Checking your own credit score does not lower it. Only a hard search, carried out by a lender when you formally apply for credit, can leave a mark on your file. The confusion is common, but understandable: not all credit searches work the same way.
This article is information only. It explains how credit searches work in the UK. It is not financial advice, and it does not tell you what to do with your own credit file or borrowing plans.
The short answer: it depends on the type of search
Checking your own score is a soft search. Soft searches have no effect on your credit score and are invisible to lenders.
Applying for credit triggers a hard search. Hard searches are visible to other lenders and can lower your score temporarily. The two are not the same, and many people treat them as if they were. That misunderstanding sometimes leads people to avoid looking at their own file, which can mean missing errors or problems they would benefit from knowing about.
What is a soft search?
A soft search is a background check on your credit file. Several things can trigger one:
- You check your own credit score through a credit reference agency (such as Experian, Equifax or TransUnion) or a monitoring service.
- A lender runs a pre-approval or eligibility check before you formally apply.
- An employer carries out a basic identity or credit check.
- A company checks your details for fraud prevention purposes.
Soft searches appear on your own credit file. You can see them when you view your report. Lenders carrying out their own checks do not see soft searches on your file. They play no part in a lender's decision-making and they have no effect on any credit score model used in the UK (Experian: soft and hard credit searches explained).
This means you can check your own credit score as often as you like. There is no penalty for doing so.
What is a hard search?
A hard search is recorded on your credit file when you formally apply for credit. Common triggers include:
- Applying for a personal loan.
- Applying for a credit card.
- Applying for a mortgage.
- Taking out a mobile phone contract on credit terms.
- Applying for car finance.
When a lender carries out a hard search, it appears on the section of your report that other lenders can see. According to Experian, the entry remains on your file for 12 months.
A single hard search is unlikely to cause significant damage. However, several hard searches in a short period can signal to lenders that you are applying for a lot of credit at once. That pattern can lower your score temporarily and may make some lenders more cautious.
According to MoneyHelper, the effect of a hard search on your score typically fades within three to six months, even though the entry remains on your file for the full 12 months.
What does this mean if you are worried about your credit
If you are avoiding checking your credit score because you fear it will lower your score, there is good news. That fear is based on a misunderstanding.
Checking your own file is a soft search. You can do this for free through services such as ClearScore (which uses Equifax data), Credit Karma (which uses TransUnion data), and Experian's free membership (which uses Experian data). All three main UK credit reference agencies also allow you to request your statutory credit report for free.
Regularly reviewing your credit file can help you:
- Spot any errors or fraudulent entries that may be holding your score down.
- See which hard searches are recorded, and whether any are unfamiliar.
- Understand what information lenders see when you apply.
- Track changes over time.
Be careful if you are considering applying to multiple lenders in quick succession. That is when hard searches accumulate and can have a real effect. Using an eligibility checker that runs a soft search first is a useful way to get a sense of your chances before committing to a full application.
What about eligibility checkers?
Many lenders and comparison sites offer eligibility checks before you apply. Most of these use soft searches, which means they do not affect your credit score.
Before using any eligibility checker, it is worth confirming that it uses a soft search rather than a hard one. The checker should state this clearly. If it does not, it is reasonable to ask or to look elsewhere.
Soft-search eligibility checks can give a reasonable indication of whether a lender is likely to accept you, without leaving a mark on your file. They are not a guarantee of approval, as the lender will still carry out a full hard search if you proceed to a formal application.
How credit scores work in the UK
There is no single credit score in the UK. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each hold a credit file on you and calculate their own score using their own model. Lenders may use one, two or all three when assessing an application, and many also use their own internal scoring system.
This means your score can differ slightly between agencies, and a hard search recorded with one agency may not appear with another unless the lender checks all three.
Checking your score with one agency does not affect the others. The soft search principle applies across all three.
Common confusions worth clearing up
"I checked my score and it went down."
If your score fell after you checked it, something else changed on your file. The check itself did not cause the fall. Changes in score can come from a new hard search, a missed payment being recorded, a change in your credit utilisation, or an account reaching a certain age.
"The bank said my credit check lowered my score."
If a bank checked your credit as part of a formal application, that was a hard search and it may have had a small, temporary effect. A check you carry out yourself is a different kind of search entirely.
"My score is too low to look at."
It can feel discouraging to check a score you suspect is low, but knowing where you stand is a useful first step, regardless of what the score shows. The score is information. Looking at it costs nothing and changes nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Does checking my own credit score damage it?
No. Checking your own score triggers a soft search, which is only visible to you and has no effect on your score.
What is the difference between a soft search and a hard search?
A soft search is a background check that does not appear on the record lenders see. A hard search is carried out when you formally apply for credit. Lenders can see hard searches, and multiple hard searches in a short period can lower your score temporarily.
How long does a hard search stay on my credit file?
Hard searches remain on your credit file for 12 months (Experian). Their impact on your score typically fades within three to six months (MoneyHelper), but the entry itself stays visible to lenders for the full year.
Will using an eligibility checker hurt my credit score?
No, as long as the checker uses a soft search. Most eligibility checkers operated by lenders and comparison sites use soft searches. It is worth confirming this before you proceed.
Can checking my credit score too often cause problems?
No. Checking your own score has no effect on your score at all, regardless of how often you do it.
Why do some people think checking their score lowers it?
The confusion comes from mixing up two different types of credit search. Hard searches, done by lenders when you apply, can lower your score temporarily. Checking it yourself is a soft search and is invisible to lenders.
Related reading
For a broader overview of how credit reports work in the UK, the parent guide Credit Reports and Scores covers the full picture, including what lenders look at, how to dispute errors, and what affects your score over time.
Further information on soft searches and hard searches is available from MoneyHelper and Experian.
Sources
- Experian, Hard and soft credit searches explained: information on how soft and hard searches differ, their visibility to lenders, and the 12-month duration of hard search entries.
- MoneyHelper, How to improve your credit score: guidance on checking your credit report, understanding credit searches, and the typical timeframe for hard search impact to fade.
- Does checking my own credit score damage it?
No. Checking your own score triggers a soft search, which is only visible to you. Soft searches are not seen by lenders and have no effect on your score.
- What is the difference between a soft search and a hard search?
A soft search is a background check that does not appear on the record lenders see. A hard search is carried out when you formally apply for credit. Lenders can see hard searches, and multiple hard searches in a short period can lower your score temporarily.
- How long does a hard search stay on my credit file?
Hard searches typically remain on your credit file for 12 months. Their impact on your score tends to fade after a few months, but the entry itself stays visible to lenders for the full year.
- Will using an eligibility checker hurt my credit score?
No, as long as the checker uses a soft search. Most eligibility checkers operated by lenders and comparison sites use soft searches. It is worth confirming this before you proceed.
- Can checking my credit score too often cause problems?
Checking your own score as often as you like has no effect on your score at all. The concern people have is understandable, but it applies only to hard searches made by lenders, not to your own checks.
- Why do some people think checking their score lowers it?
The confusion comes from mixing up two different types of credit search. Hard searches — done by lenders when you apply — can lower your score temporarily. Checking it yourself is a soft search and is invisible to lenders.