We have a look at what it means to have an "enquiry" on your credit report, and we consider the distinction between when a lender views your credit profile and when you do.

In this article

• Why do lenders evaluate your credit report

• Why do lenders leave behind a "credit enquiry" on your report?

• Hard vs. soft credit enquiries

• Is checking your credit score a hard enquiry?

• Your ClearScore credit report is protected against personal credit enquiries

• How long does a hard enquiry stay on your credit report?

• How to remove hard enquiries from your credit report

• The benefits of checking your report on ClearScore

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Let's have a look at what it means to have an "enquiry" on your credit report, and consider the different impacts on your credit score when a lender views your credit profile and when you do. So, what is a credit enquiry?

A credit enquiry is a request submitted by lenders or creditors for your or your business' credit information. It usually happens when you apply for a loan, a line of credit, or any other type of credit that needs the lender to evaluate your creditworthiness.

Credit enquiries provide several pieces of information including payment history and account balances to help the lender determine if they should approve your credit application.

It's important to remember that while credit enquiries can have some impact on your credit score, they're not as influential as other items such as total debt and payment history.

Learn more: What is a credit report? // What is a credit score?

Why do lenders evaluate your credit report

When lenders evaluate your creditworthiness, credit reports are crucial. It's important to understand what a credit report includes and how lenders look at them when considering credit enquiries.

Credit reports generally include information about your credit history, such as home loan payments and credit card balances. They also contain your credit score which is calculated based on the amount of credit accessed, payment activity, types of credit held and overdue accounts.

Lenders may look at a variety of factors when evaluating your creditworthiness, including:

• Credit score

• Current loan balance

• Debt-to-income ratio

• Past payment behaviour

Ultimately these factors help lenders determine whether or not you're an ideal customer that they can trust to repay any money borrowed.

Learn more: This is what you will find on a credit report

Why do lenders leave behind a "credit enquiry" on your report?

When you apply for credit, your chosen lender will run a credit enquiry. This means that they'll get in touch with one of the credit bureaus, such as Experian or TransUnion, and request your credit report.

To use a specific example, imagine you're applying for a personal loan. After receiving your application, your lender will assess your affordability and run a credit check. Based on their findings, they'll either accept or reject your application.

However, this interaction will leave a mark - or an "enquiry" - on your credit report, regardless of the outcome of your application. Every time a lender requests your credit report, a note will be made of this on your report, and your credit score will decline slightly.

This is nothing to be alarmed about since everybody's scores constantly fluctuate. It only becomes a problem if you have multiple enquiries over a short period. For example, if one lender rejects your loan application and you apply to three more, then there will be four enquiries on your report altogether during the same month.

This will alarm any future lenders since it appears you are desperate for money but unable to pass the affordability test.

Rate Shopping: When Multiple Enquiries Count as One

It is natural to compare offers from several lenders before committing to a large loan, and the credit industry recognises this. A process known as rate shopping allows you to do exactly that without each comparison costing you extra points on your credit score.

What is the rate-shopping window?

When you apply for the same type of credit with multiple lenders within a short period, some credit bureau scoring models may treat those enquiries as a single event rather than separate hits, though the exact window varies by bureau and is not standardised across the industry. The logic is straightforward: you are not seeking five different loans; you are shopping around for the best rate on one loan. Credit bureaus in South Africa, including Experian and TransUnion, apply similar de-duplication rules in their scoring algorithms, although the exact window length can vary by bureau and loan type.

Which loan types qualify?

Rate-shopping protection generally applies to product categories where comparison shopping is standard practice. These include:

• Home loans: Banks expect applicants to approach multiple lenders, and scoring models account for this.

• Vehicle finance: Dealerships often submit applications to several finance houses on your behalf, which can generate multiple enquiries in a single day.

• Personal loans: Comparing interest rates across providers within the window is usually grouped together.

Credit card applications, by contrast, are less likely to benefit from rate-shopping treatment because each card is typically viewed as a separate line of credit rather than a comparison exercise.

Tips for comparing offers without damaging your score

To make the most of the rate-shopping window and protect your credit profile, keep these pointers in mind:

• Condense your applications. Submit all loan applications for the same product within a two-week period so they fall inside the de-duplication window.

• Know your numbers first. Use tools like the ClearScore affordability calculator to estimate what you can afford before you apply, reducing the need for speculative applications.

• Avoid mixing product types. A home loan enquiry and a credit card enquiry in the same fortnight will not be grouped together - they are different credit products.

• Check your ClearScore report afterwards. Confirm that the enquiries appear as expected and dispute any that look unfamiliar or unauthorised.

