How Private is My File with a Credit Report Company?
Contributed by Melanie Vannuys
How Private Is My File With A Credit Report Company?
The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as state laws restrict who or what company has access to your credit report. The sensitive information contained in your report include your name, address,telephone number (even if it's unlisted), date of birth, social security number, employment, credit payment status and any legal information pertinent to a potential lender's decision to granting credit. Your race, religion, lifestyle choices, medical information and other legal information that will have no bearing on a lender's decision is not contained in your credit report.
Other information on your credit report that may be released to a potential company or individual are an overdrawn bank account and/or delinquent child support payments. These things in particular are reported to a lender that is considering granting you credit for a large loan such as a mortgage or auto loan.
While it isn't in a credit report company's practice to report crime convictions, it may be included if an employer requests the information to make a determination about a job or a landlord is looking for information about a potential tenant.
It's important to keep an ever watchful eye on your credit report. Yes, you are guaranteed some amount of privacy, but there are professionals out there who can work around any system and ruin your good name and your good credit.
