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  Improve your credit by understanding basic consumer credit information: what’s in a credit report, how to check it and how often you should review it.
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WHO GETS YOUR CREDIT REPORT?

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Who Gets Your Credit Report

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a credit report may be obtained only:

When authorized by the consumer in writing.
When there is a legitimate business need in connection with a business transaction initiated by a consumer.
When a consumer applies for credit.
For the review or collection of a consumer’s account.
To review a consumer’s account to determine whether the consumer still meets the terms of the account.
For making “prescreened” offers of credit.
For portfolio analysis of existing credit obligations.
For employment purposes, including hiring and promotion decisions, when the consumer has given written permission.
For underwriting insurance when a consumer has applied.
For use by state and local officials in connection with determination of child support payments.
To determine a consumer’s eligibility for a government license or other benefit when the law requires consideration of the consumer’s financial responsibility.
When ordered by a court or federal grand jury subpoena.

Credit Reporting

Improve your credit by understanding basic consumer credit information: what’s in a credit report, how to check it and how often you should review it.
Credit Scores

What are credit scores, and how are they calculated? Get the answers to your credit score questions.
Preventing Fraud

Learn the warning signs of credit fraud, and get the credit information you need to protect yourself. Are you already a victim? Experian can help.
Life Events and Credit

Find out how life events affect your credit and how to build good credit for the major purchases in your life.
Credit Advice

Ask Experian

Get credit information on the hottest topics from Experian’s team.
Preapproved Credit Offers

What’s in a credit report, how can you check it and how often should you review it? Make sure your credit information is accurate and check your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion reports side-by-side with Experian’s 3 Bureau Online Credit Report.
- Mailing Lists and
  Preapproved Offers
- Opt Out
FAQs
Glossary of Credit Terms

Credit 101

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