 TITLE: What Is a Soft Inquiry? CONTENT: How Does a Soft Inquiry Work?\n-----------------------------\nIf you submit an application for new credit, such as a loan or credit card, the loan or card issuer will typically request a hard inquiry to check your credit. Hard inquiries will stay on your credit report for two years, but their impact on your credit scores is typically minimal and will only last a few months.\nBy contrast, a soft inquiry may occur if someone checks your credit report but you didn't submit a new application for credit. Soft inquiries aren't an indicator of greater risk and thus don't impact your credit scores.\nFor example, a soft inquiry occurs when:\n*   You check your own credit\n*   One of your current creditors checks your credit\n*   You apply for a soft-pull preapproval with a creditor\n*   A company checks your credit to see if you qualify for preapproval offers\nSome applications can result in either a hard or soft inquiry, including opening a bank account and renting an apartment. In these situations, you could ask the company whether it will use a hard or soft pull to check your credit. END