Who can request to see my credit report?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows a credit reporting company to send your credit report to creditors, government authorities, landlords, employers, insurance companies, and others it believes will use the report for a permissible purpose under the statute such as:

• A credit transaction, such as offering credit, reviewing an account, or collecting on an account
• Offering insurance coverage or setting insurance premium charges
• Employment purposes, including prospective employment or promotion, reassignment, or retention in your current job. You must provide written consent before a prospective or current employer can get a copy of your credit report
• Determining eligibility for government benefits or licenses
• A legitimate business need in connection with a transaction that you initiated, such as a rental application

The FCRA also permits a credit reporting company to send your credit report in response to:

• Court orders, grand jury subpoenas, or for certain child support awards and enforcement purposes
• Potential investors or servicers, or current insurers of credit portfolios
• Written instructions from you

In a process called prescreening, the FCRA also permits prospective creditors or insurers to access certain information in your credit file in order to make you a firm offer of credit or insurance. You can opt out of prescreening.

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.

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