Credit check - who has the right to do one?

MarkXy

I am informed by Experian that it is a criminal offence to obtain someone else's credit report, so who has the right to access this information? Does any organisation accessing a credit report need a license to do so?

I heard in the past, and perhaps this is just a rumour, that banks will do credit checks on potential employees - is this the case now? Was it ever the case? Can any other employer (e.g. HMRC) do a credit check?

Thanks

Mark

exel1966

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Who can view my credit information?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Under current Data Protection legislation, anyone with a permissible business purpose and who has sought your consent to do so can look at your report. These companies, groups, and individuals can include:[/FONT]

• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Potential lenders,[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Landlord, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Insurance companies,[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Employers and potential employers (with your written consent) , [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Companies you allow to monitor your account for signs of identity theft,[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Government agencies (although they may only be allowed to view certain portions),[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Someone who uses your credit report to provide a product or service you have requested[/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Any individual that has your written consent to obtain your credit file[/FONT]

chris_wales

I applied for a job with black horse (part of lloyds tsb) who i have "history" with shall we say, all went well at interview but had call few days later to say i wasnt suitable on other grounds! never agreed for them to credit check me but guess they did! THIER LOSS i got better job week later lol!

jonathon

so if a debt is sold to another company and thay cant trace you can thay check your file working on the idea you gave the orignal lender permission ?

anniecave

jonathon wrote: »

so if a debt is sold to another company and thay cant trace you can thay check your file working on the idea you gave the orignal lender permission ?

The second company wouldn't be wanting to do a "credit check" on you. They would be looking to trace your whereabouts. That is a different thing. There are companies who specialise in tracing people who have moved ...

Those examples given should all be where you have specifically given a particular company permission to check you.

housebug

I understand the need for financial checks in some circumstances ie: bank loans, credit cards and certain occupations that involve financial trust. I'm less convinced of the necessity for it elsewhere. No privacy for the individual any more. Everyone's guilty til proven innocent.

Ever had the fun that is getting errors on your credit report fixed? Hope you never have to.

Robert_Sterling_3

housebug wrote: »

No privacy for the individual any more. Everyone's guilty till proven innocent.

Less privacy maybe.
Nobody is guilty until proved innocent.