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Yes. If a soft credit check looks at your credit file, it will show a CCJ recorded there, in the same way a hard search would. What makes a search “soft” is that it isn’t visible to other lenders, not that certain information, such as a CCJ, default or missed payment, is hidden from the person or company carrying it out.
What a soft credit check actually looks at
A soft search, sometimes called a soft footprint, usually draws on the same underlying credit file as a hard search. This can include CCJs, defaults, missed payments and other entries. Common examples of soft searches include checking your own credit report, an eligibility checker that estimates your chances before you apply, and some product transfer decisions by an existing lender, covered in our guide on remortgaging with the same lender.
Our guide on what is a CCJ? explains how a judgment is recorded in the first place, if you’re not sure why it’s there at all.
Why do lenders and checkers use soft searches at all?
A hard search leaves a mark that other lenders can see, and several in a short space of time can be viewed with caution by some lenders. Soft searches let a lender, a comparison tool or you yourself look at the same underlying information, such as a CCJ, without adding to that record. This is useful at an early stage, when a lender wants to give an indication of your chances, or when you want to compare options, without committing to a full application each time.
Some organisations use the term “quotation search” for this kind of check. It works the same way as a soft search: it can draw on your CCJs and other credit history to give you a personalised result, but it isn’t visible to other lenders. If you see this term used by a comparison site or lender, it means the same thing as a soft search in practice, though it’s worth asking to be sure.
Soft search or hard search: what actually differs
| Soft search | Hard search | |
|---|---|---|
| Shows a CCJ if one is recorded | Yes | Yes |
| Visible to other lenders | No | Yes |
| Visible to you on your own report | Yes | Yes |
| Typical use | Checking your own file, eligibility checkers, some product transfers | Full credit applications, including most remortgages |
| Effect on other applications | None | Several close together may be viewed with caution by some lenders |
Why people think a soft check “hides” a CCJ
The confusion is understandable. “Soft” sounds like it means gentler or less thorough, but it actually describes visibility to others, not what the checking organisation itself can see. An eligibility checker can still tell you that a CCJ makes certain lenders unlikely to accept you, based on their own criteria, even though running the check didn’t leave a mark other lenders can see.
Eligibility checkers and mortgages in principle
Many mortgage eligibility tools and some mortgages in principle use a soft search, which is useful if you want an early steer without it showing on your file. Some lenders use a hard search even for a mortgage in principle, so it’s worth asking before you apply. Whichever type is used, a CCJ on your file will be taken into account if it’s checked; the search type only affects who else can see that the check happened.
Does it matter which credit reference agency is checked?
Lenders and checkers don’t all use the same credit reference agency, and the exact way a CCJ is presented can vary slightly between them. A soft search against one agency should still pick up a CCJ if it’s recorded there, so results can occasionally differ depending on which agency, or agencies, a particular checker uses. If a result surprises you, it’s worth checking your own report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion directly to see the full picture.
Does more than one soft search cause a problem?
No, not in the way multiple hard searches can. Because soft searches aren’t visible to other lenders, running several, for example comparing eligibility with a few different lenders or tools, doesn’t add up against you in the way that several hard searches close together might. It’s still worth being selective about who you share your details with, since some checks require you to provide personal information even when they don’t affect your file.
What this means if you’re planning a remortgage
Before you apply properly, it’s worth using a soft-search eligibility checker, or checking with an adviser who can compare lenders without it showing on your file, especially if you have a CCJ or other adverse credit. This lets you get a sense of your options without adding a hard search every time. Once you move to a full application, expect a hard search, which other lenders will be able to see.
If a CCJ shows up during either kind of check, its age, amount and whether it’s satisfied usually matter more than the fact that it exists at all. Our page on remortgaging with a CCJ, our page on remortgaging with a satisfied CCJ, and our guide on remortgaging with a low credit score explain what lenders look at once they do check fully.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check if I’d be accepted with a CCJ without it affecting my file?
Often yes, using a soft-search eligibility checker or by asking an adviser to check informally. This gives you a steer without leaving a mark other lenders can see. A full mortgage application will usually involve a hard search at some point, so use soft checks to narrow down your options first.
Does checking my own credit report count as a soft search?
Yes. Checking your own file, through any of the three main credit reference agencies, is always a soft search. It shows you everything on your file, including any CCJ, and doesn’t affect your ability to borrow, however often you check.
Will an eligibility checker tell me if a CCJ will stop me getting a mortgage?
It can give you an indication based on that lender’s own criteria, but no checker can guarantee an outcome, and different lenders take different views of a CCJ depending on its age, amount and status. Treat the result as a guide, not a certainty.
Does a soft search show up to other lenders at all?
No. That’s the defining feature of a soft search: it’s visible to you and to the organisation that ran it, but not to other lenders looking at your file later. Hard searches, by contrast, are visible to anyone who checks your file afterwards.