Aside from the above mentioned, a credit report has information about your current and previous addresses, telephone number, date of birth, employment information and social security number. There is also a section which includes information about matters of public record like tax liens, bankruptcies and civil judgments. In short, a credit report is a credit history of an individual that includes information related to almost each and every aspect of this person’s financial life.

But the question is how an individual’s credit report can be obtained or is it lawful to obtain an individual’s credit report without his/her permission? There is a lot of information related to an individual’s credit history in a credit report and that’s why it has been declared unlawful to obtain an individual’s credit report without his/her permission.

Under federal law, any person (under false pretense) who willfully and knowingly gets information on a consumer from a credit reporting company e.g. get a credit report without his/her permission, this person will be fined under Title 18 US Code, or to be imprisoned for at least two years, or may get the both.

However, someone with a legitimate business need can be given access to your credit history and they include companies who considering granting you credit, insurance companies, landlords, employers (but with an individual’s consent), state or local child support enforcement agency, for account monitoring purposes for the companies with which you have a credit account and any government

Usually, written consent is required to an employer or prospective employer to obtain an individual’s credit report. Similarly, different potential creditors seek individuals’ permission to review their report.  However, an individual’s permission is not required when inquires are done regarding pre-approved credit offer.