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Who can view your credit reports for legitimate purposes

Access to credit reports can be confusing for consumers but the FCRA clearly states a company must have a legitimate purpose.

Data brokers are constantly finding new ways to gather information about you. They create a detailed picture of your life, from your online habits to your offline purchases, often without your explicit knowledge or consent. This information is then used for targeted advertising, credit scoring, risk assessment.

But access to your credit reports is determined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) which states a company must have a legitimate purpose to view your credit files. Here is a list of companies/entities with legitimate purposes.

Who has access to your credit history?

  • Landlords
  • Employers and potential employers
  • Auto, Home and Life Insurance Companies
  • Cable and Satellite Companies
  • Utility Companies (Telephone, Electric and Gas)
  • Cell Phone Providers
  • Banks, Lenders, Credit Card Issuers
  • Mortgage lenders
  • Auto lenders, auto dealerships
  • Student Loan Lenders
  • Companies that you have a credit account with can regularly monitor your credit
  • Government agencies considering you for licensing
  • State and Local Child Support Enforcement Agencies
  • Collection Agencies

With so many entities potentially looking at your credit you must know what they are viewing. It’s imperative to regularly monitor your credit reports and rid them of any errors, inaccurate and outdated information that can be viewed as negative.

Learn how to effectively dispute inaccurate information in your credit reports.

Who Cannot Look at Your Credit Report?

Except for the companies, people and agencies listed above, most other people and businesses cannot legally request a copy of your credit report. Your credit report may not be used in divorce, child custody, immigration, and other legal proceedings. Nor can district attorneys look at your report to investigate civil or criminal cases.

Detecting unauthorized inquiries

In order to detect who has accessed your credit report you must have a current copy to review. Look for unfamiliar companies and names under the list of inquiries.

Most hard inquiries should be initiated by you applying for credit. If you find an unfamiliar company under the “Hard Inquiry” section on your credit report you may need to take action.

Other inquiries on your credit report do not impact your credit score, these are known as “Soft Inquiries.” Soft inquiries may show up as “Promotional Reviews” where a company is looking to market their financial product to you. A soft inquiry may also be an “Account Review” where creditors you currently have accounts with periodically review your credit reports. If someone has requested your report illegally, you may be able to sue for violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The FACT Act

In accordance with the federal FACT Act, consumers are able to get free weekly credit reports from each of the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.


Go online at annualcreditreport.com or call toll free at (877) 322-8228. You do not have to order all three credit reports at one time. You can choose to stagger your free reports.

The FACT Act is not the only way to get a free credit report. You are entitled to a free credit report if you have experienced one of the following:

  • Denied credit in the last 60 days
  • Unemployed and intend to apply for employment in the next 60 days
  • You are on public welfare assistance
  • If you believe your file contains inaccurate information due to fraud or identity theft
  • Denied employment based upon information contained in your credit report
  • If your report has been updated or revised based upon an investigation you requested

Freeze your credit reports

Freezing your credit reports is like putting a padlock on your credit file. It restricts access to your credit information, making it much harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. Here’s why someone might choose to do it:

1. Protection against identity theft: This is the primary reason. If a thief steals your personal information, they can use it to apply for credit cards, loans, and other accounts in your name. A credit freeze prevents this by blocking access to your credit report, making it nearly impossible for lenders to approve fraudulent applications.

2. Peace of mind after a data breach: If you’ve been notified of a data breach that may have exposed your personal information, freezing your credit can provide peace of mind. It adds an extra layer of protection while you monitor your accounts and take other steps to secure your identity.

3. Proactive security measure: Even if you haven’t experienced identity theft or a data breach, freezing your credit can be a proactive measure to safeguard your financial identity. It’s like locking your doors even when you’re at home – it adds an extra layer of security.

4. Protecting children and elderly family members: You can freeze the credit reports of children to prevent identity thieves from exploiting their clean credit history. Similarly, freezing credit reports for elderly relatives can help protect them from financial exploitation.

5. Limited impact on your daily life: Contrary to what some people think, a credit freeze doesn’t prevent you from using your existing credit cards or accessing your bank accounts. It also doesn’t affect your credit score.

Credit freezes are free to place, lift, and permanently remove. You need to freeze your credit with each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) individually.

Marketing and Pre-Approved Offers

The credit bureaus engage in the practice of selling lists for use in “pre-approved” credit and insurance offers. Consumers who receive pre-approved credit offers are often on these marketing lists. A pre-approved offer does not necessarily mean a credit report will not be pulled.

If you respond, the creditor may access your credit report before you are actually granted credit. Your application can also be denied at this time.

To remove your name from any marketing list compiled by a credit reporting agenc go online to optoutprescreen.com.

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