Its not just potential lenders that can check you out. Insurers and employers also may access your report or score.
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With lots of personal data available online, you might suspect that your credit history is accessible to anyone with a slight aptitude for Google search. Although you aren’t the only person who can see your credit scores and reports, you can feel secure in knowing that this financial information is given only to those who legitimately need it.
That said, your credit can be checked in many situations — when you apply for a loan or credit card, a job, utilities, student loans and more. Monitoring your own credit helps you watch out for trouble and build your profile.
Your credit report contains sensitive financial information like your payment history, current debts, and more. This data allows lenders to determine your creditworthiness when you apply for credit. But who exactly can access your credit report? Can anyone pull it whenever they want?
The short answer is no. Your credit report can only be accessed by certain authorized entities for specific permissible purposes outlined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Here’s a breakdown of who can and cannot view your credit report.
Who Can Access Your Credit Report
Lenders
Any lender you apply to for credit, like a credit card company, auto loan provider, or mortgage lender, can pull your credit report. They review your credit history to determine if you qualify for the loan and what interest rate to offer you The better your credit, the more likely you’ll get approved and receive lower interest rates.
Banks
Banks can access your credit report when you open a bank account with them, even if you don’t have a credit card with the bank. They may review your creditworthiness to assess the risk of overdrafts and abandoned accounts.
Landlords
Potential landlords often check a tenant’s credit report to gauge their reliability in paying rent on time Many assume applicants with good credit are more responsible,
Insurance Companies
Insurers may pull your credit report to determine your insurance premiums. Statistics show those with poor credit tend to file more claims. They specifically look at your credit-based insurance score.
Utility Companies
When establishing new utility services, companies may check your credit. While they can’t deny you service for bad credit, they can charge a deposit.
Employers
Employers must get written consent to access your credit report. Even then, they only receive limited information, not your full report. Credit reports are checked to assess applicant’s financial responsibility.
Government Agencies
Government entities like child support services and public assistance programs may access your credit report with legitimate purpose. This can help determine your ability to make payments.
Court Ordered
Your credit report may be released under court order, though this is rare without good cause.
Who Can’t Access Your Credit Report
There are also many entities that do NOT have permission to view your credit report:
- General public
- Friends and family
- Social media sites
- Search engines
Strangers cannot randomly pull your credit history. If someone accesses your credit report illegally, you can take legal action and sue for damages.
How to Check Your Credit Reports
Since your credit report is accessed often, you should review your reports regularly to check for errors that could hurt your credit score. Here are some ways to obtain your credit reports:
- Order free weekly reports from AnnualCreditReport.com
- Check free credit scores from personal finance sites like NerdWallet
- Request reports directly from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Review credit card or bank accounts that offer free scores
Monitoring your credit history helps you catch mistakes early and build your credit profile over time. While your reports can be accessed by many third parties, you have the right to review your own financial information. Be sure to routinely check your credit report and dispute any inaccuracies.
Who can access your credit report or score?
Your credit scores and credit reports can be obtained by several kinds of organizations. As a general rule, assume that if an entity has a legitimate business need, it can access your credit. Here are some of the companies and individuals that may be able to pull your reports or a score:
Employers
It’s a myth that your current or potential employer can access your credit score. However, depending on the state you live in, it may be able to pull a credit report, or at least a modified version. The report pulled by your employer likely won’t include your account numbers or date of birth, but most other credit-related information is fair game, provided it doesn’t pose a security risk for you.
Your credit reports can’t be pulled by an employer without your written consent. And if you’re denied a job based on the report’s contents, by law you have to be provided with that report and an “adverse action notice” letting you know what triggered the denial.
Did you give anyone Permission to pull your Credit Reports??
FAQ
Can someone pull your credit report without permission?
Someone either needs to have what’s called “permissible purpose” or have your permission and cooperation in the process for the credit check to be considered …
Can someone look up my credit report?
No one should request your credit report without a valid purpose allowed by the law. Anyone who uses or obtains a copy of your credit report under false pretenses may be subject to civil and criminal penalties. If you have a problem with credit reporting, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.
Who can pull a credit report on you?
Current or potential creditors — like credit card issuers, auto lenders and mortgage lenders — can pull your credit score and report to determine creditworthiness as well. Credit history is a major factor in determining (a) whether to give you a loan or credit card, and (b) the terms of that loan or credit card.
Can someone else access your credit report?
Your family and friends can’t request access to your credit report – regardless of their relationship to you. It shouldn’t be available to the general public and it won’t show up as a search engine result, even if you have a unique name.