In the internet age, fraudulent credit transactions are becoming increasingly common. If fraudsters gain access to your personal information, they might try to obtain credit pretending to be you. This is known as identity fraud, which is a result of identity theft. While you must take every step possible to prevent frauds from gaining access to your sensitive personal information, a new method being recommended by several credit and finance experts and credit report agencies is – freezing your credit.
Those can well realize the importance of credit score who are looking forward to get some loan approved. Your credit score is a mathematical figure that helps to determine your eligibility for some loan and it is also used to decide the amount of credit you can receive and what should be the interest rate. These credit scores are generated by analyzing your credit report. Fair Isaac is the company that generates these scores and that’s why these scores are also called FICO scores. If your FICO scores are sound, it will be quite easier for you to qualify for some loan and get lower interest rates and contrarily, if your fico scores are low, you may not be able to qualify for some loan or if qualify, you may have to pay higher interest rates. It is quite important for your financial well-being to leave no stone unturned to improve your credit score and you can do so by giving utmost attention to your credit report. How is there that don’t need loan in such credit crunch and creditors like to give those who can return and it’s your credit scores and credit report that reveal whether you can pay them back or not.
A credit report serves as the credit history of an individual and it is developed by obtaining data about an individual from different sources. Those companies that offer credit to people create regular reports about their accounts for three main credit report agencies i.e. Equifax, Experian and Trans Union, If someone is late in making payment to those whom have provided you credit, they may report this information to these agencies. Similarly, banks can also inform the CRA if someone overdraws his/her account or fails to make credit cards, auto loans. Or mortgage payments on time. A credit report also contains information about aberrant child support payments.
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.