Does Checking Your Credit Score Hurt It?
Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and won't hurt your score. Learn how soft vs. Hard inquiries work, and how Credit Saint may help with unauthorized entries.
Key takeaways
- 1 in 5 consumers have identified errors on their credit reports, and unauthorized or inaccurate hard inquiries are among the entries that may be eligible for challenge (FTC, 2013).
- Soft inquiries, including checking your own credit report, have no impact on a credit score and are not visible to lenders.
- Hard inquiries occur when a lender reviews credit as part of a formal application; they may temporarily lower a score by a small number of points and remain on the report for up to two years.
- Credit Saint reviews your reports across all three bureaus and, with your authorization, may challenge hard inquiries that appear unauthorized or inaccurately reported.
Does checking your credit score hurt it?
The answer depends on the type of inquiry, and the difference matters more than most people realize.
The short answer: checking your own credit score does not hurt it. The longer answer involves understanding why, and how hard inquiries from lenders work differently. Your credit score is affected by what type of inquiry is being made, not by whether your report is being reviewed.
Understanding this distinction also matters when it comes to what’s already on a credit report. Unauthorized hard inquiries, or hard inquiries reported with inaccurate information, may be eligible for challenge under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Credit Saint reviews reports across all three bureaus and, with your authorization, may challenge inquiries and other entries that don’t accurately reflect your credit history. We’ve helped more than 250,000 Americans work toward more accurate credit reports since 2004. We’ve got this.
Hard inquiries are visible to other lenders and may temporarily lower a credit score by a small number of points. The impact is typically minor and tends to diminish over the following months, though the inquiry itself may remain on the report for up to two years.
Why Hard Inquiries Affect a Score
Credit scoring models, including FICO and VantageScore, treat hard inquiries as an indicator that a consumer may be seeking to take on additional debt. One or two hard inquiries over a year are generally not considered a significant risk signal. A higher number of hard inquiries in a short period may be interpreted by scoring models as an indication of elevated credit risk, though the impact of any individual inquiry is typically small.
One exception to note: when shopping for the best rate on a mortgage, auto loan, or student loan, multiple hard inquiries for the same loan type within a defined window, typically 14 to 45 days depending on the scoring model, are often treated as a single inquiry. This rate-shopping window allows comparison without compounding inquiry penalties.
Unauthorized or Inaccurate Hard Inquiries
Not all hard inquiries on a credit report are legitimate. Hard inquiries that were not authorized by the consumer, for example, resulting from identity theft or a creditor checking credit without a permissible purpose, may be eligible for challenge under the FCRA. An inquiry that is inaccurately dated or attributed may also be disputable.
Credit Saint reviews hard inquiry entries across all three bureaus and, with client authorization, may challenge those that appear unauthorized or inaccurately reported. For a detailed overview of how inquiry disputes work, see our guide on how to address inquiries on your credit report.
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How Credit Saint Reviews Inquiry-Related Entries
Inquiries are one of the five factors in FICO scoring, and unauthorized or inaccurately reported ones may be suppressing a score beyond what is warranted. That’s where Credit Saint’s review process applies.
Credit Saint is BBB accredited, holds a 4.8-star Google rating from 16,000+ reviews, and has been ranked #1 by ConsumerAffairs and The Credit Review, with top picks from Money.com and CNBC Select. We’ve served more than 250,000 Americans since 2004. Over 96.4% of clients see results in the first 90 days, based on paying Credit Saint clients from May 2025 who had one or more items removed. Individual results vary.
Our specialists review your reports across Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. We identify hard inquiries and other entries that may be inaccurate, unauthorized, or unverifiable. With your authorization, we prepare and submit disputes and pursue follow-up disputes as appropriate. You review the findings. You authorize each challenge. We handle every step from there.
Depending on the complexity of your situation, our team works with you through the appropriate service level:
- Credit Polish, for those beginning to address credit challenges
- Credit Remodel, for moderate situations with multiple reporting concerns
- Clean Slate, for complex, comprehensive situations requiring the most thorough approach
Frequently asked questions
How often can I check my own credit score without hurting it?
Checking your own credit score generates a soft inquiry, which has no impact on the score, regardless of how frequently it is checked. Soft inquiries are not visible to lenders and carry no score consequence. Many credit monitoring services and some financial institutions offer free access to credit scores.
Do all credit checks impact my score negatively?
No. Only hard inquiries, initiated by lenders as part of a formal credit application, may have a temporary, minor score impact. Soft inquiries, including personal credit checks and pre-approval reviews, have no score impact and are not visible to lenders.
How long does a hard inquiry stay on my credit report?
A hard inquiry may remain on a credit report for up to two years. Its impact on a score typically diminishes after a few months, even while the inquiry itself remains on the report. If a hard inquiry appears to be unauthorized or inaccurately reported, it may be eligible for challenge under the FCRA.
Can an unauthorized hard inquiry be removed from a credit report?
Yes, a hard inquiry that was not authorized by the consumer, or that is inaccurately reported, may be eligible for challenge under the FCRA. Credit Saint reviews hard inquiry entries across all three bureaus and, with client authorization, may challenge those that appear unauthorized or inaccurate. Over 96.4% of clients see results in the first 90 days, based on paying Credit Saint clients from May 2025 who had one or more items removed. Individual results vary.
This article is for educational purposes and isn't legal advice. Credit Saint is a credit repair organization. Results vary, and no credit repair company can promise a specific outcome or score change.
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