09/04/2026
Checking Your Own Credit Report Does NOT Hurt Your Credit
You can check your own credit report as often as you want without causing a hard inquiry or lowering your credit score.
When you check your own credit, it is considered a soft inquiry (or soft pull). Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score and are not the same as applying for new credit.
In fact, regularly reviewing your credit reports is a smart habit. It allows you to:
• Monitor your accounts and personal information
• Identify inaccurate or outdated information
• Look for unauthorized accounts or potential identity theft
• Track changes to your credit profile
• Make sure creditors are reporting information accurately
Remember: Checking your own credit is safe. Applying for new credit is what can result in a hard inquiry, which may temporarily affect your credit score.