What is the difference between an enquiry and a

2 min read

EnquirySoft, no obligation

Full applicationFormal request

Soft vs hardSearch difference

You chooseWhen to proceed

The enquiry stage

An enquiry is you asking whether, and roughly on what terms, a lender might fund you. It typically uses a soft search that other lenders cannot see, carries no obligation, and can produce an agreement in principle. You can enquire with several lenders without marking your file — which is how you compare quotes safely.

The full application

A full application is the formal request to borrow. It brings document verification, connected bank data, full underwriting, and usually a hard search recorded on your file. This is the stage you commit to once you have chosen a lender, not while shopping around.

Moving from one to the other

Treat the enquiry as your comparison stage and the full application as your commitment stage. Gather quotes by enquiry, pick the best on total cost using the repayment calculator, then convert just the chosen one into a full application. That sequence keeps your credit file clean.

Frequently asked questions

Does an enquiry affect my credit score?

Usually not — enquiries typically use a soft search invisible to other lenders. The hard search that can affect your file normally comes at the full-application or offer-acceptance stage.

Can I get an enquiry answered without committing?

Yes — that is the point of it. An enquiry gives you an indication with no obligation to proceed. Only the full application commits you to borrowing.