How Much Does a Credit Check Drop Your Score?

Applying for credit does not always hurt your score. It may impress creditors as long as your inquiries do not appear you are desperate for credit, according to the BCS Alliance.

Types

Hard inquiries -- ones that you initiate -- lower your credit score by about five points, according to the BCS Alliance. Soft inquiries, such as pre-approved credit offers, never count against you.

Tip

You may apply for multiple types of credit within a single month. Credit rating agencies will only count these applications as one inquiry, according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Considerations

The Fair Isaac Corporation score ranges from 300 to 850. Five or less points for one inquiry affects your score far less than paying bills on time or the length of your history,

References

• BCS Alliance: Does Checking Your Credit Report Lower Your Credit Rating?
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Your Credit Score: How It All Adds Up
• Fair Isaac Corporation: Credit Inquiries