can anyone view your credit file even if you have not given them specific premission

[tim2969]

..ie if you have appplied to them for credit.

can any company or individual just obtain your details and initiate a search

[Loosehead]

Generally an application for credit will include permission to seek information on credit worthyness as a condition of application. So for all intents and purposes, yes.

[tim2969]

But if you haven't applied for credit and dispute and amount held by a debt collecter working for the original creditor can the debt collector search your credit file.

[Loosehead]

I'm not entirely sure of the legal position but I think the debt collector is an agent of the creditor and hence takes on the position of the creditor and acts for the creditor and thus has your original permission by association.

[yummymummy]

When I worked in Council Tax we had agreement with Experian that we could do checks to try and find forwarding addresses and sometimes info as to debtors' financial position and there was no express permission given there, so yes!

[BBWCHATT]

Here in the USA the three main credit reporting agencies are Experion, Equifax and TransUnion. As long as you know someone's social security number you can get their credit report with or without their permission. I am a mortgage person and the company I work for and I both refuse to do it unless the client gives me permission though.