A credit search happens when you or an organisation checks information held in your credit file.
There are two main types in the UK: soft searches and hard searches. They can look similar when you view your report, but they are treated differently by lenders.
A soft search does not affect your credit score and is not visible to lenders checking your file. It is commonly used when you check your own report, request a quotation or use an eligibility checker.
A hard search is usually connected to a full application for credit. Other lenders may be able to see it, and it may affect your credit score.
The important difference is not simply how much information was checked. It is why the search was made, how it was recorded and who can see it afterwards.
- Seen by you
- Yes
- Seen by lenders
- No
- Affects your score
- No
- Commonly used for
- Eligibility checks, quotations, identity checks and checking your own report
Soft search and hard search at a glance
| Soft search | Hard search | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible to you | Yes | Yes |
| Visible to other lenders | No | Yes |
| Affects your credit score | No | It may |
| Common purpose | Eligibility, quotation or identity check | Full credit application |
| Guarantees acceptance | No | No |
| Recorded on your credit file | It may appear for you | Usually appears as an application search |
What is a soft credit search?
A soft search is a credit file check that other lenders cannot see when assessing an application.
You may still see the search when you look at your own report. This allows you to understand which organisations have accessed your information. Its presence does not mean that you applied for credit.
Soft searches are commonly used for:
- Checking your own credit report
- Loan and credit card eligibility checks
- Personalised credit quotations
- Identity and fraud prevention checks
- Some affordability assessments
- Promotional offer checks by an existing provider
A soft search may use information from your credit file alongside details you provide, such as your income, address and employment status.
It can still produce a useful eligibility result. However, that result is not a promise that a lender will accept your application.
Can a soft search affect your credit score?
No. A correctly recorded soft search does not affect your credit score.
Other lenders cannot see your soft searches when they check your report. This means you can check your own file or use genuine soft search eligibility services without building up visible application footprints.
You should still use comparison tools carefully. Entering accurate information matters because an eligibility result is only as reliable as the information used to calculate it.
You should also check that the service clearly describes its search as soft. Do not assume that every quotation, comparison or pre approval process works in exactly the same way.
Can you fail a soft search?
A soft search does not produce a formal lending decision, so it is not something you pass or fail in the usual sense.
An eligibility checker may show that you have a low chance of acceptance. It may also return no suitable matches. This does not mean the soft search damaged your credit file.
The result means that your details did not closely match the available lenders’ current requirements. These requirements can include credit history, income, employment, existing commitments, requested loan amount and affordability.
Another lender may reach a different result because lenders do not all use the same rules.
What type of search is this?
Choose a situation to see which type of search it normally involves.
Always read the search notice before submitting your details. The provider should tell you whether it plans to perform a soft or hard search.
What is a hard credit search?
A hard search is normally carried out when you submit a full application for a financial product.
It allows the lender to review information in your credit file as part of its assessment. A hard search may be used when you apply for:
- A personal loan
- A credit card
- A mortgage
- Car finance
- A mobile phone contract
- An overdraft
- A catalogue or retail finance account
The search leaves a visible application footprint on your credit file. Other lenders checking the file may be able to see which organisation searched it and when.
A hard search is a normal part of applying for many credit products. Its presence does not mean that you have done something wrong.
Does every application cause a hard search?
No. Processes differ between providers.
Some companies begin with a soft eligibility search and only complete a hard search if you decide to make a full application. Others may move directly to a hard search after you submit an application.
Some services have several stages. For example, you might first check your eligibility through a broker or comparison service. If you select an option and continue to the lender, the lender may then complete a hard search.
Always read the statement shown before you submit your information. It should explain how your information will be used and what kind of search may take place.
If the wording is unclear, ask the provider before continuing.
Does a hard search lower your credit score?
A hard search may affect your credit score, but there is no fixed number of points that applies to everyone.
Credit reference agencies calculate scores differently. Lenders also have their own assessment systems. Your existing credit history, recent applications and overall circumstances can all affect how a new search is viewed.
A single hard search is unlikely to have a significant effect by itself. Several hard searches over a short period may be more important because they can suggest that you are seeking a large amount of new credit or applying after being declined elsewhere.
This does not mean that several searches will always result in rejection. The lender may consider them alongside your payment history, debts, income, affordability and the type of credit requested.
Can a lender see whether an application was declined?
A hard search shows that an organisation accessed your credit file in connection with an application. It does not normally tell another lender whether that application was accepted or declined.
However, several recent application searches without any new account appearing could lead a lender to consider why so many searches were made.
A lender should not rely on searches alone. Each provider has its own lending policy and will consider a wider range of information.
How long does a hard search stay on your credit file?
A hard search may remain on your credit report for up to two years. The exact retention period can depend on the credit reference agency and the type of search.
This does not mean it will have the same importance for the full period. A recent group of applications may attract more attention than an older search.
There is no guaranteed date when a search will stop affecting a score. Credit scores change as new information is added and older information becomes less relevant.
