Soft Inquiry
Definition
A credit check not tied to a credit application — e.g. a self-check, pre-approved-offer screen or background check — that does not affect your score.A soft inquiry (or soft enquiry) is a check of your credit information that is not part of a credit application. Common examples are checking your own score, a lender screening you for a pre-approved offer, or an employer background check. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and are generally visible only to you, unlike a hard inquiry, which follows a credit application and can cause a small, temporary dip.
Related guides
Related terms
- CIBIL Score — A 3-digit credit score from 300 to 900 issued by TransUnion CIBIL that summarises an individual's credit history.
- Credit Report — A detailed record of a person's borrowing and repayment history maintained by a credit bureau.
- Hard Inquiry — A lender's full credit-report check triggered when you apply for credit; recorded on your report and can cause a small, temporary score dip.
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