What's the point of a SOFT PULL if..........

[I_SUFFER_FROM_FICO_ENVY]

....they cant grant a CLI?

Every 3 months, I have CC companies doing a SOFT PULL on my reports.  Yet, if I requsst a CLI, Im told they need to do a HARD PULL.

So what information do they gather in a SOFT PULL?  And, if it doesnt give them a recent snapshot of my credit profile, then WHY PRAY TELL do it?????

[Anonymous]

A soft inquiry from an existing creditor for AR (Account Review) sees everything except other soft inquiries. That information is scorable.

A soft inquiry for promotional purposes is different. They don't normally look at a report. They simply pay the CRA to give them a file with names and addresses of potential customers that meet their set of requirements. It may have some additional info.

[I_SUFFER_FROM_FICO_ENVY]

That makes no sense.  If they do a SOFT PULL (Under AR), then why cant they use that for a CLI?

Thats my point?  Why "review" my file?

[Anonymous]

Technically they can.  It would be their choice for a HP.

Some use a SP,  some a HP.

There are different codes for HP and if they actually extend credit, such as a CLI, they are probably using that code.

[bradlin]

This is why:

"Hello, we need to let all of our banker buddies know that you requested more credit from us." 

[AndySoCal]

A  hard pull is for the pursuit of new credit like a CLI and soft pull is for credit pulls that are for the pursuit of new credit like an account review or a consumer pulling their own credit report.

[buildafico]

maybe they're not viewing reports for CLIs, maybe they're reviewing for changes. Especially new customers.