A hard inquiry is generally connected to an application for credit and can be considered by scoring models. Soft inquiries can include your own checks, account reviews, and some prequalification activity and generally do not affect scores.
What is happening underneath
The label 'credit check' hides the purpose. Ask whether the company is evaluating an application or only showing an estimate.
Find thisName of the company requesting access
Then thisPermissible purpose or application
Do not missDate and bureau checked
Your three moves
- Ask whether the check is hard or soft before authorizing it.
- Review inquiry sections on all three reports.
- Dispute inquiries you did not authorize or recognize.
Use this sentence
“Before I continue, will this create a hard inquiry, which bureau will you check, and am I submitting an application?”
What to watch for
Prequalification is not the same as final approval. Read the language before supplying information.
Official starting points
Rules, programs, and deadlines can change. Start with the current official pages below and the documents in front of you.