While the general public can't see your credit report, some groups have legal access to that personal information. Those groups include lenders, creditors, landlords, employers, insurance companies, government agencies and utility providers.
Because your credit report contains private information, those who want to view it must have a reason that falls under the FCRA's “permissible purposes,” regardless of whether they're pulling a hard credit check or a soft one.
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.
Security experts say that while sharing a credit score or related grade alone is not directly harmful, it can make you vulnerable to scam artists looking for easy targets.
And that includes disclosing your credit score — good or bad. When it comes to discussing your credit history, it's better for both people in a relationship to be an open book.
Once downloaded, it's best to save it in a password-protected file on your device. If you print your report, you should keep it in a secure location. You should always carefully consider with whom you share your credit report in order to protect your personal information.
You can access someone else's credit report by directly contacting one of the credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian). Each of these bureaus technically gives their ratings independently, but all three of the scores should be quite similar for the same person.
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).
Credit reporting agencies regularly collect data from public records and report the information to interested parties.
The Act (Title VI of the Consumer Credit Protection Act) protects information collected by consumer reporting agencies such as credit bureaus, medical information companies and tenant screening services. Information in a consumer report cannot be provided to anyone who does not have a purpose specified in the Act.
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.
They won't just obtain your credit score or rating, but a complete financial picture of your past. It will show your bank accounts, current and past credit cards, what debts you owe and to whom, and whether you are making payments on time.
1. Check With the Major Credit Bureaus. The major credit bureaus might offer you a free copy of your credit report and a free or paid credit score based on the report. Experian: With Experian, you can get your credit report and FICO® Score 8 for free anytime.
Can Someone Steal Your Identity with Your Credit Report? Your credit report contains a lot of personal information, so it's a goldmine for identity thieves. With a copy of your report in hand, a potential fraudster might be able to see: Full name.
Employers cannot see your credit score, but they can view a modified, limited version of your credit report. You have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that restrict how and when your employer can pull your credit.
What can possibly happen if you share your credit information? Nowadays, cyber fraud is as common as petty theft. As identity theft and cybercrime are becoming more sophisticated in nature, protecting your personal information online should take priority over spreading general financial awareness.
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.
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.
You can verify this is the official site by visiting the CFPB's website. Don't be fooled by look-alike sites. You can be sure that you are on the right site if you type www.AnnualCreditReport.com in your browser address line. Don't come to this site by clicking on a link in another site or in an email.
The right to be made aware if information in a credit report is being used against you. The right to ask for your credit score. Additionally, the list of those who can view your report is limited to those with a legal/valid need (for example, a creditor, issuer, employer or landlord)
Check your credit report
Many of your financial accounts are detailed in it. Things to look out for include: Searches on your report made by lenders as a result of a credit application. Being linked to an address you've never lived at or don't recognise.
The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.
Key Takeaways
People often can't view your credit report without your express permission. Lenders, financial institutions, and individuals may check your credit report to decide on loans, extending credit, or rent applications.
Your neighbors, friends, co-workers or family members cannot access your Equifax credit report unless you authorize it. Some examples of those who can access your credit report are: Credit grantors, when you apply for credit. Collection agencies, when they need it to collect a debt.