A soft search, also called a soft credit check, is a preliminary look at part of your credit report that a company uses to check your eligibility for a financial product. In the UK, soft searches are used mainly to give you quotes, pre-approve offers and confirm your identity, all without affecting your credit score. Only you can see a soft search on your credit report, and no other lender can, unlike a hard search.
This guide explains what a soft search is, what it shows, and how it differs from a hard credit check, so you can understand your options before you apply for credit.
In short
A soft search is a preliminary eligibility check that only you can see on your credit report. It does not affect your credit score and cannot be seen by other lenders.
A soft search provides a limited review of your credit history that does not leave a visible footprint on your credit file. It gives a lender a top-level view of your finances, enough to judge how likely you are to be accepted, without carrying out the full examination that comes with a formal application.
Because a soft credit check is not visible to other companies, it has no effect on your credit score, no matter how many are carried out.
The three UK credit reference agencies of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, hold the credit information that soft searches draw on. When you check your own credit report, that also records as a soft search, which is why reviewing your report as often as you like will also never harm your score.
Soft searches are used whenever a company needs a quick, low-risk view of your credit profile before you commit to anything. The most common uses are:
At Fast Loan UK, a soft search is the first step in every application. When you apply for a loan with us, we carry out a soft credit search to check your eligibility. This does not affect your credit score, so if we cannot help at that stage, there is no mark left on your credit file.
Only if your application progresses to the next stage and you choose to go ahead, do we complete a hard search as part of the final decision. You can read more about this on our direct lender loans page.
A soft search shows a snapshot of your credit profile rather than the full details that a hard search reveals. The information typically visible includes:
What a soft search does not show is the fine detail a lender sees during a full application. The amount of information shared depends on the type of check and the company carrying it out, and some soft searches reveal less than others.
As it is a limited view of your credit history, you cannot pass or fail a soft search in the way you might on a formal application. It simply indicates how likely an application is to succeed.
A soft credit check usually needs only basic details that you provide yourself. This normally means your full name, date of birth, current address and often your address history for the past three years.
A lender uses these details to locate your file with the credit reference agencies and carry out the soft search. Because the check relies on information you have given, it is quick and does not require the deeper consent needed for a hard search.
The difference between a hard and soft credit check comes down to visibility and impact.
A soft credit check is a preliminary review that only you can see and that never affects your credit score.
A hard credit check is a full search of your credit report, carried out when you make a formal credit application. It is visible to other lenders and can lower your credit score, particularly if several are recorded in a short period.
The table below sets out the key differences.
| Feature | Soft search | Hard search |
|---|---|---|
| Visible to other lenders | No | Yes |
| Affects your credit score | No | Can lower it, usually short-term |
| Recorded on your report | Only you can see it | Yes, typically for 12 months |
| When it happens | Eligibility and quote checks | A formal credit application |
| Limit on how many | No limit | Too many in a short time can be a concern |
Most hard searches stay on your credit report for around 12 months, and applying for multiple applications close together can suggest to lenders that you are relying heavily on borrowing. This is why using an eligibility check that runs a soft search first is a sensible way to judge your chances before committing to a full application.
A soft search does not affect your credit score because soft searches are not visible to other lenders; they carry no weight in future lending decisions, and there is no limit to how many you can have. You could check your eligibility for dozens of products, and your score would stay the same.
Key point
Soft searches never lower your credit score. Only hard searches can, and even then, the effect is usually small and temporary.
It is still worth reviewing the soft searches listed on your own credit report from time to time. A soft search you do not recognise can be an early warning sign that someone has tried to use your details, so checking regularly is a simple way to keep an eye on your credit file.
As an FCA-authorised direct lender (reference number 673907), Fast Loan UK uses a soft search at the start of every application to check your eligibility responsibly. This means you can see whether we may be able to help before any mark is placed on your credit file.
We assess affordability rather than credit score alone, so applicants with a limited or less-than-perfect credit history can still be considered, provided repayments are sustainable.
If your application moves forward, a hard search forms part of our final credit and affordability checks. We are a direct lender with no broker or admin fees, no late payment fees, and interest is only charged for the days you borrow.
You can check your eligibility for short term loans of between £50 and £2,000, with new customers able to borrow up to £800. To understand each stage of the process, including where the soft search fits in, see our payday loans page.
If you are weighing up whether borrowing is right for you, free and impartial guidance is available. MoneyHelper, backed by the government, and Citizens Advice can both help you review your budget and understand your options. Borrowing should only be considered when repayments are affordable and other realistic options have been explored.
