Hard vs soft credit pulls
credit · 3 min read
Hard pulls
- Added to your credit report.
- Visible for 2 years, but only count against new-credit score for 12 months.
- Each pull knocks 5-10 points temporarily.
- Can be disputed if unauthorized.
Soft pulls
- Not on your credit report.
- Don't affect score.
- Include: checking your own score, pre-approvals, employer checks, existing creditor reviews.
Which bureau who pulls (general, varies by state)
- Chase — Experian (CA/TX often EQ)
- Amex — Experian
- Citi — Equifax (sometimes EX)
- Capital One — all three (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax)
- Discover — Experian
- Barclays — TransUnion
- Wells Fargo — Equifax
- US Bank — TransUnion or Experian
The freeze trick
Freezing bureaus you don't want pulled forces the issuer onto whichever bureau you leave unfrozen. Used by some churners to steer Cap One away from hitting all three bureaus.