A soft search is a light touch check that shows what you could be offered without affecting your credit score. It is not visible to other lenders. A hard credit search is only carried out when you formally apply to a lender which can affect your credit score.
Every quote with Dot Dot Loans uses a soft search across a panel of FCA authorised lenders and brokers, so you can compare without any impact on your credit score.
Soft search versus hard search
A soft search is used to check eligibility and does not affect your score. A hard search happens only when you formally apply to a lender, and it is recorded on your file.
- Soft search: not visible to other lenders, no score impact
- Hard search: visible to lenders, can affect your score
- Several hard searches in a short time can put lenders off
Who can apply
Lenders set their own criteria, but as a general guide you will usually need to be a UK resident aged 18 or over, with a regular income the lender can verify, a UK bank account, and to pass the lender's own affordability and credit checks.
Before you apply
Checking your details can help keep your credit file accurate before you apply, which may widen the offers available to you.
- Register on the electoral roll at your current address
- Check your credit file and correct any errors
- Bring down credit card balances where you can
- Apply only for what you genuinely need
What a soft search does not tell you
A soft search checks initial eligibility. It does not guarantee approval or exact terms. The lender only sets the exact terms after their own full application and hard search.
How to apply
Borrowing responsibly
Before you apply, check the repayments sit comfortably alongside your other commitments. Look at the total amount repayable over the whole term, not just the monthly figure, and only borrow what you genuinely need.
Every lender on our panel is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and high cost short term credit is subject to an FCA total cost cap, meaning you cannot repay more in interest and fees than the amount borrowed. If money is tight, free and impartial help is available from MoneyHelper.
Representative Example: Borrow £1,000 over 18 months. 18 monthly repayments of £89.22. Total amount repayable: £1,605.96. Interest: £605.96. Annual interest rate: 59.97% (fixed). Subject to application approval by the lender. Not all lenders offer loans up to £5,000. Representative APR 79.5% (Variable). Any representative monthly repayment shown is for illustration only, based on our representative APR. Your actual repayments will be confirmed by the matching lender if your application is approved.