We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Soft credit checks

Options
What is the difference for lenders between the 2? Ie what do lenders see different between a soft and hard check. I know the difference for the consumer.

Is the info limited somewhat on a soft check?

Comments

  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    What is the difference for lenders between the 2? Ie what do lenders see different between a soft and hard check. I know the difference for the consumer.

    Is the info limited somewhat on a soft check?

    A question that's often asked, but as far as I know has not been satisfactorily answered on this forum; despite all the "experts" that hang around here.

    Edit: And let's slightly rephrase it - what does anyone carrying out a soft search see?
  • B_G_B
    B_G_B Posts: 502 Forumite
    What is the difference for lenders between the 2? Ie what do lenders see different between a soft and hard check. I know the difference for the consumer.

    Is the info limited somewhat on a soft check?

    Just going to put a few of my thoughts down. I am definitely not an expert.
    Correction welcome.

    When I obtain a copy of my credit report, I see everything that any company requesting my report will see. I base this assumption on the idea that this is the whole point of my statutory report - to see what is available to others. If others could see additional data, what would be the point in a statutory report?

    Now, when I obtain the report, that is recorded as a soft search. So, a soft search can give access to all data.

    Also assuming that a hard search also gives access to all data, it follows that a hard search and soft search are the same, except a company making either type of search will not see the soft searches, whereas I will.

    I guess that a company requiring only certain data may get a discounted rate from the CRA’s compared to full data disclosure.

    I would suggest that soft search data is not limited by the fact that it is a soft search, although there may be other limiting factors.

    Again, I am no expert and my thoughts are not based on fact. Just put out there for comment.
  • Soft Check - like a identity these checks do not affect your credit rating regardless of how many are done

    Hard Check - is a full check and will leave a mark on your credit rating...too many of these over a 6 month period will have a negative affect
  • Thrugelmir
    Thrugelmir Posts: 89,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Soft checks may be performed by employers who merely wish to check prospective employees creditworthiness
  • GingerBob_3
    GingerBob_3 Posts: 3,659 Forumite
    Thrugelmir wrote: »
    Soft checks may be performed by employers who merely wish to check prospective employees creditworthiness

    And what, exactly, would they see?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.