 TITLE: Does Checking My Credit Lower My Score? CONTENT: What Is a Soft Inquiry?\n-----------------------\nA soft inquiry, sometimes referred to as a soft credit check, can occur for a few reasons, including:\n*   When you check your own credit score\n*   When an employer or landlord runs a credit check with your permission\n*   When a lender runs a credit check to preapprove or prequalify you for an offer\nSoft inquiries don't have an impact on your credit score because you're not officially applying for credit. So when you fill out a form to get prequalified for a mortgage, student loan, personal loan or credit card, there are no strings attached.\nOnce you take the next step and apply, however, the lender will make a hard inquiry, which will show up on your credit report for others to see and can temporarily lower your credit score. END