Who Can Access Your Credit Report?

No matter what condition your personal finances are in, you should know how your credit report works—and who can access it. Knowing the details of your credit report is especially important if you’re trying to get rid of credit card debt. 

If you’re falling behind on bills or if you’re considering a debt relief program, you might wonder about the impacts of debt relief on your credit score. Your plan for getting rid of debt might include a credit check to apply for a debt consolidation loan or a balance transfer credit card. Or if you decide to do a debt settlement program, you might have questions about who can access your credit report if you need to borrow money or apply for a job in the future. 

Your credit report is one of the most important items in your financial life. Your credit report shows your track record of paying bills, taking out loans, opening credit accounts, and other sensitive details about your personal finances, past and present. If you’ve had trouble paying bills on time or if you have unpaid debts or a negative history with credit accounts, those details show up on your credit report. 

Most people have less-than-perfect credit. But even if your credit report is flawless, you deserve to keep those details secret. Just like your medical records and other sensitive private information, credit reports are meant to be shared only in certain situations with trustworthy people and organizations that have a valid reason to know. 

Freedom Debt Relief isn't a Credit Repair Organization and doesn't provide, or offer, services or advice to repair, modify, or improve your credit.

Who Can Access Your Credit Report: 11 Examples

Before someone can review your credit report, you usually have to give them your permission. Federal and state laws prevent most people from accessing and viewing your credit report.

So who can access your credit report? Typically, the list of people and organizations that are allowed to check your credit report includes lenders, creditors, utility companies, employers, landlords, and government agencies. 

Let’s take a closer look at real-life examples of who can access your credit report. 

Here are 11 possible types of companies, organizations or individuals who might get to look behind the scenes at your credit report—and why you might need to give them permission. 

1. Creditors, when you apply for a new account

If you want to borrow money, whether you’re opening a new credit card or applying for a mortgage, auto loan, student loan, or another type of loan, you’ll have to show that you’re creditworthy. 

In other words: Be ready to share your credit report. Any bank, credit card company, lender, or creditor can request a copy of your credit report and your credit score. 

Preliminary conversations with lenders sometimes mean a more limited soft inquiry that doesn’t affect your credit score. But every time you apply for a new loan or new credit card account, the creditor will ask your permission to do a hard inquiry that might reduce your credit score by a few points. 

Don’t worry—lenders and creditors can’t pull your credit report and ding your credit score without your permission. They will ask you for permission to check your credit report (and they should clarify that it will be a hard inquiry) when you officially decide to apply for credit. 

2. Unsolicited lenders who want to offer you credit

Have you ever received credit card offers in the mail, with a message telling you you’re pre-approved? Even if you didn’t apply for new credit, some lenders (such as credit card companies) might look at your credit report and decide you’d be a good customer for them. Some credit card application websites also let you find out in advance if you’re pre-approved, without hitting your credit score. 

This type of credit check can be done without your permission, because it’s a soft inquiry that doesn’t hurt your credit score. But the entity has to have a valid reason to access your credit report. That includes evaluating you for a pre-approved offer. 

3. Creditors you already do business with

Any financial company where you’re already a credit card or insurance customer can check your credit report. Case in point: Your credit card issuer periodically reviews and adjusts your credit limit, even without you requesting it.

Accessing your credit report in these ways won’t hurt your credit score and creditors don’t need your permission. 

4. Banks, when you open an account

Let’s say that you want to open a checking account at a local bank. That financial institution has the right to review your credit report. You give your permission when you apply. 

5. Landlords, when you apply to rent

Applying to rent an apartment or rental property? The landlord or rental company might check your credit report to see if you’ve ever defaulted on a financial obligation. The landlord must get your permission to review your credit report by asking you to sign an authorization form.

Evictions don’t appear on credit reports unless someone owes back rent and the landlord sends this unpaid debt to collections. In that case, the unpaid financial obligation can appear on a credit report. 

6. Employers, when you apply for a job or clearance

When you apply for a job, that prospective employer may look at your credit report before they decide to hire you. An existing employer may also check your credit report periodically to renew your security credentials. In both cases, the employer needs your permission. For existing employees, you might already have given permission by signing an authorization form when you applied or were hired.

It might not seem fair that someone’s job offer could be taken away due to a credit report. After all, people who have had financial trouble in their past are often strongly motivated to work hard at their next job. 

Some employers want to check to gauge whether new hires will be financially responsible with the company’s money. And not every employer chooses to do these credit report background checks. Some states ban employers from accessing credit reports. 

7. Utilities, internet providers, and phone companies

Moving? You’re going to need utility services like electric and gas, telephone/cellular, and internet. Before creating your account, these utility providers may check your credit report to review your history of paying bills. If you have negative information on your credit report, they may ask you to put down a deposit. If you have serious credit issues, they could even refuse to provide service.

8. Government agencies

Some government agencies, including your state Medicaid office, can check your credit report under some circumstances.

If you apply for a government security clearance, you should expect the government to check your credit during the application process and sometimes after.

9. Law enforcement, with a subpoena or court order

If a judge or court issues an order or a federal grand jury issues a subpoena for your credit report, the reporting agency will provide it. Law enforcement authorities can get your credit history if they obtain a court order.

10. Debt collection companies

If you don’t pay your bills on time or at all, eventually a debt collection company will be in contact. Debt collectors can access your credit report so that they can decide how to contact you and work with you to retrieve what you owe.

11. Debt relief programs

Sometimes the people who can access your credit report aren’t trying to evaluate you for a new loan or offer you a job. Some people are just here to help. If you’re struggling with your bills and need professional help with debt relief, you might want to share your credit report with these professionals. If you enroll in a debt resolution program, they can check your credit to help you figure out the best path forward.

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How To Find Out Who Accessed Your Credit Report

The three credit reporting companies, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax, must maintain a record of who accesses your credit reports and when. The names and dates are in the inquiries section of your credit report.

An inquiry is a request to review your credit file, and there are two types:

• Hard inquiries, usually by lenders after you apply for credit. These inquiries affect your credit score. Most credit scoring models look at how recently and how often you apply for credit.

• Soft inquiries, such as reviews by your current creditors, pre-screenings, and self credit checks. Soft inquiries won't change your credit score. 

Who Can't

Your credit report isn’t accessible to everyone, and even companies and government agencies can’t just pull your credit report for no reason. Your credit report and the information within it can’t be given to anyone without a permissible purpose, as specified in the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The general public isn't allowed to access or view your credit report. If hackers, fraudsters, or cybercriminals try to access your credit report without your permission or a legally permissible purpose, they can be penalized and prosecuted. 

If you believe that a person or organization has been asking for or checking your credit report illegally, immediately contact any one of the three credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You don’t have to contact all three. The credit bureau you contact must tell the other two to place an initial fraud alert on your credit report. This fraud alert tells businesses to check with you before opening a new account in your name. 

In general, it’s a good idea to check your own credit report. You can do this for free every week at annualcreditreport.com, and it will show you any unusual activity or unfamiliar accounts.