Soft search loans

What is a soft search loan?

Soft credit check loans let us check your eligibility to borrow without leaving a mark on your credit footprint. Instead, when you submit your application, we run a soft check to see whether the loan is right for you. Only you can see this search.

Applying for a loan can be a stressful process, especially if you’re worried about your credit history or the risk of rejection. Lenders often require a ‘hard’ credit search to check your eligibility to borrow, which can leave a footprint on your file for other lenders to see.

But we understand that too many applications like these can bring down your credit score and make it tougher to find the credit you need. That’s why we offer soft search loans.

We’ll only follow up with a hard check if your initial application is successful, so you don’t have to worry about the outcome affecting future loan applications.

Benefits of a soft credit search

There are many benefits to a soft credit search, including:

• A soft credit search doesn’t show up to other lenders on your credit report.
• You can use a soft search eligibility checker to easily compare lenders without impacting your credit score.
• Rejections don’t result in a mark on your credit footprint, so you can take the initial response onboard and continue your search.
• It’s a great way to check your own credit report before applying for a loan, as you can assess its current state without affecting your score.

Drawbacks of a soft credit search

While the benefits are clear, there are also some drawbacks to consider:

• Soft searches don’t usually offer as much information as a hard credit search, so they may not exactly match what your lender sees during a hard search.
• Similarly, a successful soft credit search doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved for the loan. Most lenders require a follow-up hard credit search to confirm your eligibility and make the final loan decision.

Difference between hard and soft credit searches

The main difference between a hard and soft credit check is that a soft search is only visible to you, while a hard search appears on your credit report for other lenders and companies to see.

A hard search can also drive your credit score down as each check leaves a mark on your file – too many of these marks can make you seem a higher risk to lenders. Check out our guide to hard vs soft credit checks for more information.

How much can I borrow?

You can borrow between £3,000 and £500,000 through Norton Finance and our trusted panel of loan lenders.

Things to consider before applying for a soft search loan

Before you apply for a soft search loan, you should consider the following things:

Your regular income and outgoings

Your security

Your credit history

The purpose of your loan

Your eligibility

If you take these issues into consideration when applying for your loan, you should have a better chance of being approved by the lender.

Soft search loans from Norton Finance

Whether you’re looking to borrow money for home renovations or consolidate pre-existing debts, Norton Finance has a range of soft search loans to suit your financial situation.

Unlike banks and building societies, we’re flexible with the products we offer. So, you can use our site to scour the market and compare different loans. Choose to borrow anywhere from £3,000 to £500,000, over any period between one and 30 years.

We’ll use our soft credit check to make an ‘in principle’ decision on your loan application within 24 hours. Following approval, we can then make a direct payment in around 14 days.

Use our loan calculator to find out how much you might want to apply for, by adjusting the sliders to determine your ideal loan amount and term. You’ll then have an idea of the cost of monthly repayments.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between hard and soft search loans?

A hard credit search leaves a footprint on your credit report for other lenders to see, while a soft search is only visible to you. This means it cannot affect your credit score or future lending. You can find out more about the differences between hard and soft credit searches in our guide.

Does a soft search affect my credit rating?

No, a soft search or credit check does not affect your credit rating. However, if your soft search is successful for a loan application, your lender may follow up with a hard credit search to make the final decision. This can impact your credit score.

Will applying leave a mark or footprint on my credit file?

No, only if your application is successful. Up until then it is a soft credit check, and no footprint is left that could be seen by other lenders. Only you can see this search on your record

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Representative example

All of our secured loans involve a soft credit check as part of the application.

SECURED LOANS - Rates start at 6.7% variable. We also have a range of plans with rates up to 36.6%, giving us the flexibility to help you find a loan that suits your needs.

Representative example: if you borrow £34,480 over 10 years, initially on a fixed rate for 5 years at 7.60% and for the remaining 5 years on the lenders standard variable rate of 8.10%, you will make 60 monthly payments of £467.50 and 60 monthly payments of £473.06.

The total repayable would be £56,528.60 ( This includes a lender fee of £595 and a broker fee of £4137) The overall cost for comparison is 11.3% APRC representative.

The maximum APR is 36.6%.

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Loan details

Access and compare around 600 products from our panel of trusted lenders to find a loan that best suits you. We have flexible options for loan amounts and repayment terms, so you can plan your financial future.

How long are the repayment terms?

You can repay your loan over a period of your choice between one and 30 years, to ensure you can comfortably make your monthly repayments.

What are the interest rates?

Interest rates can vary from person to person, based on your financial history and current circumstances. Our homeowner rates start at 6.7% variable.

Are there any loan fees?

We compare loans from a range of lenders and usually receive a commission from the lender upon completion of a loan. In some cases, we may also charge a broker fee – up to 12.5% of the amount borrowed – capped at £3,995. However, this fee does not apply to unsecured loans.