The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) permits a credit reporting company to send your credit report to creditors, government authorities, landlords, employers, and others it has reason to believe intend to use the report for:
- 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, which includes 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, 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.
