On-line Pre-Approval Sites - Hard or Soft Pull?

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone on these boards here at MyFico.com.  You have been a big help.

I come across various "on-line pre-approval" sites and am very tempted to hit the button and see what I qualify for.  To me that is the real test of my success at rebuilding.  I am leary of doing this however because I know inquiries are sacred and showed be used as sparingly as possible.

Does anyone know of "safe" pre-approval sites that only do soft pulls?  Not looking to hit it every day.  But am very curious as to where I stand in the eyes of the banks.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think HSBC does a soft pull to prequalify for their CCs, and Cap One as well.

[Creditaddict]

Bank of America is Soft also

[Anonymous]

Can anyone else testify that BoA performs a soft pull for their pre-approval?

[Anonymous]

I have done this several times and it was always a soft pull - https://preapproved.bankofamerica.com/cc/SelfInquiry.aspx

Edit:  I just noticed that this was new form.  Previously they did not ask for a SS# so I cannot say if it's still a soft pull or not.

Message Edited by kball64 on 01-25-2010 10:06 AM

[Anonymous]

Well... I'll be able to provide some input later today or tomorrow on which type of pull this did...

[Anonymous]

The Bank of America preapp web process has never been a hard INQ in the past.

[Anonymous]

Would just like to mention that although American Express claims that checking for preapproved offers will not affect your credit score, they will do a hard inquiry. I did this a few weeks ago ( just for curiosity) and was offered to apply for the Amex gold prefered rewards card. Not a bad offer considering that I have a 759 TU and 747 EQ score. I pay by cc balances in full every month anyways.   To my surprise I get an alert from MyFico that "Cardworks" has pulled a hard inquiry on my TU file. I never submitted an application for any of Amex's offers.   

   As others have said, Bank of America does not do a hard inquiriy on the same service. Amex has a deceptive disclaimer tricking you into a hard inquiry.  It did knock my EQ score down from 747 to 745.

    Does anyone know if this qualifies as a disputable inquiry?

[haulingthescoreup]

"Cardworks"? That doesn't sound like American Express. Any chance that someone might be fraudulently accessing your credit? Or it could be that someone else applied and their SSN was typed wrong and it turned up on your report or something.

AmEx usually checks Experian, and I've never had a hard when checking for pre-approved orders. Of course, there's always a first time.

[Anonymous]

Was not AMEX...

"CardWorks Public Web"

CardWorks is a focused servicing company that helps bankcard issuers across the country mitigate risk, increase profitability, and support their customers......