11 Jun Can Someone Check Your Credit Score without Permission?
Can someone check your credit score without permission? This a good question, and a valid concern. Checking someone’s credit score without them knowing is immoral. It’s accessing someone’s deepest personal information without them agreeing to it– who wants just anyone to be able to freely access their debt record? No one wants to be unconsensually subjected to the stigma that can come with overindebtedness.
This blog details whether someone checks your credit score without your consent, supporting legislation, and what you can do if someone checks your credit score without permission.
No one can check your credit score without your permission. According to the PoPI Act, it is an offence. Creditors, landlords, and insurers require written consent before they can check your credit score.
What the Law Has to Say
The PoPi Act places great emphasis on processing personal information. In Chapter 3, Part A, Condition 1, Point (11 (1)) says “Personal information may only be processed if the data subject or a competent person where the data subject is a child consent to the processing.”
That means that to ensure compliance with the Act, processing personal information without consent, particularly related to credit scores, is not allowed under the Act unless authorized by a competent person or entity (you). Additionally, the Act’s preamble states; “section 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, provides that everyone has the right to privacy.”
When Can Someone Check Your Credit Record?
The National Credit Act says that lenders and banks must check your credit score before they lend you money to assess whether you are financially fit enough to pay back credit. Otherwise, it’s reckless lending, which is punishable by law. Landlords and insurers may feel obligated to look over your payment history so they can decide whether they should rent you a property or insure you. Before they check your credit score, they should ask whether it’s okay with you.
How Can You Check Your Credit Record?
You can have your credit score in hand within a few minutes with our free online credit checker. We’ve partnered with XDS to provide you with a credit report that is their data protection infrastructure.
If you have any questions about your credit report, contact Credit Boost. We’re glad to be of service.