Myth: checking your credit score lowers it (UK)

Last reviewed October 23, 2026

Soft and hard searches

When anyone looks at your credit file, the agency records a search. There are two kinds:

Soft search: no effect	Hard search: small, short-lived effect
Checking your own credit file or score	Applying for a credit card or loan
Eligibility checkers and quotes	Applying for a mortgage
Existing lenders reviewing your account	Some phone contracts and current accounts

Soft searches are visible only to you. Lenders never see them, so they can’t count against you, however many there are.

How much does applying cost?

A hard search shows lenders you’ve applied for credit. One or two are normal. Lots in a short time can look like you’re struggling, and may lead to more refusals. Hard searches stay on your file for a year or two, depending on the agency, but their effect fades well before then.

The bigger risk is a refusal spiral: you’re turned down, apply somewhere else straight away, get another hard search and another refusal. If you’re refused, stop, check your file for mistakes and wait a few months before trying again.

Use eligibility checkers first. Most lenders and comparison sites can tell you your chances of being accepted with a soft search, so you only make a full application where you’re likely to succeed. Some even show a pre-approved offer you’re almost certain to get.

Why you should check

Checking regularly helps you spot mistakes and fraud early: an account you don’t recognise, a wrong address or a missed payment you did make. You can see your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion files free, and you have a legal right to your statutory credit report from each one at no cost.

If something is wrong, ask the agency, or the lender that reported it, to correct it. Agencies don’t all hold the same information, so check all three before a big application such as a mortgage.

What does move your score

Your score changes with what’s on your file, not with you looking at it. What matters most:

Paying on time, every time
Using little of your credit limits
Being on the electoral roll at your current address
Not applying for lots of credit at once

More on what does move your score: credit scores explained.

Frequently asked questions

Does checking my credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own file or score, directly with Experian, Equifax or TransUnion or through a free app, is a soft search. Lenders can’t see it and it never affects your score, however often you check.

What is the difference between a soft and a hard search?

A soft search is a look at your file that only you can see, for example when you check your own score or use an eligibility checker. A hard search is recorded when you apply for credit, and other lenders can see it.

How long does a hard search stay on my credit file?

A year or two, depending on the agency, though its effect on your score fades well before then. One or two are normal; several in a few weeks can make lenders wary.

Does a mortgage agreement in principle affect my credit score?

It depends on the lender. Many use a soft search for an agreement in principle, but some use a hard one. Ask before you apply, and avoid collecting lots of them with hard searches.

Do insurance and energy quotes affect my credit score?

Getting a quote usually uses a soft search, so no. Some providers do a hard search when you actually sign up for something paid monthly, such as a phone contract, so check if you’re about to apply for a mortgage.