How a hard search ages on your file
Day of the searchThe search has just been recorded. Other lenders can see it when they check your file. Several searches in a short period may attract more attention than one search on its own.
- A hard search may remain visible for up to two years, depending on the credit reference agency and type of search.
- Its importance to a lender may reduce as it gets older.
- The search remaining on the report does not mean it has the same effect throughout that period.
- There is no guaranteed date on which a person’s score will increase.
Do not pay anyone who claims they can remove an accurate hard search simply because you no longer want it to appear.
Why several applications can become a problem
Every hard search records another application.
If you submit applications to several lenders in quick succession, each lender may see that you have recently looked for credit elsewhere. Some may interpret this as a sign that you need borrowing urgently or that your finances are under pressure.
This can be particularly unhelpful for someone who already has missed payments, defaults or a limited credit history.
Applying repeatedly can also make it harder to understand why you are being declined. You may end up adding more searches without addressing the reason behind the first decision.
A more controlled approach is to:
- Check your credit files for mistakes
- Decide how much you can afford to repay
- Use a soft search eligibility service where available
- Compare the total cost and repayment terms
Make one considered application instead of several rushed applications
An eligibility result is not a guarantee, but it can help you avoid applications where acceptance appears unlikely.
How soft and hard searches work when using a credit broker
A credit broker helps connect applicants with lenders or other brokers. It does not provide the loan itself unless it separately states that it is also a lender.
The first stage may use a soft search to identify providers whose criteria appear to match the information supplied. This search does not affect your credit score.
If you choose to continue, your details may be passed to a lender. The lender will complete its own checks and may carry out a hard search before making a final decision.
You remain free to stop before continuing with a lender. A broker should not present a possible match as guaranteed approval.
- 01Check eligibilitySoft search
- 02View possible matchesNo guarantee of acceptance
- 03Choose whether to continueNo application should be submitted automatically
- 04Apply to the lenderA hard search may be completed
- 05Receive the lender’s decisionApproval remains subject to the lender’s checks
Loans for Bad Credit UK is a credit broker, not a lender. Our initial eligibility search uses a soft search. If you continue with a lender, it may complete a hard credit search before making its decision.
Loans for Bad Credit UK is a credit broker, not a lender. Using our eligibility search will not affect your credit score. If you proceed to a lender, it may carry out a hard search.
What should you do before a full application?
Start by checking whether the first stage uses a soft or hard search.
Make sure the amount requested is necessary and the repayments appear affordable. Look at the total amount repayable rather than focusing only on the amount received or the monthly payment.
Check your credit files for incorrect addresses, unfamiliar accounts and inaccurate payment records. An error could affect the lender’s assessment.
Use an eligibility checker if one is available. Enter accurate information and remember that the result remains an estimate rather than a final decision.
Read the lender’s terms before agreeing to continue. This is the point where a soft comparison may become a full application involving a hard search.
What if you do not recognise a search?
Start by checking the organisation’s name and the search date. A business may appear on your report under the name of its parent company rather than the brand you recognise.
Think about whether you recently requested a quotation, completed an identity check or used a comparison service. These activities can explain unfamiliar soft searches.
If you still do not recognise it, contact the organisation named on the report. Ask why it accessed your information and what type of search was completed.
An unfamiliar hard search should be investigated promptly because it could relate to an application made using your identity. Check your other credit files for unfamiliar searches or accounts and raise a dispute if the information does not belong to you.
Frequently asked questions
No. Checking your own credit score or report creates a soft search. It does not affect your score and is not visible to lenders assessing an application.
Eligibility checkers normally use soft searches, but you should read the provider’s explanation before entering your details. A full application may result in a hard search later.
No. A soft search can estimate your chances based on the information available. The lender may complete further identity, affordability and credit checks before making a decision.
No. A single hard search is unlikely to have a significant effect by itself. Its effect depends on the rest of your credit history and the scoring system being used.
There is no universal number. Lenders use different policies. Several applications made close together may concern some lenders, so avoid submitting repeated applications without understanding the likely outcome.
An accurate search cannot normally be removed just because you changed your mind or the application was declined. If the search is incorrect or you did not authorise the application, contact the organisation and the credit reference agency.
The hard search records that an application search took place. It does not normally record the lender’s decision. The search remains even if the application is unsuccessful.
Genuine soft search eligibility checks do not affect your score. Confirm that each service uses a soft search before proceeding.
The simple difference
A soft search helps you explore your position without affecting your credit score. A hard search usually means you have moved from checking possibilities to making a full application.
Use soft eligibility checks where they are available, but treat their results as guidance rather than guaranteed approval. Before completing any application, check which type of search will be used, consider the full cost and make sure the repayments are affordable.
Checking eligibility uses a soft search and will not affect your credit score. If you continue with a lender, it may complete a hard search before making its decision. Loans for Bad Credit UK is a credit broker, not a lender.