Does a Credit Freeze Affect a Soft Pull?

A credit freeze and a soft credit pull are distinct financial tools. A credit freeze protects an individual’s financial identity, while a soft credit pull involves a less intrusive review of credit information. Consumers often question how these two aspects of credit management interact, particularly whether placing a freeze impacts the ability for soft pulls to occur.

What a Credit Freeze Does

A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, is a consumer protection measure designed to restrict access to one’s credit report. Its primary function is to prevent new credit accounts from being opened in an individual’s name without their explicit authorization. By freezing a credit report with each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), access to that report is blocked for most third parties. This measure safeguards against identity theft by preventing potential creditors from viewing the credit file needed to approve new lines of credit. The freeze remains in place until the consumer temporarily lifts or permanently removes it, typically using a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) or account access.

What a Soft Pull Is

A soft credit pull, also referred to as a soft inquiry or soft check, involves accessing a credit report without triggering a formal application for new credit. This type of inquiry does not impact an individual’s credit score, a key differentiator from a hard inquiry. Soft pulls are not visible to other lenders and are used for informational purposes. They can occur when a person checks their own credit report or when a company reviews a credit file for reasons other than a new credit application.

How Credit Freezes and Soft Pulls Interact

A credit freeze does not affect soft credit pulls. This is because soft inquiries are for informational purposes or pre-approvals and do not involve an application for new credit. A credit freeze is designed to block “hard inquiries,” which occur when an individual formally applies for new credit, such as a credit card or a loan. If a credit report is frozen, a hard inquiry will be blocked, leading to the denial of the credit application.

Soft pulls, by contrast, do not signal an intent to open new credit and therefore fall outside the scope of what a credit freeze is intended to prevent. While a freeze prevents unauthorized parties from accessing a credit report for new credit decisions, it does not stop permissible soft inquiries. This distinction ensures consumers can protect themselves from identity theft without hindering routine financial activities or monitoring their own credit.

Common Soft Pull Scenarios During a Freeze

Even with a credit freeze in place, several common scenarios will still involve a soft pull of a credit report:

• Individuals checking their own credit score or report, often through a credit monitoring service or personal finance app, will initiate a soft inquiry that is not blocked by a freeze.
• Lenders may perform soft pulls to send pre-approved credit card or loan offers, as these checks are for marketing purposes and not a response to a direct application for new credit. These pre-screened offers remain unaffected by a security freeze.
• Employment background checks, where an employer reviews a credit report as part of their screening process, also involve a soft pull.
• Insurance companies may conduct soft inquiries when providing quotes for auto, home, or other types of insurance to assess risk.
• Existing creditors often perform soft pulls as part of their routine account maintenance, such as reviewing an account for potential credit limit increases or managing risk.

These informational checks are permitted even when a credit file is frozen.