Understanding the rate-shopping window puts you in control. You can confidently compare lenders and look for a competitive deal without worrying that each application is chipping away at your credit score.

What is the affordability test and how do you pass it?

Affordability is a key consideration in credit decisions, where credit enquiries are made to assess how capable you or a business is of taking on a credit responsibility such as loan repayment. It involves looking deeper than the credit score and examining factors like income, expenditure, debts, and credit history.

It helps creditors work out what level of credit they can responsibly offer while also protecting you from taking on too much debt that you cannot afford to pay back later. A good measure of affordability helps credit providers make informed decisions while also providing an environment of safe lending practices with reasonable terms and conditions.

You can use the ClearScore affordability calculator for a general budgeting estimate of what you may be able to afford. It does not assess affordability on behalf of a lender and does not predict whether an application will be approved.

It's essential to be mindful of your affordability when you apply for credit so that you can protect your credit score and report from taking an unnecessarily large dip.

If you have a look at your credit report, you'll be able to see the different credit enquiries from lenders that are currently there and continue monitoring the activity on your report.

Learn more: Does a credit enquiry affect your credit score and report?

Hard vs. soft credit enquiries

Hard vs. Soft Enquiry Comparison Table

The table below provides a quick summary of the key differences between hard and soft credit enquiries, so you can see at a glance how each type affects your credit profile.

Understanding Enquiry Codes on Your Credit Report

When you review your credit report, you may notice alphanumeric codes next to certain entries. These codes are used internally by credit bureaus to categorise the type of activity recorded. Below are answers to the most common questions about enquiry codes in South Africa.

The code '33369 search type ENQ' is an Experian-generated reference that indicates a standard credit enquiry was made against your profile. The number 33369 is an internal subscriber code identifying the specific lender or organisation that requested your information, while 'ENQ' simply stands for 'enquiry.' In most cases this entry reflects a hard enquiry - meaning a credit provider checked your report as part of a lending decision. If you recognise the date and can link it to a credit application you submitted, there is nothing unusual about this entry.

Credit bureaus use several search-type codes to distinguish between different kinds of checks. You may encounter variations such as:

• ENQ (Enquiry): A general credit enquiry, typically linked to a credit application.

• FND (Findings): A look-up that returns your credit profile data without necessarily being tied to a new application.

• PRE (Pre-screening): A soft check used by lenders to assess whether you qualify for a pre-approved offer - this does not affect your score.

The exact codes and labels can differ between Experian, TransUnion, and other bureaus, so the same underlying activity may appear with slightly different formatting depending on which bureau compiled your report.

If you see an ENQ entry on a date when you did not apply for any form of credit, it is worth investigating. Start by checking whether the subscriber code matches a company you have an existing relationship with - some providers run periodic reviews on current customers. If you still cannot identify the source, it may indicate an unauthorised enquiry or even attempted fraud. In that case, you should raise a dispute directly with the credit bureau and monitor your report closely for any further suspicious activity.

How hard or soft enquiries may affect your credit score and report is good to consider. A hard credit enquiry, also known as a hard pull, is when a lender requests your credit report from a credit bureau to make a lending decision.

A hard enquiry occurs with a credit application and can result in a temporary negative impact on your credit score. Home loan applications, car loans, or types of personal loans could initiate a hard enquiry.

A soft credit enquiry is when a business checks your credit report to make a non-credit-related decision about you. By contrast, it won't affect your score as it doesn't involve any loan application request.

Some examples of businesses that may conduct a soft enquiry are landlords, employers, and insurance companies. A soft credit enquiry looks into activities like pre-approved offers, employer screenings, and frequently requesting your credit report.

Examples of hard credit enquiries

• Home loan applications

• Car loan applications

• Certain types of personal loans

• Credit card applications

Examples of hard credit enquiries

• Pre-approved loan offers

• Employer screenings

• Landlord screenings

• Frequently requesting your own credit report

Is checking your credit score a hard enquiry?

Checking your credit score is not classified as a hard credit enquiry. A hard enquiry from an external source happens when a lender considers offering you credit, such as a personal loan or a home loan. Their appraisal of your financial security makes it "hard" because they intend to give credit if you're suitable.

Your ClearScore credit report is protected against personal credit enquiries

Considering the impact a credit enquiry from a lender has on your credit report, you may be wondering whether the same applies when you request your report. Such as when you log in to check your free score and report.

Luckily, this doesn't count as a credit enquiry, and it will have absolutely no impact on your credit report or score.

It's your right to have access to your credit profile, and there shouldn't be any barriers in place to prevent you from keeping track of your credit score. As a result, you're allowed to look at your credit report as often as you'd like - without it being noted on your report or forcing your credit score down.

