I know this is might be in the archives, however my computer is isn't pulling them up right now. I would very much appreciate any one who could help me with this. We have been applying for places to rent in the town we are about to transfer to. One landlord has called me to tell me that my credit was fine, but my husband's causes him some concern. He mentioned some things that I figured would be on there. Then he said "And there was one thing that confuses me.." He said that there was a listing that read "G307 Multi unit building, reported: misused requires further investigation" He said under statements, it read something like "high risk fraud alert" I don't think he gave much weight to it, b/c he noted that it didn't match any of the places listed that my husband had lived. First question, can anyone give me some insight into this mystery line. Is the high risk fraud alert on my husband (like he is a risk for fraud) or reporting that he is at risk for being a victim of fraud? Second, most importantly, do I have a right (legally) to request a copy of the report. I can't fight the line if I have never seen it. I won't go into a rant about how unfair it is that we see little pipsqueak reports that we think we have straightened out when those making the decisions about our lives see something different. Thanks everyone.
You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you've been denied for a transaction, or a job, within the last 60 days because of that company's credit report. (There are a few other free report options, but the denial is the basic one.) Now, on or about December 4, the new automated free report request system should be in place, and all the CRA's will be able to provide you with a copy of your credit report, once per year, free, with just one phone call. If I am interpreting the comment correctly, its saying that there are a large number of people who have the same or similar addresses to the address which has that flag on it, and there is always a chance that a neighbor may have somehow obtained your or your husband's personally identifying information, so its just forewarning to anyone who obtains that report to make sure that you really are the consumer whose attempting to apply.
If none of the company's have officially 'denied' you based on the report, the alternative is to pay the $9.00 per CRA to purchase their report officially from the CRA. (Or wait patiently for the few more months for the free report request phone number to be announced.) Essentially, yes, you have a right to request your report, but unless you've been the target of adverse action based on the report, they can (and do) charge you for the report.
Hi. Thanks for the response. I think I might not have been clear. I wanted to know if I could legally request that the landlord show me the report that he is looking at. We check my husband's credit report regularly b/c I have been working on some of the lines. However, this is a line that does not show up on any of his reports. Not even the MyFico reports. He did tell me that it was TransUnion that he pulled, but he acted like it might be against procedure for even telling me that. Which I know it isn't b/c had he denied me, I knew that we could pull for free. They didn't deny us. However, we will be purchasing a car soon & we might want to buy a house in 2006. I can't correct his reports, if the creditors are seeing something different than what I am. That is why I was wondering if I could request the report directly from the landlord. (We paid for the credit check) I am having a horrible time with TransUnion anyway including listing our current address as a previous one & an address he had 6-7 years ago as the current. This is a simple thing that I have had trouble getting them to correct. If the info that I see is this erroneous, I can't imagine what creditors are seeing. Again, thank you for responding, & if you have any info on getting landlord's version, I would appreciate it.
It's not illegal for them to show you the report, (and the FTC is studying making it mandatory that you have the right to see the exact same credit report used against you (for adverse actions), for exactly this reason.) But a lot of companies will say that their contract with the CRA prohibits them from disclosing the report, but it never hurts to ask, just let him know the only way you (as a couple) can see what is going on with your reports, is if you see the exact same things that he saw.
When there is an adverse action, even the existing FCRA prohibits the CRA from preventing the user from providing report data to the consumer.
