Does Checking Your Experian Credit Score Lower It?

In today’s fast-paced financial world, credit scores play a crucial role in determining everything from loan approvals to rental applications. One of the most common questions people ask is: Does checking your Experian credit score lower it? The short answer is no—but let’s dive deeper into why that’s the case and how credit inquiries actually work.

Understanding Credit Scores and Credit Inquiries

Before we tackle the main question, it’s essential to understand the two types of credit inquiries: soft pulls and hard pulls.

Soft Inquiries: No Impact on Your Score

When you check your own credit score—whether through Experian, Credit Karma, or another monitoring service—it’s considered a soft inquiry. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score because they’re not tied to a credit application. Other examples of soft pulls include:
- Employers checking your credit for background checks
- Credit card companies performing pre-approval screenings
- Banks reviewing your credit for existing account maintenance

Hard Inquiries: The Ones That Matter

A hard inquiry occurs when a lender checks your credit as part of a formal application process—such as applying for a mortgage, car loan, or new credit card. Unlike soft pulls, hard inquiries can slightly lower your credit score (typically by 5-10 points) and remain on your report for up to two years.

Why People Worry About Checking Their Credit Score

Given how vital credit scores are, it’s understandable why some consumers hesitate to check theirs. Common myths include:
- "Every check hurts my score." (False—only hard inquiries do.)
- "Lenders will think I’m desperate for credit if I check too often." (Not true—lenders can’t see soft inquiries.)
- "Ignoring my score will make it better." (Actually, monitoring helps you catch errors and fraud.)

The Importance of Regularly Monitoring Your Credit

Rather than avoiding credit checks, you should actively monitor your Experian score for several reasons:

1. Detecting Errors and Fraud

Credit reports aren’t flawless. Mistakes happen—like incorrect late payments or accounts you didn’t open. By checking regularly, you can dispute errors before they damage your score.

2. Preparing for Major Financial Moves

If you plan to apply for a mortgage or refinance student loans, knowing your score helps you:
- Estimate approval odds
- Negotiate better interest rates
- Fix issues (like high credit utilization) beforehand

3. Building Better Financial Habits

Seeing your credit score fluctuate can motivate you to:
- Pay bills on time
- Reduce debt
- Avoid unnecessary hard inquiries

How Often Should You Check Your Experian Score?

There’s no downside to checking frequently—many experts recommend at least once a month. Some services, like Experian’s free credit monitoring, provide weekly updates.

Tools for Tracking Your Credit

• Experian Free Credit Monitoring – Offers FICO® Score updates and alerts.
• AnnualCreditReport.com – Provides free reports from all three bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) once a year.
• Credit Karma / NerdWallet – Free VantageScore updates (though lenders often use FICO).

What Actually Lowers Your Credit Score?

Since checking your own score doesn’t hurt it, what does? Key factors include:

1. Late or Missed Payments (35% of FICO Score)

Payment history is the biggest factor. Even one 30-day late payment can drop your score significantly.

2. High Credit Utilization (30% of FICO Score)

Using more than 30% of your available credit signals risk. Ideally, keep balances below 10%.

3. Too Many Hard Inquiries (10% of FICO Score)

Multiple loan applications in a short period (e.g., rate-shopping for a car) can add up.

4. Closing Old Accounts

Length of credit history matters. Closing an old card shortens your average account age.

Final Thoughts: Check Without Fear

The bottom line? Checking your Experian credit score is safe, smart, and necessary. It’s the hard inquiries—not your own monitoring—that you should manage carefully. By staying informed, you take control of your financial future.

So go ahead—log in, check your score, and breathe easy knowing it won’t cost you a single point.