Is it true your FICO score is affected if you check it too many times?

[Billy Shears]

Within a certain period??

[kensmith]

Yes it can be effected. Normally not an issue, but it can drop your score if you are having it pulled to often.

[kid disco]

It depends if it's a "hard" or "soft" inquiry. A soft inquiry (i.e. when you request to see your credit score or if a business requests to see it for some reason other than the purpose of applying for credit) won't affect your credit score, while a hard inquiry (i.e. applying for credit) can cause your score to drop slightly. If there are multiple hard inquiries within a 14 day period, it's usually counted as just one inquiry.

[jessiesc]

Actually, I believe:

Hard or soft they both affect your score.

If you are shopping for an item and the inquiries are related, such as a car or house and have multiple inquiries within a 10 business day sequence, you only get dinged for the first one.

However, if you are shopping for credit cards you get hit for each one.

[kensmith]

If there are multiple hard inquiries within a 14 day period, it's usually counted as just one inquiry.

That depends, if it's multiple inquires for a car loan then it's one, or multiple for a mortgage it's one. But if you apply for credit for a car, a mortgage, a multiple credit cards then you will get hit with multiple inquiries (and for good reason).

[ResaleBroker]

For anyone interested... http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducatio...Inquiries.aspx

[kyle422]

For anyone interested... http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducatio...Inquiries.aspx

Thanks for pointing out that link Resalebroker. I'll be sure to send that to my customers shopping for a loan.

[ResaleBroker]

Thanks for pointing out that link Resalebroker. I'll be sure to send that to my customers shopping for a loan.

Happy to be of help.

[Goknights]

Don't worry about it. It will fluctuate by a few points. The bottom line is that your mortgage rate or car rate is negotiable.. Don't forget that. A lender might say that you don't qualify for a certain rate because your score is only a 790 and that the rate only applies to people with 800 or above.. If they really want your business, and many do right now, they will make it work.

[Jnazareno]

I read somewhere , if it's you looking at your score not some businesses (applying for some credit or loan) then you should be fine..

I have also done an experiment and by me looking at different scores from different providers has not resulted in lowering my score.

Hope this helps