Hard pull vs soft pull

[folks19]

When a lender pulls one's credit report, what is the difference between what is ubtained through a hard pull and what is ubtained through a soft pull?

To clarify, i know that a soft pull does not affect one's credit score, but i'm asking what difference does it make for the lender who pulls the report? for example, is there any information that can only be seen through a hard pull but not a soft pull?

[RadioRob]

The data reported to the requester is the same, the difference is in how the request is logged.  If the organization is using it for internal use or promotional purposes, it's supposed to be coded one way since you the individual did not seek new credit. However if they're accessing it to evaluate your credit worthiness at your request it is supposed to be a hard pull. (It does not always end up done this way however. Soft pull customer requested CLIs are an example.). 

[folks19]

---

@RadioRob wrote:

The data reported to the requester is the same, the difference is in how the request is logged.  If the organization is using it for internal use or promotional purposes, it's supposed to be coded one way since you the individual did not seek new credit. However if they're accessing it to evaluate your credit worthiness at your request it is supposed to be a hard pull. (It does not always end up done this way however. Soft pull customer requested CLIs are an example.). 

---

so that's what i thought. but in that case, why do some issuers do a hard pull for CLI while others don't? what do those issuers gain from doing a hard pull and making life harder for their customer?

[Anonymous]

---

@folks19 wrote:

---

@RadioRob wrote:

The data reported to the requester is the same, the difference is in how the request is logged.  If the organization is using it for internal use or promotional purposes, it's supposed to be coded one way since you the individual did not seek new credit. However if they're accessing it to evaluate your credit worthiness at your request it is supposed to be a hard pull. (It does not always end up done this way however. Soft pull customer requested CLIs are an example.). 

---

so that's what i thought. but in that case, why do some issuers do a hard pull for CLI while others don't? what do those issuers gain from doing a hard pull and making life harder for their customer?

---

The bottom line is that you are seeking more credit.  Always expect a hard pull but be thankful if it isn't.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

---

@folks19 wrote:

---

@RadioRob wrote:

The data reported to the requester is the same, the difference is in how the request is logged.  If the organization is using it for internal use or promotional purposes, it's supposed to be coded one way since you the individual did not seek new credit. However if they're accessing it to evaluate your credit worthiness at your request it is supposed to be a hard pull. (It does not always end up done this way however. Soft pull customer requested CLIs are an example.). 

---

so that's what i thought. but in that case, why do some issuers do a hard pull for CLI while others don't? what do those issuers gain from doing a hard pull and making life harder for their customer?

---

They're showing other lenders that you've been asking for more credit. That's all the HP is for.

[folks19]

But what motive does the credit card company have to do a hard pull for a CLI???

Also, some lenders (like Discover) only do a hard pull in some cases. Why would they need to do a hard pull if they can get the same information by doing a soft pull?

[909]

Folks19, you're asking a very good question and not getting helpful answers because I'm not sure there are helpful answers.

 Why can I endlessly ask Amex and CapOne for CLIs and never get a hard pull but BofA and USBank will give me a hard pull every time that adversely affects my credit scores? My only guess is that Amex and CapOne are smarter than BofA and USBank. I'm far more engaged with Amex and CapOne than I am with with the other two. I spend 10x with the first two and reserve the hard-pulling-wankers for only one retailer each. Amex and CapOne have my long-term use because they offer value and allow me to increase my CL (partly for fun, partly for purpose) while BofA and USBank are single-use cards that I won't miss if they go away, parlty because they employ anti-customer practices compared to others.

That's my experience. I have no idea why they treat my CLI requests differently.

[AllZero]

@909 . BoA are SP circa 2018. Request CLI at your pleasure. YEMV

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/BoA-to-stop-HPs-for-CLI-s/m-p/5250589

[909]

---

@AllZero wrote:

@909 . BoA are SP circa 2018. Request CLI at your pleasure. YEMV

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/BoA-to-stop-HPs-for-CLI-s/m-p/5250589

---

Cool. Thanks for sharing that. I had no idea. BofA's poor choice in doing hard pulls for CLI requests is lingering long after they ammended their practice. It seems I've asked a phone rep about hard pulls in the last two years and was told they still do HPs. I'll call them tomorrow to hear what they have to say.

[AllZero]

---

@909 wrote:

---

@AllZero wrote:

@909 . BoA are SP circa 2018. Request CLI at your pleasure. YEMV

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/BoA-to-stop-HPs-for-CLI-s/m-p/5250589

---

Cool. Thanks for sharing that. I had no idea. BofA's poor choice in doing hard pulls for CLI requests is lingering long after they ammended their practice. It seems I've asked a phone rep about hard pulls in the last two years and was told they still do HPs. I'll call them tomorrow to hear what they have to say.

---

Good luck. Hope to read of your CLI approval.