How Many Credit Checks Can You Safely Perform?

Discover how many credit checks are permissible without hurting your score. Learn about soft vs. hard inquiries.

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You are typically allowed to have several credit checks as long as they are soft inquiries, which don’t impact your credit score. Hard inquiries, which occur when applying for new credit, should be limited to prevent negatively affecting your score. It’s important to plan and space out hard inquiries whenever possible.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is the difference between soft and hard credit inquiries? Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and include checks made by you or companies for promotional purposes. Hard inquiries occur when you apply for new credit and can affect your score.
  2. How many hard inquiries can I have before it impacts my credit score? While there’s no official limit, more than two or three hard inquiries within a short period may start to negatively affect your credit score.
  3. Will multiple soft inquiries impact my credit score? No, soft inquiries do not impact your credit score regardless of how many times they occur.
  4. How can I manage my credit inquiries effectively? Plan your credit applications carefully and space out any hard inquiries. Also, regularly check your credit report to monitor inquiries and understand their potential impact.