A credit report is a compilation of information that gives potential creditors a snapshot of your financial responsibility. Credit reports are used by potential creditors, lenders, businesses, employers and insurers to help determine your creditworthiness. In some cases, you will be asked to give permission to have a creditor view your report. However, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer does not always have to give their permission. Make sure you are aware of the specific disclosure policies for different types of businesses.
If you look carefully at the application fine print, you'll see language that gives the potential lender permission to pull your credit history. However, your credit report is not the only determining factor that lenders consider when making decisions about whether or not to grant credit. Each lender has its own criteria.
