How do the soft pull websites work?

[newstart2010]

I keep seeing these soft pull sites being referenced for Amex and other cards.  How do they work.  I put in my husband's information on the amex page and it said it did not have any special offers but there were 3 cards he would be interested in.  Does that mean he would not be approved, or those three would be the ones he would be approved for?

And if there is a soft pull for the card does that mean its a hard pull when the app is completed, or is it an approval with just a soft pull?

He has a derog that is coming off in april and we are trying to see whats available before and after that derog comes off.

[Anonymous]

You're referring to preapproval sites.  When you check those they don't instantly run a SP on you.  The cards that show 'you may be you're interested in' means no preapproval but also doesn't mean you won't be approved.  When you get a legitimate preapproval it will give a fixed APR and will show an opt out screen.  Even with these pre approvals there is no guarantee that you will be approved.  They are basing the preapproval from a previous SP that they would have done on you.

[scorewatcher7]

A soft pull is when the creditor pulls info from your report but it is not reported as an inquiry. Many times, the SP is a file that the creditor has on you when it was doing general reviews for offers. If Amex didn't have an offer available, it could mean they didn't have a SP on file for him or that he doesn't qualify with the SP they do have. In any case, when applying for new credit with a CCC, they always do a hard pull for the first one.

[Anonymous]

Also while pre approval sites can be useful at times in no way are they definitive of whether someone will be approved for a card.  Quite often people apply for credit cards after checking the pre  approvals and find none yet still are approved.  

[newstart2010]

I just want to give him the best possible chances when we do start doing HPs for cards.

[newstart2010]

What are all the cards that have this option/page?

[Anonymous]

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@newstart2010 wrote:
What are all the cards that have this option/page?

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Citi

BOA

Chase

Discover

Cap One

Amex

[newstart2010]

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

The Discover one is completely useless.  Do not use that one

[newstart2010]

Lol ok. Good to know. I'm not sure I would go after discover. Not pleased with all the things I've read and it seems the only benefit is the credit score. Am I wrong?