Does Checking My Own Credit Report Affect My Credit Score?

Many people hesitate to check their credit reports because they worry that doing so might hurt their credit score. This concern is understandable — after all, we often hear that credit checks can lower your score. But here’s the truth: checking your own credit report does not affect your credit score.

This is because when you check your own credit, it’s considered a “soft inquiry”, which has no impact on your credit score. Understanding why this is the case — and how credit inquiries work — can help you feel confident about monitoring your credit and maintaining a healthy financial profile.

Understanding Credit Reports and Credit Scores

Before diving into the difference between “soft” and “hard” inquiries, it helps to know what a credit report and a credit score are.

• Your credit report is a detailed record of your credit history, compiled by credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It includes information such as:

  • Your personal details (name, address, date of birth)

  • Credit accounts (credit cards, loans, mortgages)

  • Payment history (on-time payments, late payments, defaults)

  • Credit inquiries

  • Public records (bankruptcies, liens, etc.)

• Your credit score, on the other hand, is a three-digit number derived from the data in your credit report. Common scoring models, such as FICO® and VantageScore®, use factors like payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit, and types of credit to generate this number.
  Generally, scores range from 300 to 850 — the higher, the better.

Regularly reviewing your credit report helps ensure that the information is accurate and that no unauthorized accounts or errors are damaging your score.

The Two Types of Credit Inquiries

Whenever someone checks your credit report, the credit bureau records it as an inquiry. However, not all inquiries are treated the same way. There are two main types:

1. Soft Inquiries (or Soft Pulls)

A soft inquiry occurs when you or someone else checks your credit for informational or pre-screening purposes — not because you’re applying for credit. Examples include:

• Checking your own credit report

• Pre-approval checks by lenders for promotional offers

• Background checks by employers or landlords (in some cases)

• Credit monitoring services reviewing your report

Impact:
Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score. They’re only visible to you when you review your own credit report, not to lenders.

2. Hard Inquiries (or Hard Pulls)

A hard inquiry happens when a lender checks your credit report to make a lending decision — typically when you apply for new credit. Examples include:

• Applying for a credit card

• Taking out a mortgage, car loan, or personal loan

• Requesting a credit line increase

Impact:
Hard inquiries can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points, usually for up to 12 months. They indicate that you’re seeking new credit, which could represent a higher risk to lenders. However, their impact is generally small and fades over time.

Why Checking Your Own Credit Is a Soft Inquiry

When you check your own credit report — whether directly through a credit bureau or via a credit monitoring service — the credit bureau records that you accessed your own information. But since this action is for personal use and not an application for credit, it’s categorized as a soft inquiry.

The reasoning behind this distinction is straightforward:
You’re not asking a lender to evaluate your creditworthiness, so there’s no need to penalize you for being financially responsible. Credit scoring models like FICO® and VantageScore® are designed to ignore soft inquiries altogether.

In short: you can check your credit report as often as you like without hurting your credit score.

Why You Should Regularly Check Your Credit Report

Even though checking your credit doesn’t affect your score, many people avoid doing it — often out of fear, confusion, or neglect. In reality, reviewing your credit report regularly is one of the best ways to protect your financial health. Here’s why:

1. Detect Identity Theft and Fraud Early

Identity thieves can open accounts in your name or use your existing credit without your knowledge. By reviewing your credit report frequently, you can catch unfamiliar accounts, inquiries, or suspicious activity early and take action quickly.

2. Spot and Correct Errors

Credit report errors are more common than most people think. These might include:

• Incorrect personal information

• Accounts that don’t belong to you

• Wrong payment statuses (e.g., a payment marked “late” when it wasn’t)

• Duplicate accounts

By catching and disputing these mistakes, you can prevent them from unfairly lowering your credit score.

3. Track Your Progress

If you’re working on building or repairing your credit, checking your report helps you track how your efforts are paying off. You can see when old negative items fall off, how your credit utilization changes, and whether your on-time payments are being reported correctly.

