Switchboard Finance Logo – Soft Enquiry Glossary

Soft Enquiry

A Soft Enquiry is a credit check that does not affect your credit score. These occur during pre-approval checks, identity verification, eligibility checks, or when you view your own credit report. Lenders may perform soft enquiries in the early stages of Low Doc, Vehicle, Equipment, and Business Loan assessments. Related terms: Hard Enquiry, Credit File, Credit Score. Relevant blogs: Bad Credit vs Low Doc, Rebuilder Credit Roadmap 2025.

Why Soft Enquiries Matter

Soft enquiries allow lenders to complete early-stage checks without impacting your credit score. This is especially useful for borrowers comparing options in the Tradie, Truckie, Café, and Whitecoat sectors, where approval confidence is essential before lodging formal applications.

What Soft Enquiries Show

  • Identity verification checks.
  • Eligibility assessments without triggering a score drop.
  • Self-checks when viewing your own credit score.
  • Pre-approval checks for Business Line of Credit.
  • Risk-free initial reviews for Working Capital Loans.

If you’re unsure how a soft enquiry fits into your situation, you can talk to a broker or quickly check eligibility online before making any formal application.

Official info: asic.gov.au

Does a soft enquiry affect my credit score?
No — it has no impact on your score.
Do lenders see soft enquiries?
Yes — they appear on your file, but they are not used negatively in assessments.
When do soft enquiries occur?
During identity checks, pre-approvals, and self-credit checks.
Do soft checks help with pre-approval?
Yes — lenders use them to assess initial eligibility without affecting your score.
Can soft enquiries turn into hard enquiries?
They can — once you proceed with a full application, a hard enquiry may be added.