Who Can See Your Credit

Not everyone can pull your credit. The FCRA limits access to people and companies with a legally defined permissible purpose: lenders reviewing an application, landlords screening a lease, insurers underwriting, employers with your written consent, and a few others.

Why it matters

Knowing who can look protects you twice: you can spot pulls that should never have happened, and you stop worrying about checks that were never possible, like a stranger casually viewing your file.

Key facts

• Permissible purposes under the FCRA include credit applications, account review, tenant screening, insurance underwriting, and court orders.
• Employers need your written permission before pulling your report for hiring.
• You can always see your own file, and your own checks never hurt your score.
• Promotional (pre-approved offer) pulls are soft inquiries and can be opted out of at OptOutPrescreen.com.
• Pulls without a permissible purpose violate the FCRA and can be disputed and reported.

In practice

1. Review the inquiry section of each report and circle any company you do not recognize.
2. Opt out of prescreened offers at OptOutPrescreen.com if you want fewer mail offers and fewer soft pulls.
3. If an employer asks to check your credit, expect a consent form; no consent, no pull.