4. Prepare for Major Financial Decisions

Before applying for a loan or mortgage, it’s smart to review your credit report to understand what lenders will see. This helps you address potential issues in advance and improve your chances of approval and better interest rates.

5. Stay Informed and In Control

Knowledge is power. Understanding your credit report empowers you to make informed decisions about borrowing, budgeting, and managing debt.

How to Check Your Credit Report Safely

You’re entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — through the official website:

👉 AnnualCreditReport.com

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the credit bureaus have continued allowing free weekly online access to your reports. This means you can check all three reports regularly without paying a cent.

Tips for Checking Your Credit Report

1. Use the official site. Only request your report through authorized channels to protect your personal information.

2. Space out your checks. You can stagger your requests (e.g., one bureau every four months) to monitor your credit year-round.

3. Review all sections carefully. Pay special attention to:

   • Account details

   • Payment history

   • Inquiries

   • Public records

4. Report and dispute errors. If you find incorrect information, contact the credit bureau in writing and provide documentation. The bureau is legally required to investigate and respond.

What Happens When a Lender Checks Your Credit

While checking your own credit is harmless, a lender’s check can affect your score depending on the situation.

When you apply for new credit, the lender performs a hard inquiry to review your financial history. Each hard inquiry may reduce your credit score by around 5 points or less, and multiple inquiries in a short time frame can have a greater effect — unless they’re for the same type of loan (like a mortgage or auto loan) and occur within a “rate-shopping” window.

Rate Shopping and Credit Scores

Credit scoring models recognize that people often shop around for the best rates. To accommodate this, most scoring systems treat multiple inquiries for the same type of loan made within a specific period (typically 14 to 45 days) as a single inquiry.

For example:

• Applying for three mortgage loans within a two-week period counts as one inquiry.

• But applying for three credit cards in the same period counts as three separate inquiries.

So, while lender checks can affect your score, responsible rate shopping is unlikely to do major harm.

Myths About Credit Inquiries and Credit Reports

There’s a lot of confusion about how credit inquiries work. Let’s clear up a few common myths:

How Often Should You Check Your Credit Report?

There’s no penalty for checking your credit report, so the more often you check, the better — within reason. Here’s a good rule of thumb:

• Monthly: If you’re rebuilding credit or using a credit monitoring service, monthly checks help you stay on top of changes.

• Quarterly: For general maintenance, reviewing one bureau’s report every few months gives you ongoing visibility.

• Before Major Purchases: Always check before applying for a mortgage, car loan, or new credit card to ensure accuracy.

Frequent monitoring doesn’t hurt your score, but it helps you catch issues early and maintain control over your financial health.

How to Dispute Credit Report Errors

If you notice incorrect or outdated information on your credit report, you have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to dispute it.

Here’s how:

1. Identify the error. Note the item and the bureau where it appears.

2. Gather documentation. Collect any supporting evidence (e.g., account statements, payment confirmations).

3. Submit a dispute. You can do this online or by mail:

   • Equifax: www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-dispute/

   • Experian: www.experian.com/disputes

   • TransUnion: www.transunion.com/credit-disputes

4. Wait for investigation. The bureau typically has 30 days to investigate and respond.

5. Review the results. If the error is corrected, your credit report and score may improve.

The Bottom Line

Checking your own credit report is smart, safe, and score-neutral. It’s a soft inquiry — meaning it has absolutely no effect on your credit score — and it’s one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from fraud, correct errors, and stay financially informed.

Far from being risky, monitoring your credit is a key part of maintaining good financial health. By regularly reviewing your credit reports and understanding how inquiries work, you can take control of your credit future with confidence.

In summary:

• Checking your own credit = soft inquiry → no impact on your credit score.

• Applying for new credit = hard inquiry → small, temporary impact on your score.

• Regularly checking your reports = smart financial habit → protects against fraud and errors.

So go ahead — check your credit report whenever you like. It’s your right, and it’s one of the best steps you can take toward a stronger financial future.