UK Credit Cards
Eligibility Checkers and Soft Searches UK: Check Your Chances Before Applying
FCA rules force lenders to show personalised odds without touching your score. Use them for every application.
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- Cost
- Free
- Effect on score
- None - soft search only
- What you get
- Personalised approval odds
- Rule
- FCA-mandated on credit cards
Soft searches are invisible to lenders
They appear on your own report only. Ten eligibility checks in an afternoon cost you nothing, whereas ten applications cost ten hard searches.
The odds are genuinely personalised
Lenders must run your actual file against their criteria. A 90% result is a strong signal; 30% means apply elsewhere.
Use 90%+ as the threshold
Below that, the hard search is usually wasted. Above it, apply - the remaining risk is small.
Check before every product
Cards, loans and mortgages all have checkers now. Run the check, take the best odds, then apply once.
VerdictNever apply without a check. Above 90% odds, apply; below, move on.
FAQ
Do soft searches show to lenders?▾
No, only on your own report.
Is 100% approval guaranteed?▾
No, but it is close.
Do all lenders offer checkers?▾
Most major ones must for credit cards.
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