How to Pull Someone’s Credit Report Legally

It can be helpful to look at someone’s credit report sometimes, but it also makes people worry about their privacy. This page tells you how to legally get someone else’s credit report and what to watch out for.

When Is It Legal To Check Someone Else’s Credit Report?

There are only a few specific situations where you can legally access someone else’s credit report:

• Landlords can check a prospective tenant’s credit report with their consent during the rental application process. This helps assess their reliability to pay rent on time.

• Employers can check an applicant’s credit report with consent for jobs involving financial responsibility like accounting or banking. Other jobs may require credit checks depending on state laws.

• Lenders like banks and mortgage companies can access your credit when reviewing a loan application. They need to determine creditworthiness

• A court appointed guardian can request a credit report for a ward after providing documentation. This monitors for fraud or financial abuse.

• Married couples can request their spouse’s credit report but only with express, written consent.

• Power of attorney also permits someone to access your credit report with proper documentation.

Outside of these specific circumstances, checking someone’s credit report without a permissible purpose is illegal.

How To Legally Obtain a Credit Report

If you have a valid reason to check someone’s credit, here are the steps to access their report legally

• If they agree, have them write it down and sign it. Include their name, address, SSN, date of birth, and signature. Many credit bureaus provide sample consent forms.

• Contact a credit bureau – The 3 major bureaus are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each has procedures for third-party credit checks.

• Verify identity – Be prepared to provide personal information to confirm you are authorized to make the credit inquiry.

• Review report – Access will likely be temporary. Focus on accounts, payment history, inquiries, public records, and other useful intel.

• Share important details—Don’t give anyone else the whole report without their permission, but you can share important details like credit scores.

Follow required procedures carefully or you could face legal penalties for improper access.

Signs That Someone Checked Your Credit Report

How can you tell if an improper credit check occurred? Watch for:

• Credit monitoring alerts – Sign up for free monitoring to get notifications whenever your credit is checked.

• Hard inquiries on your credit report – Soft inquiries from yourself or pre-approved offers won’t show, but hard checks will.

• Accounts or information you don’t recognize – This may indicate fraud or identity theft.

• Businesses turning down your applications—You might be being turned down because of bad information you don’t know about.

If you notice any suspicious activity, get copies of your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Look for inquiries or accounts you don’t recognize.

What To Do If Your Credit Was Checked Improperly

If you confirm your credit was accessed without authorization, take these steps:

• Contact the company that made the inquiry and find out why. See if it was a mistake or oversight.

• Dispute the inquiry with the credit bureau to get it removed from your report if it was improper. This prevents score damage.

• Place a fraud alert to protect your credit if identity theft is suspected.

• File complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission regarding violations.

• Consult an attorney to understand your options for legal action like suing for damages related to the illegal access.

Having your credit report checked without your approval can be stressful. Act quickly to dispute issues and mitigate any potential impacts from the violation. With vigilance, you can protect your credit.

FAQs About Accessing Credit Reports

Can I check my spouse’s credit report without telling them?

No, you need to get written consent first. Married couples don’t have automatic permission to check each other’s credit reports.

Can someone else add me as an authorized user to access my credit?

They could but it requires your express consent. Granting authorized user status permits access but doesn’t allow them to make changes.

How can I check my minor child’s credit report?

As a parent, you’ll need to call each credit bureau, provide identification, and permission to check your child’s report. This helps spot any fraudulent accounts.

What are the penalties for illegally accessing a credit report?

You could face civil penalties of $100-$1000 per violation, punitive damages, attorney fees, and even criminal prosecution punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

Can businesses like landlords run credit checks without consent?

No, they must have your approval in writing first. There are few exceptions like credit monitoring services that access your report but don’t share it.

What if there is an error on someone’s credit report I accessed?

You can let them know but they need to contact the credit bureau directly to dispute and correct errors on their own credit reports.

Checking credit reports is tightly regulated to protect privacy. Following proper procedures ensures you stay compliant with the law. Consent and permissible purpose are key to accessing reports legally. Act swiftly if your credit is checked improperly to reduce any potential impacts. With caution, credit reports can be accessed appropriately.