your credit score through Equifax, Experian, or Transunion or Checking your rates for personal loans.