By signing up with ClearScore, you'll have immediate access to your credit report and you'll be able to log in and visit it as often as you'd like. Similarly, suppose a party isn't affiliated with a financial institution, such as a prospective employer or landlord, and they look at your credit report. In that case, it won't count as a credit enquiry.

It will only be noted if the party looking at your credit report is doing so as part of an assessment to extend credit to you.

Learn more: 6 reasons why your credit score has gone down // How is your credit score weighted?

How long does a hard enquiry stay on your credit report?

Under Regulation 17(1) of the National Credit Act, enquiry information may be displayed and used for credit scoring or assessment for up to one year from the date of the enquiry.

Usually, hard credit enquiries won't impact your capacity to obtain finance directly. However, if you receive frequent hard enquiries it may suggest to potential lenders that you've been applying for various kinds of finance, which may affect their decision about whether or not to offer you credit.

It's good to be aware of hard enquiries and that you understand how they impact your overall financial standing.

How to remove hard enquiries from your credit report

Step-by-Step: Disputing and Removing Enquiries in South Africa

Not every hard enquiry on your credit report belongs there. If a lender ran a credit check without your knowledge or consent, you have the right under South African law to dispute it and have it removed. Here is exactly how to remove enquiries from your credit report through the proper channels.

When can a hard enquiry actually be removed?

A hard enquiry can only be removed if it was made without your authorisation or resulted from an error - for example, a lender pulling your report when you never applied for credit, or a case of mistaken identity. Legitimate enquiries from applications you did submit cannot be removed early; they will remain on your report for up to one year and naturally fall off after that period. If you suspect fraud or identity theft, you should also report the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and retain the case number, as credit bureaus may request it during the dispute process.

How to dispute an unauthorised enquiry with the credit bureau

Start by identifying which bureau holds the record. In South Africa, the two major consumer credit bureaus are Experian and TransUnion. Both offer online dispute portals where you can flag an enquiry as unauthorised.

• Experian: Log in to the Experian Dispute Centre, select the enquiry in question, and submit a dispute with supporting documentation (such as a sworn affidavit or SAPS case number if fraud is involved).

• TransUnion: Use the TransUnion online dispute form or contact their customer care line. You will need to provide your ID number and details of the enquiry you wish to challenge.

You can also view your enquiries directly on your ClearScore report and use that as a reference when filing your dispute.

Timeframes - the 20-business-day resolution rule under the NCA

Under the National Credit Act (NCA), a credit bureau must investigate and resolve your dispute within 20 business days of receiving it. During this period the bureau will contact the lender that initiated the enquiry and request verification. If the lender cannot prove the enquiry was authorised, the bureau is obliged to remove it from your report. You should receive written confirmation of the outcome once the investigation is complete.

What to do if the dispute is rejected

If the credit bureau rules against you and you still believe the enquiry is illegitimate, you can escalate the matter to the National Credit Regulator (NCR). The NCR oversees compliance with the NCA and can intervene on your behalf. You may also approach the Credit Ombud, a free and independent dispute-resolution service for consumers. Keep copies of all correspondence, reference numbers, and supporting documents throughout the process - they will strengthen your case at every stage.

Removing hard credit enquiries from your credit report is a good step when maintaining your credit score.

The process starts with reaching out to the relevant lender or credit provider to determine their policies on removing hard enquiries.

If they're willing to remove the hard enquiry then you'll have to follow their specific process accordingly.

Additionally, it's also helpful to contact a credit reporting agency to confirm if the hard enquiry has been removed successfully from your report. These steps can help to ensure that your credit score is unaffected.

The benefits of checking your report on ClearScore

Besides allowing you to keep tabs on the growth of your credit score, there are several other benefits to regularly checking your credit report. These are some of the most important benefits:

• Get ahead of fraud & identity theft: If your credit card details have been used by fraudsters to make large purchases or your personal details have been stolen to take out large loans, you will be able to see this on your credit report. You will notice that your debt utilisation has unusually increased, and you will find suspicious enquiries from lenders you're unfamiliar with.

• Notice mistakes on your report: Both lenders and credit bureaus are fallible, and they occasionally make mistakes. It's possible that they mix up your personal details with another borrower, and place their credit behaviour on your report. This could have a negative impact on your credit score, and the sooner you bring this to their attention, the sooner it can be resolved.

• Keep track of your accounts: There's a lot of useful information that you'll find on your credit report, including a list of your open accounts. Here, you will see the current balance of each account, as well as each one's credit limit. It will also show you your credit utilisation, which you should keep below 30%.

You will be able to reap all of these benefits by joining ClearScore. Sign up today to start taking control of your credit profile.