Checking your credit score can feel like opening the oven mid-bake. You want a quick peek, but you worry you might mess something up.
Here’s the reassuring truth: checking your credit score does not automatically lower it. The key is how your score is checked.
Once you understand the difference between the two types of credit inquiries, you can keep tabs on your score without second-guessing yourself.
Your credit score comes from what’s on your credit report, your payment history, your balances, and how long you’ve had credit. Lenders use it to help decide approvals and interest rates.
So why do people ask, “why does checking credit score lower it?”
Because not all credit checks are the same. Some are harmless, and some are connected to applying for new credit.
There are two main types of inquiries.
Hard inquiries typically happen when you apply for new credit, like:
A hard inquiry can cause a small, usually temporary dip in your score. One is not usually a big deal, but several in a short period can add up.
💡 Pro tip: Apply for credit with a plan, not just because you can.
Soft inquiries, sometimes called a soft credit check, happen when:
Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score. That’s why learning how to check my credit score without hurting it is really about choosing tools that use soft checks.
Let’s clear out a few myths that cause unnecessary stress:
Truth: Not when it’s a soft check. Regular check-ins can help you catch issues early.
Truth: Only hard inquiries can affect it.
Truth: You can check as often as you want with soft inquiries, especially if you’re getting ready for something big.
If you want to check your score without worrying about a drop, stick with tools that clearly use soft inquiries.
Start with these options.
Some monitoring tools allow you to view your score, track trends, and receive alerts when changes occur. The best ones help you take action, not just stare at a number.
When choosing a credit monitoring tool, look for one that clearly uses soft inquiries, offers account and inquiry alerts, gives you access to your full credit report, and comes from a provider you trust.
If you want to see what’s actually being reported about you, you can check your credit report through AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing your own report does not impact your score.
This is especially helpful for catching errors, like a paid-off balance still showing as open, finding outdated personal information, or spotting accounts you don’t recognize.
There’s no perfect schedule, but here’s a simple approach that fits real life:
Checking your score is not the risky part. The risky part is not noticing a problem until it costs you.
Monitoring works best when it is quick, consistent, and connected to action.
Alerts can notify you when something important changes on your credit report, like a new account opening, a hard inquiry posting, a sudden balance jump, or updates to your personal information.
This helps you stay informed without constantly logging in to check.
If you see something unfamiliar, don’t ignore it.
Red flags can include accounts you don’t recognize, hard inquiries you didn’t authorize, or a sudden drop with no obvious reason.
If something looks off, check your credit report and act quickly. You may need to dispute an error with the credit bureau, contact the lender, or ask for guidance.
The strongest credit scores usually come from a few repeatable habits:
You don’t need perfect credit behavior. You need consistent credit behavior.
At City & County Credit Union, we believe understanding your credit should feel simple, supportive, and empowering.
With SavvyMoney, our free credit score and monitoring tool, you can:
If you’ve been avoiding your credit score because you were worried it might drop when you checked it, SavvyMoney removes that stress and puts clarity back in your hands.
Ready to take control of your credit? Log into CCCU online banking, or explore how easy it is to get started, and look for SavvyMoney when you’re ready.