Who Can See My Credit Report

28th Mar 2025

In today’s world, where information is readily available, your credit report is securely held by credit reference agencies like Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. These agencies ensure that only authorised people can access your credit information, and they can only do so if they have a valid reason, such as when you’ve applied for credit with them. It also means that as this information is held online, you can access it too.

Financial Services and Employers

There is a range of different organisations which might ask for access to your credit record, but the two main groups are financial services, and employers or landlords. Banks, building services and other providers such insurance companies or credit card companies will always run a credit check before allowing you to open a new bank account or take out a new credit card, or even when upping your credit limit on an existing account.

Certain employers may check your credit report during the hiring process, especially if the job involves handling large amounts of money or positions of high responsibility. While you can refuse to give them access, doing so may reduce your chances of getting the job. Credit checking before employment is most common if you are applying for work in a bank, building society or in a cash office handing large sums of money.

Who Else Might Check My Credit Report?

Sometimes if you are setting up a new account for utilities, or getting a new mobile phone contract, the provider will run a credit check to minimise the risk of you running up a huge debt and not paying. Although you might be blocked from taking out a credit contract if your score is poor, you should still be able to get a prepay deal for your gas or electricity or pay as you go for a mobile phone.

If you are thinking about renting a property then one of the many checks your landlord will want to do is a credit check, to make sure there is nothing on your record which calls into question your ability to prioritise paying your rent. You will be asked for your consent for a landlord or letting agent to carry out a credit check. You can of course refuse, but your landlord is free to then rent their property to someone else. If you are concerned about your credit check, you could ask someone to act as guarantor on the rent as extra security for the landlord.

Information on Your Credit Report

There is lots of misinformation about what can actually be seen on your credit report – it doesn’t have any information about your employer or salary, for example. A credit report will have basic details such as your full name and date of birth, address, and whether you are registered as a voter at your home address. It will also list your current and past credit accounts along with their credit limits and outstanding balances. Of most interest to lenders is the information about defaults and missed payments.