Know where you stand

Rebuilding your credit is a journey – and checking your credit score is part of the process. Here’s the good news: keeping an eye on your score gives you the awareness needed to know exactly where you stand. So, what happens when you take a quick look at your score?

‍

Soft inquiry, no impact

When you check your own credit, it's considered a soft inquiry, which doesn't affect your score. It’s a simple “where am I now?” moment for your credit score. Employers or landlords can even check your score (with your permission, of course) and it won’t have negative effects.

A few common culprits may negatively impact your progress:¹

• Late payments
• High debt balances
• Multiple credit applications in a short period

Safe to say, it’s possible to turn things around after a few credit hiccups.

Read Overcoming Credit Challenges for financial tips, without the fluff.

‍

The takeaway

Checking your credit score isn’t the problem. Checking your credit every so often keeps you in line and moving in the right direction. The more you know about your credit today, the better prepared you'll be for tomorrow.

‍

_{1 Credit Karma, Does checking my credit score lower it?}

_{Exeter Finance LLC is not a credit repair agency or licensed credit counselor. Exeter does not offer services to fix or improve credit scores. These tips are intended for general educational purposes and should not be construed as legal, financial, or credit repair advice.}