It is one of the most common worries about credit, and it stops a lot of people from ever looking at their own file: will checking my score make it worse? The short answer is no. Checking your own credit score or report does not lower it. Here is why, and what actually does leave a mark.
Australian Specialist
Credit Clean Australia
Find What Is Hurting Your Credit Score
Understand what's affecting your credit score and what options you may have to fix it by booking a credit file assessment below.
Your Assessment Includes:
- Both Equifax & Experian credit files audited
- Potentially incorrect or disputable listings identified
- Understand what’s affecting your credit score
- Clear options and next steps
ASSESSMENT
EXPERIAN
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Book Your Credit File Assessment
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Open selected time in a new tabWhat You Get in Your Assessment
Next Steps
Next Steps After Your Assessment
Investigation
We investigate the circumstances behind each listing on your credit file, identifying potential breaches of the Privacy Act or non-compliance with the Credit Reporting Code. This is completed with you over the phone through 40+ simple yes, no, or unsure questions, along with your personal circumstances at the time.
Approved or Denied
If our investigation identifies multiple potential breaches, you may be approved for our credit restoration services. If not, your application will be declined, and your consultant will explain why, providing complete clarity.
Note: Approval does not guarantee the removal of any listing.
Disputes & Result
Formal removal requests are lodged with Equifax, Experian, and relevant credit providers, with escalation to AFCA, the OAIC, courts, or other bodies where required.
If a breach is confirmed, listings may be removed, in most cases boosting your credit score and helping future finance applications.
Soft enquiries vs hard enquiries
Not all “checks” are the same. There are two kinds, and only one affects your score.
A soft enquiry is when you look at your own report, or when a check is done for something like a background or pre-qualification purpose. Soft enquiries are not visible to lenders assessing you and do not affect your score at all.
A hard enquiry is recorded when you actually apply for credit — a loan, credit card, phone plan or finance application — and the lender checks your file to decide. Hard enquiries are visible to other lenders and are part of your score.
Checking your own file is always a soft enquiry
When you request your own report from Equifax, Experian or illion, or view your score through a monitoring service, that is a soft enquiry. You can check it as often as you like with no effect. In fact, checking regularly is one of the smartest things you can do — it is how you catch errors, identity problems and listings early.
Been avoiding your credit file?
There is nothing to fear in looking. For $39.95 we pull your Equifax and Experian files with you and explain every listing — without touching your score.
What actually affects your score
If checking your own file is safe, what does move the needle? The main factors are your repayment history, the number and timing of credit applications you make, defaults or other adverse listings, and how much credit you hold. Applying for several products in a short window is a common own-goal, because each application can add a hard enquiry.
Common questions
Does using a free score-checking app hurt my score?
No. Viewing your own score through a monitoring service is a soft enquiry and has no effect.
Why did my score drop after I applied for a loan?
Applying for credit records a hard enquiry, and several applications close together can weigh on your score. That is different from simply checking your own file.
Can lenders see that I checked my own report?
No. Your own checks are not shown to lenders assessing a future application.
To understand the enquiries that do count, read how credit enquiries affect your score and how to check your credit report for free.
Start with the facts about your own file
A $39.95 credit file assessment shows you every default, judgement and enquiry on your Equifax and Experian files — and which ones may be open to challenge.
Book My Credit File Assessment →
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