Individuals and businesses who do not have a legitimate legal reason or explicit permission cannot access your credit report. This list includes: The general public. Family members (even if you're married and share accounts)
Even those who want access to your report can only ask for it if they have a legally permissible reason to do so. Both the credit reporting bureau and the person seeking access without a “permissible purpose” can be held liable if they breach the FCRA.
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.
When you request a copy of your credit report, you will see a list of anyone who has requested your credit report within the past year, including lenders, credit card companies, or landlords who have requested your report.
Can Anyone Check Your Credit? The short answer is no. Legally speaking, a person or organization can check your credit only under certain circumstances. 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 legal.
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. If you suspect your personal information or identity was stolen, placing a credit freeze can help protect you from fraud.
Review Your Credit Reports
Each report lists your open accounts, current balances and payment history. Take notice of unfamiliar accounts or debt balances that are higher than expected—those could be warning signs of identity theft.
Though most organizations and individuals need your permission to run a credit check, there are specific situations where your report may be pulled without your permission. Some examples of when this could occur include: In response to a court order or subpoena. When applying for a license or government benefit.
In fact, it is illegal to check someone's credit report or score without their consent. Only accounts in both your names, such as joint accounts, will show up on both of your credit files and can be seen by both of you.
Contact one of three credit reporting agencies.
Three national credit reporting agencies do credit checks on individuals. They are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Going through one of these agencies is the only legitimate way to obtain someone's credit report.
Unless you're posting pictures of your credit reports on social media, your credit information shouldn't be available to the public. It won't show up as a search engine result, and your loved ones can't request it, regardless of your relationship.
The credit report access keys on the license are your name, address, and date of birth, all of which are essentially public information. The driver's license number itself is not relevant, since the credit bureaus don't use that as an identifier.
Key takeaways. Accessing a spouse's credit report without permission or a valid reason is considered fraud or identity theft. If you need a copy of your spouse's credit report, always ask for their permission first or ask them to obtain it and share it with you.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
By law, you can get a free credit report each year from the three credit reporting agencies (CRAs). These agencies include Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
People who try to access your credit report without permission or a legal reason can be subject to criminal and civil penalties. If you suspect that someone has been illegally requesting your credit report, you can submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
If a company fails to remove an unauthorized credit inquiry despite your requests, or if a credit bureau does not properly address your dispute, you may have the right to sue for an unauthorized credit inquiry under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
While the average credit check will cost you between $15 and $40 in most cases, it is vital to have a deeper understanding of credit checks than just cost if you want to screen tenants successfully.
Identity Theft: If you think an identity thief is using your SSN to work or to collect benefits, call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. If you think someone may be using your SSN to work, check your Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefit Statement.
A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report. You can place a free freeze with each bureau online, by phone or by mail.
A credit check, also known as a credit search, is when a company looks at information from your credit report to understand your financial behaviour. They don't always need your consent to do this, but they must have a legitimate reason (e.g. you applied for a loan with them).
No. While a security freeze can help keep an identity thief from opening most new accounts in your name, it will not prevent all types of identity theft (such as; criminal, driver's license, government benefit, insurance, medical, and Social Security).
An identity thief could use your information to get credit or service in your name. How to spot it: Get your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Review it for accounts you didn't open or inquiries you don't recognize. A new credit card, a personal loan, or a car loan will appear as a new account.
In general, credit inquiries have a small impact on your FICO Scores. For most people, one additional credit inquiry will take less than five points off their FICO Scores. For perspective, the full range for FICO Scores is 300-850. Inquiries can have a greater impact if you have few accounts or a short credit history.