Does checking your credit score affect it?
Written by
Emily Tye
Reviewed by
Amy LancashireNo. Checking your own credit score or credit report doesn't affect it. When you look at your own file it's recorded as a soft search, and only you can see it, so you can check as often as you like. What people are usually thinking of is a hard search, which is left behind when you apply for credit.
Why do so many people think checking their score lowers it?
Because two very different things can get called the same thing.
When you look at your own credit report, you're the one doing the looking. Nothing is reported to anyone else. When you formally apply for a credit card or a loan, the lender looks at your report instead, and that leaves a record other lenders can see. Both may be described as "a credit check", so it's an easy mistake to make.
It's simply a gap in understanding. In July 2026 we surveyed 2,000 Brits on their credit knowledge. Our survey revealed that while 78% of people said they felt confident about credit scores, only 51% answered the credit score questions correctly.
What's the difference between a soft search and a hard search?
| Soft search | Hard search |
|---|---|---|
What triggers it | Checking your own score or report, an eligibility check, some identity checks | Applying for a credit card, loan, mortgage, utility account or pay monthly mobile contract |
Who can see it | Only you | Any lender that looks at your report |
Effect on your score | None | Can lower it temporarily |
For the full picture, including which companies run which type and when, read our guide to the difference between a soft and hard credit check.
How long does a hard search stay on my credit file?
Between 12 months and 2 years, depending on which agency's report you're looking at. There isn't a single answer, because the three UK credit reference agencies keep search records for different lengths of time:
Experian says most hard searches stay on your report for 12 months
Equifax keeps search footprints for one year, or two years where the search was for debt collection
TransUnion says credit searches usually stay on your report for two years
Because lenders don't all use the same agency, a search that has dropped off one report can still be showing on another.
Two things are worth separating here: how long a search is recorded, and how long it actually affects you. Experian says too many hard checks over a short period can affect your credit score for six months, which is shorter than the record itself lasts.
How much does a hard search actually lower my score?
Nobody can give you a number, and it's worth being sceptical of anyone who does.
None of the three UK credit reference agencies publish a fixed amount, because the effect depends on everything else on your file.
All three agencies say the same thing in the same careful way. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion each say a hard search may affect your score, and each points at several applications in a short space of time as the real problem rather than one search on its own.
What you can control is the pattern rather than the points. Spacing out applications, and running an eligibility check before you commit to a real one, keeps the number of hard searches down. This is also why applying for a credit card affects your credit score in a way that simply looking at it never will.
How can I check my credit score without leaving a hard search?
Every way of checking your own score is a soft search and won’t leave a footprint a lender can see. You can check your credit score for free via:
A statutory report. You have the right to see the information any credit reference agency holds about you, and the ICO confirms that making this request is free of charge. Look for the phrase "statutory report" on the agency's website.
A monitoring service. Several free services show you your score and report, and you can go back to them as often as you like.
How often should I check my credit score?
There's no limit and no penalty for checking often. Two moments genuinely matter:
Before you apply for credit. Look a few weeks ahead of applying, so there's time to correct anything wrong. If you find an error, raise it with the agency whose report you got it from.
A few times a year otherwise, to catch mistakes and anything that looks like fraud.
It's worth looking at all three agencies rather than just one. They don't all hold the same information about you, which is why your credit score is different on different sites.
FAQs
There are a range of financial products available that may suit your needs. We encourage you to research your options carefully and consider seeking independent financial advice before making any decisions. This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
