Who Can See Your Credit Report?

Jerevie Canlas, Ph.D., CFLE
​USU Extension Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

​Your credit report has a lot of information regarding your borrowing and payment habits, so it makes sense that applying for a line of credit would be one of the most common reasons why businesses check your credit history and ask for your credit score. Financial institutions (think credit card companies, banks or credit unions for your mortgage and/or auto loans) top the list of those who checks your credit report, but here are other entities who might be interested in your credit information as well:

---

1. A potential landlord. Landlords and property managers want to know if you have a history of late payments, foreclosures, or evictions. These things can make it difficult for you to get approved. In cases like this, the landlord might require a larger security deposit or you might need to have someone with good credit cosign for you. 
2. Utility services. If you’ve ever tried to purchase a phone, you might be familiar with cell phone companies requesting your permission for them to pull your credit. Utility companies may do this too when you’re setting up utility accounts like gas, water, and electricity. If you have less desirable credit, utility companies and service providers are generally not allowed to deny you service, but they can require you to pay a security deposit.
3. Insurance agencies. On average, individuals with lower credit scores are more likely to file claims. Unless your state does not allow it, insurance companies will use a credit-based insurance score to determine whether or not they’ll insure you and/or how much to charge for monthly premiums. This score is not the same as your credit score, but it is based on your credit history. Negative information, such as delinquencies and collection accounts, might translate to higher insurance rates.
4. Government agencies. Government agencies will take interest in your credit report to determine certain eligibilities (i.e., public assistance), calculate how much child support you can afford, or to process a government license application. 
5. Your employer. Your current or potential employer can access your credit report only if you give them written permission. Any employer that requires a security clearance will most likely check your credit history. Financially distressed employees are more at risk for fraud and/or theft. This is especially probable among positions which entail cash handling, access to company financials, purchasing responsibilities, and/or access to highly sensitive information. Bankruptcies, delinquencies, and large debt amounts might trigger a job denial. If this happens to you, the company is required by law to provide you with an adverse action notice informing you that you have been denied employment due to information found on your credit report. Employers, however, cannot check your credit score. 

 
Any entity who pulls your credit should be listed on your credit report, under the Inquiries section. If you want to know who’s been checking your credit, go to annualcreditreport.com to get a free copy of your credit report. If you notice an unauthorized hard inquiry on your credit report, notify the credit reporting bureaus and dispute the inquiry and/or submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If you suspect identity theft, immediately place a fraud alert on your credit, freeze your credit, and report the inquiry as theft on IdentityTheft.gov.