Does LendingTree Use Equifax or Experian?

LendingTree itself doesn't own the credit file; the lender you choose initiates the hard pull, and most lenders rotate among Equifax, Experian and TransUnion based on their underwriting rules, so you might see an Equifax pull for a mortgage, an Experian pull for an auto loan, or even a split‑file pull that queries two bureaus at once; because the decision rests with the lender, there is no single bureau that LendingTree always uses,

and you can verify which report was accessed by checking the inquiry list on the corresponding credit‑report site after the application, as explained in the LendingTree credit pull guide.

Yes, LendingTree's credit check creates a hard inquiry, and a hard pull typically knocks 5‑10 points off your score for a short period. The impact is the same whether the pull comes from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion because the scoring models treat any hard inquiry alike FICO explains.

The dip is temporary; each hard inquiry stays on your report for two years but only influences scoring for the first 12 months. Thanks to the 45‑day rate‑shopping window, multiple LendingTree inquiries for the same loan type count as a single pull, so the overall hit stays minimal. As we'll see in 'how LendingTree and lenders pick which bureau to pull,' the specific bureau used depends on the lender you choose, not on the score effect.

LendingTree runs one soft pull - typically from Experian - for pre‑qualification, then the lender performs the hard pull and chooses the bureau based on its own contracts and policies.

• The soft inquiry is a single, automated request; LendingTree does not query all three bureaus at once.
• Lenders have standing agreements with one or more bureaus; they select the one that aligns with those agreements, not the borrower's highest score.
• Some lenders default to the bureau that matches the borrower's primary credit file, which they determine from the soft pull data.
• For mortgage applications, many lenders favor Experian or Equifax because those bureaus supply the most detailed underwriting data.
• Auto and personal loan lenders often use the bureau that offers the fastest turnaround, frequently TransUnion.
• Borrowers cannot request a specific bureau at the pre‑qualification stage; they can only influence the hard pull by choosing a lender that partners with their preferred bureau.
• The hard pull appears on the credit report of the bureau the lender selected, which is covered in the next section on 'which bureau you'll face by loan type.'

The bureau you'll encounter depends on the loan type you request through LendingTree.

• Mortgage loans - Most mortgage lenders favor Experian because its mortgage‑specific scoring model (FICO® 5‑4‑3) aligns with industry standards; some larger banks still default to Equifax.
• Auto loans - Auto financiers typically pull Experian, as its auto‑loan score (FICO® Auto) is widely used to assess vehicle‑purchase risk.
• Personal loans - Personal‑loan lenders often choose Equifax, which provides the 'Equifax Personal Score' many credit‑card issuers and online lenders rely on.

These tendencies are guidelines, not guarantees; the originating lender ultimately decides which bureau to query. Your next question, 'who sees your LendingTree credit pull,' delves into who accesses that hard inquiry once it's recorded.

The hard inquiry generated by a LendingTree request appears only on the credit report that the participating lenders and the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) access; it does not show up for employers, landlords, or anyone else unless you give explicit permission.

Those lenders view the pull to evaluate your eligibility, while the bureaus log it as a hard pull that may temporarily lower your score by 5‑10 points. Your existing creditors see the inquiry only if they run a fresh report on you. For details on confirming which bureau recorded the pull, see the next section 'how you check which bureau LendingTree actually pulled.'.

LendingTree itself never lists the bureau; you discover it by reviewing the hard inquiry on your credit reports.

1. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or log into any paid credit‑monitoring service and pull your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports.
2. Scroll to the 'Hard Inquiries' section; each entry shows the creditor name and the bureau that supplied the report.
3. Locate the line that mentions 'LendingTree' (or the specific lender that applied through LendingTree). The bureau label next to it - Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion - indicates which report was used.
4. If you use a credit‑monitoring app (e.g., Credit Karma, Mint), open the inquiry details; the app tags the same bureau name.
5. For extra certainty, contact the lender that originated the loan via LendingTree; they can confirm which bureau they pulled.

Checking all three reports within the 30‑day window ensures you see the exact bureau, letting you move on to the next section on fixing any errors that appear.

Fixing errors lenders see after a LendingTree pull means locating any inaccurate data the hard inquiry reported and getting that information corrected with the credit bureau and the lender.

Common mistakes include a misspelled address, an outdated account status, a duplicate loan, or a mis‑reported balance. To resolve each, request a free copy of the report that shows the LendingTree pull, then file a dispute through the bureau's online portal (for example, Equifax dispute center), attach supporting documents, and ask the original creditor to verify the entry. If the lender confirms the error, the bureau must update the record within 30 days, which removes the flaw that caused the denial or higher rate.

For duplicate entries, contact the lender directly, ask them to merge the records, and follow up with a bureau dispute to ensure only one account remains. When a balance is wrong, submit recent statements showing the correct amount; the bureau will replace the outdated figure once the lender validates it. After the correction, lenders see the revised data on any subsequent pull, often restoring eligibility or improving the offered terms.

LendingTree itself never runs a hard pull; the individual lender you select does, typically drawing from one or more of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).

1. Start with a soft‑pull pre‑qualification - use LendingTree's free pre‑qualification tool, which only generates a soft inquiry and lets you compare rates without affecting your score (see the earlier 'will lendingtree's credit check hurt your score?' section).
2. Space out hard pulls - if you must apply with multiple lenders, wait at least 30 days between applications; most credit models treat inquiries within a short window as a single event, limiting the typical 5‑10‑point dip.
3. Temporarily lock the bureaus you don't want queried - place a credit freeze or lock on Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion before you apply, then lift it after the lender completes the pull; this blocks unwanted hard inquiries while preserving your credit profile.

These steps keep the hard pull impact as low as possible, letting you shop on LendingTree without a noticeable score drop.

Here are three real LendingTree pull scenarios and their outcomes:

• Mortgage shopper requests three quotes; the lender pulls Experian, a hard pull drops the score ≈ 5 points (hard inquiry impact on credit scores), and the loan is approved at the advertised 4.5% rate (see 'How LendingTree and lenders pick which bureau to pull').
• Personal‑loan applicant applies through a direct lender; the lender pulls Equifax, the hard pull trims the score ≈ 7 points, and the application is denied because the dip pushes the debt‑to‑income ratio over the lender's cut‑off.
• Auto‑loan comparer selects a dealer's financing option; the dealer's partner pulls TransUnion (some lenders rotate bureaus), the hard pull reduces the score ≈ 6 points, and the loan is approved but at a higher 6.9% APR due to the temporary score dip.

Want a specific credit bureau on the record? Use a lender or service that lets you dictate the pull instead of relying on LendingTree's default routing (see 'how LendingTree and lenders pick which bureau to pull').

• Choose a bank, credit union, or online lender that advertises 'Equifax‑only' or 'Experian‑only' credit checks.
• Request a pre‑qualification with a soft pull, then ask the lender to run the hard pull on the bureau you prefer before final approval.
• Submit a recent credit report from the desired bureau yourself; some lenders accept it as proof and skip their own inquiry.
• Use a dedicated credit‑report marketplace (e.g., Credit Karma, NerdWallet) that offers a bureau selector during the loan application.
• Contact the lender directly and ask them to pull a specific bureau; many will accommodate if you explain the reason.
• Apply for a loan product that historically uses a single bureau for its type (mortgage often uses Experian, auto loans often use Equifax).

Next, learn how to verify which bureau actually performed the pull in 'how you check which bureau LendingTree actually pulled'.