A hard pull is a check of a credit file made because a lending decision is pending. It is recorded, visible to other lenders and counts towards the score.
A hard pull is a check of a credit file made because a lending decision is pending. It is recorded, visible to other lenders and counts towards the score.
Also called: Hard inquiry.
How it works#
A hard pull happens only with explicit consent given in an application. The record stays in the file whether or not the application was approved. Other lenders can see that a lending decision was pending, and read several records in a short period as raised borrowing need. Publications use hard pull far more often than hard inquiry, although both name the same thing.
Not to be confused with#
A hard pull is not a soft pull: a soft pull happens without a pending lending decision, stays invisible to third parties and does not affect the score.
In German#
The German term is Hard Pull. German version of this term
Related terms#
- Soft pull: A soft pull is a check of a credit file with no lending decision pending. Only the person concerned can see it, and it has no effect on the score.
- Credit inquiry: A credit inquiry is a lender’s check of a credit file; a hard inquiry is recorded and visible to others, while a soft inquiry is not.
- Credit score: A credit score is a number a bureau uses to express how likely a person is to meet their payment obligations.
Articles that use this term#
TopicEvery article and term onCredit score.
Support on this topicFor anyone who would rather not take this step alone, the matching service is here:Open US credit cards.