The three major credit bureaus maintain your credit information, and companies can review it under certain circumstances. You may not have realized that you can prevent many companies from reviewing your credit information by withholding permission or preventing the credit bureaus from giving it out for certain purposes. If you know your rights, you can protect yourself and keep your credit information from being casually reviewed and used for marketing or other unwanted purposes.
Don't give any information that could be used to pull your credit report when you are shopping for big-ticket items. If you have to give it, make it very clear that you don't want the company to review your credit information. For example, if you are shopping for a car, you may need to give your driver's license information to take a test drive. Dealerships are not supposed to pull your credit information without your permission, but some might do so anyway. Let them know up front that you do not want this done.
Carefully read the fine print before signing a sales contract. If you are making a purchase for which you will pay cash or obtain your own financing, make sure you are not giving the merchant permission to pull your credit information anyway.
Put a freeze on your credit report with all three of the major credit bureaus. They may require you to pay a small fee unless you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft. Once your credit is frozen, a company won't be able to access it even if you fill out and sign an application. The only way the creditor or lender will be able to get access is if you temporarily unfreeze it.
Opt out of prescreen credit offers. Experian, Innovis, Equifax and TransUnion provide certain information to companies who use it to send you preapproved credit offers and other solicitation material. You can prevent them from getting your credit information by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT or visiting the Opt Out Prescreen website and filling out the online form.
Tips
If you believe that a company reviewed your credit information without your permission, you can get a free copy of your credit report to see if they show up as an inquiry. TransUnion, Experian and Equifax are all required to give you a free copy of your report each year if you request it. Be sure to make your request through their official websites.
References
- Experian. "What Are Credit Bureaus and How Do They Work?" Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Fair Isaac Corporation. "What's Not in My FICO® Scores?" Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Fair Isaac Corporation. "How Do Credit Bureaus Get Your Information?" Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Free Credit Reports." Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Prescreened Credit and Insurance Offers." Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Fair Credit Reporting Act § 602 Congressional Findings and Statement of Purpose." Page 1. Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "Fair Credit Reporting Act § 612. Charges for Certain Disclosures." Page 57. Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
- Federal Trade Commission. "In FTC Study, Five Percent of Consumers Had Errors on Their Credit Reports That Could Result in Less Favorable Terms for Loans." Accessed Nov. 2, 2020.
Tips
- If you believe that a company reviewed your credit information without your permission, you can get a free copy of your credit report to see if they show up as an inquiry. TransUnion, Experian and Equifax are all required to give you a free copy of your report each year if you request it. Be sure to make your request through their official websites.
Writer Bio
Based in Kissimmee, Fla., Barb Nefer is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience. She is a mental health counselor, finance coach and travel agency owner. Her work has appeared in such magazines as "The Writer" and "Grit" and she authored the book, "So You Want to Be a Counselor."