How to Run a Credit Check on a Person

If you're lending someone money or letting an apartment it makes sense to want to perform a quick credit check first to get a payment history. After all, how someone has paid off creditors in the past is a good indication of how they will make payments in the future. Running a credit check on someone is not difficult but you will need the right information.

Things You'll Need

• Consent form
• Person's Social Security number, address and full name

Instructions

1. Review the Fair Credit Reporting Act or FCRA (15 U.S.C. §1681). This requires written consent before seeking the credit report of an individual.

2. Obtain his Social Security number. You also will need the full name and address of the person's credit you wish to check.

3. Contact a national credit reporting agency. There are three national credit rating agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Write a letter to one of the bureaus or make request online. In the letter, explain why you need the report, list the person's name and Social Security number. The cost of each report is around $12.

References

• How Can I Run a Credit Check on a Person?

Resources

• Experian
• Transunion
• Equifax