Keep Your Credit Report From Untrustworthy Eyes
The only real security measure on your credit report is the gatekeeper. In
other words, unless you open the door for this third party to receive your
report, they cannot have access. However, giving other people access to your
credit report is far simpler than you may imagine – some circumstances begin
with a chain of events quickly turning into a snowball of third parties pulling
your credit. The credit report alone provides enough information for someone to
steal your identity, while monitoring your credit can also help you catch an
identity thief before it goes too far. Keep tabs on who has accessed your
credit, and keep a close eye on
your report. Make sure to shred or lock up any old copies of your credit report in order
to make sure your good name stays clear.
Video: How to get credit reports
Limit Access To Your Credit Report
The only third party which needs your consent in order to get your credit report are current or potential employers, except in Vermont. Vermont requires any third party to obtain your written or oral consent, not just current or potential employers. Whether you grant permission to the current or potential employer could be deadly to your credit. Even though the inquiry itself does not harm your credit score, not every business owner is ethical. If you don't feel you can trust them, don't grant access to your credit report. Everywhere else, in almost every other case the third party has implied consent by your actions – such as renting or applying for credit.
Implied Access to Your Credit Report
You can pretty much assume that any company providing credit in any form has access to your credit < http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs6-crdt.htm > report. Your permission is not required for companies pulling credit in association with “pre-approved” credit offers, companies considering your credit application, landlords, insurance companies, state or local child support enforcement agencies, and anyone considering your application for a government license or benefit if they have to consider your financial standing. You also provide implied access when you pay for credit monitoring services – the terms of how long and how many times they have access to your credit report should be spelled out in your agreement. Any government agency can also get your credit report, but that is generally limited to your name, address, former addresses, current and former employers – in other words, just enough to hunt you down.
Video: Identity theft warning signs
Others With Access to Your Credit Report
There is one other type of company which can get your credit report – debt collection agencies. Debt collection agencies can be somewhat sketchy, however. Unless the original creditor also provided for “their assigns” to have legal power over your account, the collection agency technically should not be able to obtain your report. You should go through the process of validating the debt collection agency before giving them any money or information, because they may not have the legal power to collect the debt, and therefore may have broken the law in pulling your credit report.
Points of Contact:
Debt Free America
888-225-5332
AFS - Non-Profit Credit Counseling
(866) 851-4305
Rapid Services
(516) 216-1421
Reduce or Eliminate Your Credit Card Debt
(866) 764-8079
Coastal Credit Solutions, Inc. - Credit Management
(866) 415-9649
Free Debt Counseling - MMI and CCCS
(866) 264-6103
Mark A. Zirogiannis PC
(516) 333-6200
Lexington Law Firm - Credit Repair
(866) 906-1265
Solve Debts
(866) 905-9656
Credit Care
(866) 462-1636
Bruce C. Bridgman
(888) 890-7379
Genesis Financial Management
(866) 496-2651
DTS Financial Debt Settlement Company
(866) 432-1466
Successful Solutions Financial Services
(866) 404-8464
Express Debt Settlement
(888) 771-3328
Rausa D J Attorney At Law
(800) 422-3328
A Professional Credit Services
(800) 645-2190