What Is A Soft Inquiry, and Does It Hurt Your Credit? (Explained Clearly) - Soft Pull

Name: What Is A Soft Inquiry, and Does It Hurt Your Credit? (Explained Clearly) - Soft Pull
Uploaded: 2026-06-30T05:31:54.801Z
Description: What is a soft inquiry, and does it hurt your credit score? Understand the difference between soft and hard pulls, who can see them, and when they happen.

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Jay Mayor

11.1K subscribers

Credit Scores1 month ago

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You’ll learn what a soft inquiry is, when it happens, and why it has absolutely zero impact on your credit score. This quick, clear guide breaks down the difference between soft and hard pulls, who can actually see these inquiries on your credit report, and how you can confidently check your credit without fear.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:14 The Basics | What Exactly Is A Soft Inquiry
0:52 Who Is Snooping | When Soft Inquiries Actually Happen
1:29 Subscribe
1:39 The Invisible Footprint | Who Can See Soft Inquiries Outro

Disclaimer: Not a financial advisor. Always do your own research.

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Key Takeaways

Soft inquiries do zero damage to your credit score, meaning you can check your own credit as often as you want without penalty.
Lenders cannot see your soft inquiries. This invisible footprint is only visible to you when you review your official credit report.
These pulls are typically used for informational and administrative purposes, including pre-approved credit offers, tenant screening, insurance underwriting, and personal monitoring via tools like Credit Karma or AnnualCreditReport.com.
Explicit consent is not always required, but companies must have a valid "permissible purpose" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to legally perform a soft pull.
Employers must obtain your written consent before running a soft inquiry for an employment background check.
Unauthorized soft pulls are illegal, giving you the right to dispute any inquiries from unrecognized individuals or businesses.