Experian
Experian: Major Credit Bureau
As one of the three main credit reporting agencies, Experian must follow all applicable state and federal laws. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the mainstay of consumer credit protection. This federal law determines who has access to your credit information and what uses can be made of it.
Simply put, anyone who does business with you may have the right to run a credit check with Experian. This includes insurance companies, potential lenders, child support enforcement agencies, entities considering your application for a government license or benefit (if the agency must consider your financial status), and employers and potential employers (usually, only with your written permission). This means that family, friends, and co-workers cannot access your financial information without your written permission.
Free Credit Report
Generally speaking, there is a minimal charge for obtaining your credit report from Experian and other credit reporting agencies. With identity theft increasing, the recommendation from the credit agencies to obtain your own credit report every three months takes on new weight. However, under certain circumstances, you have the right to a free credit report.
For instance, if you are unemployed, and intend to apply for employment in the next 60 days, you can request your credit report free of charge. Other situations in which you are entitled to a free report include your being on welfare, or your reasonable belief that your file contains inaccurate information due to fraud. Perhaps the most common reason would be an adverse action taken against you in the last 60 days. Examples of adverse actions are denial of credit, insurance, or employment.
