by It is quite common for any credit consumer to be curious to know that who all can access their credit report or credit score.
As your credit report holds important personal information and depicts your creditworthiness and payment history regarding all the existing and past credit products, you might be wondering sometimes that besides you, who else can check your credit report. You just need to feel secure that there are selected financial institutions, authorized and regulated by the RBI and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), that can only access your credit report. The personal and account information in your credit report is kept confidential within these financial organizations.
Your credit report is checked in various situations, such as while applying for any type of loan, credit card or any other credit product. Lenders like private and public sector banks, NBFCs and other financial entities do check your credit report before any loan or credit card approvals. Monitoring your credit report or checking your credit score is a healthy practice that helps you build your profile and makes informed financial decisions. Read on to know about the various entities that can request the Credit Information Companies (CICs) or credit bureaus for your credit report.
Potential Lenders
If in case you plan to apply for a loan, especially a home loan or business loan, the lender will perform a check on your credit report and take it as a reference before any loan approval. Your credit report is the indicator of your credibility and ability to repay the loan in time. Therefore, considering your credit report, the potential lenders shall accordingly approve or deny your credit application.
Existing Lenders
Your existing lenders shall already have requested your credit report at the time of loan or credit card application submission. The lenders have access to check your credit report to define the eligibility criteria and set the interest rates, as per the opted credit products.
Prospective Employers
In today’s highly competitive world, even blue-chip companies, MNCs or organizations with high net worth or volume have started checking credit scores of aspiring job candidates. Your good credit report throws valuable insights on your profile for the potential employer. It further helps the employers know regarding any loan default or bankruptcy filings.
Insurance Companies
In recent times, insurance companies are also starting to adapt the credit scores in calculating your vehicle insurance or life insurance premiums. Regarding life insurance, as it covers large amounts and longer repayment tenure, it is termed as a significant liability for almost every policyholder. Therefore, the insurance companies shall want to ensure that the amount is paid in time.
Property Owners
In recent times, if you are planning to opt for a rental house or apartment in a metro city’s high-end areas; landlords or property owners check your credit scores. Actually, they just want to ensure that you shall be able to pay the rent by checking your payment history and financial stability. Your credit report includes any delayed or missed payments. Your clean credit history may help lenders in offering you their property on rent or lease.
Who cannot access your Credit Report?
No one else, besides the legitimate institutions, are allowed to request or check your credit report. General people or masses are not allowed to check your credit report. Even your family members, friends or relatives aren’t permitted to check your credit score. If anyone is caught checking it without permission shall face legal action and are subject to criminal offence.
Get Your Free Credit Report Online
In India, there are four leading Credit Information Companies (CICs) i.e. TransUnion CIBIL, Experian, Equifax and CRIF High Mark that issue credit scores for individuals and credit rank for companies. Applicants are entitled to get one free credit report once a year from each credit bureau. Checking your credit report multiple times is considered a ‘Soft Enquiry’ that does not impact your credit score.
Conclusion:
Knowing who can access your credit report is important but even more important is to check your credit report from time to time. Your credit score helps you to have a fair idea of the possibilities of getting credit products during times of emergencies or cash crunch situations. While checking your credit report, if you find any discrepancies, errors or incorrect information, immediately get it resolved from your respective credit bureau. Any minor or major error, if left unnoticed or unresolved for long, can result in a drastic fall in your credit score. Be always credit aware to remain credit fit.
