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Every time your credit score or credit report is checked, the inquiry is classified as either a soft inquiry or a hard inquiry. Understanding the difference between the soft inquiry vs hard inquiry is crucial because only one of them can impact your credit score. This guide explains how each type works, when they occur, how they affect your creditworthiness, and how you can avoid unnecessary hard inquiries.
| Feature | Soft Inquiry | Hard Inquiry |
| Affects Credit Score? | No | Yes (3–10 points drop) |
| Visibility | Only you can see it | Lenders can see it |
| Purpose | Background checks, pre-approval, personal checks | Loan or credit card applications |
| Duration on Report | Not applicable | Up to 24 months |
| Risk Level | Zero | Multiple inquiries increase rejection chances |
A credit inquiry (also called a “credit check” or “credit pull”) occurs when an individual or a lender views your credit report from a bureau like CIBIL, Experian, CRIF, or Equifax. Inquiries help lenders evaluate your credit behaviour, repayment potential and borrowing patterns.
A soft inquiry is a background credit check that does not affect your credit score. Soft inquiries do not indicate any credit-seeking behaviour and are often used for pre-approvals or personal checks.
No. Soft inquiries are not visible to lenders and have zero impact on your credit score because they don’t represent a new loan request.
A hard inquiry (or hard pull) occurs when you formally apply for a loan or credit card, and the lender pulls your credit report from the bureau. Hard inquiries affect your credit score.
A hard inquiry indicates that you are actively seeking credit. Multiple hard inquiries in a short span can reduce your score because it signals high credit hunger or potential financial stress.
Impact: Each hard inquiry may reduce the score by 3–10 points, depending on your credit profile.
Soft Inquiry: No impact on credit score.
Hard Inquiry: Reduces score temporarily.
Soft Inquiry: Visible only to you.
Hard Inquiry: Visible to lenders and impacts credit decisions.
Soft Inquiry: Pre-approved offers, background checks.
Hard Inquiry: Loan/credit card applications and credit limit requests.
Soft Inquiry: Safe, no risk.
Hard Inquiry: Excessive hard inquiries may cause loan rejections.
Generally, a hard inquiry reduces your score by 3–10 points. If multiple inquiries occur within 30 days, the impact may be higher, especially for mixed or limited credit profiles. Individuals with thin credit history may see a greater drop than those with long and stable credit records.
No. Checking your score is a soft inquiry and does not affect your credit score.
Hard inquiries signal active credit seeking, which can indicate financial stress, so the score dips temporarily.
More than 3–4 hard inquiries within 90 days may negatively affect loan approval chances.
If a hard inquiry was unauthorised or incorrect, you can dispute it with the credit bureau.
Yes. Any formal credit application will trigger a hard inquiry.
Yes, but only you can see them. Lenders cannot.
At least 30–45 days to avoid repeated hard pulls affecting your score.