When someone checks your credit score what do they see?

Asked by: Albertha Mraz  |  Last update: May 31, 2025
Score: 5/5 (33 votes)

Though prospective employers don't see your credit score in a credit check, they do see your open lines of credit (such as mortgages), outstanding balances, auto or student loans, foreclosures, late or missed payments, any bankruptcies and collection accounts.

When someone runs a credit check, what do they see?

Credit Accounts

They report the type of account (credit card, auto loan, mortgage, etc.), the date you opened the account, your credit limit or loan amount, the account balance and your payment history, including whether or not you have made your payments on time.

What do companies see when they check your credit score?

Employers won't see your three-digit credit score, but they can see your payment history, bankruptcies and liens. Companies can legally make hiring decisions based on the information they see in your credit report.

What happens when someone checks your credit score?

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.

What does a credit score check show?

A credit check will also show court records, such as bankruptcies, payment defaults, County Court Judgements (CCJs) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs). Lenders use credit checks to help them decide whether to accept you for their credit products.

What Do Lenders See When They Check My Credit? | Experian Credit 101 Express

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What do they look for in a credit score check?

Your Credit Bureau score is calculated using a formula that evaluates how well or badly you pay your bills, how much debt you carry and how all of that stacks up against other borrowers. In effect, it tells you in a single number what your credit report says about your management of existing credit.

What will show on a credit report?

Your credit reports include information about the types of credit accounts you've had, your payment history and certain other information such as your credit limits. Credit reports from the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian — may contain different account information.

How do you know if someone is checking your credit?

To find out who's checked your credit recently and to stay on top of future inquiries, review your credit reports often. You can request free copies from each of the credit bureaus or use www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

Is 700 a good credit score?

A 700 credit score is considered a good score on the most common credit score range, which runs from 300 to 850. How does your score compare with others? You're within the good credit score range, which runs from 690 to 719.

Do hard inquiries show up immediately?

If you've recently applied for a loan, such as a car loan, mortgage or student loan, you may immediately notice a hard inquiry on your credit report — especially if you're using a credit monitoring service.

Can I be denied a job because of my credit?

Smith explained that even if a potential employer isn't looking at your credit history specifically, they may still pull your credit report: “A credit score can affect your job chances by getting you denied employment. There are limited reasons why someone can obtain a credit report or consumer report about a person.

Who sees your credit score?

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)

What is considered a bad credit score?

What Is a Bad Credit Score? A bad credit score is a FICO® Score below 580. A bad VantageScore® is a score below 600. That said, lenders may have different ideas of what a bad credit score is when they're reviewing a loan application.

What are the three C's of credit?

Students classify those characteristics based on the three C's of credit (capacity, character, and collateral), assess the riskiness of lending to that individual based on these characteristics, and then decide whether or not to approve or deny the loan request.

What makes you fail a credit check?

Common reasons for failing a credit check

Missed or late payments on financial obligations such as mortgages, loans, or credit cards can raise red flags for potential lenders. Defaults on loans signal a serious financial faux pas, indicating a history of unfulfilled commitments.

Can cops see your credit score?

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.

Is a 900 credit score possible?

What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.

Can I buy a house with a 704 credit score?

The minimum credit score needed to buy a house can range from 500 to 700, but will ultimately depend on the type of mortgage loan you're applying for and your lender. While it's possible to get a mortgage with bad credit, you typically need good or exceptional credit to qualify for the best terms.

How to get 800 credit score?

Making on-time payments to creditors, keeping your credit utilization low, having a long credit history, maintaining a good mix of credit types, and occasionally applying for new credit lines are the factors that can get you into the 800 credit score club.

What do people see when they check your credit score?

Though prospective employers don't see your credit score in a credit check, they do see your open lines of credit (such as mortgages), outstanding balances, auto or student loans, foreclosures, late or missed payments, any bankruptcies and collection accounts.

What happens when someone checks your credit?

Hard inquiries show up on your credit reports for up to two years and can affect your credit score. While that impact is usually minimal and temporary, it's important to understand when they happen, how they'll impact you and why it's best to keep them to a minimum.

Can you run a credit check with a driver's license?

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.

What habit lowers your credit score?

Late or missed payments can cause your credit score to decline. The impact can vary depending on your credit score — the higher your score, the more likely you are to see a steep drop.

What is a red flag credit score?

A higher score indicates a lower risk of identity fraud. Red Flag Alert examples include address discrepancies, Social Security number discrepancies, or information provided by the applicant is inconsistent with information on the consumer in the credit file.

Can anyone see my credit report?

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.