Background Check: In summary, while both background checks and credit checks serve similar purposes, they differ in scope and focus. Background checks assess character and suitability, while credit checks evaluate financial responsibility.

Federal law requires a landlord who denies your tenant application, due to information in a tenant screening report, to inform you of that fact. The Fair Credit Reporting Act  provides you with rights as both a rental

Continue readingWhat should I do if my rental application is denied due to a tenant screening report?

Credit inquiry. An inquiry refers to a request to look at your credit file, and it generally falls into one of two types. Read more Credit invisible. In 2015, we published a report finding that 26 million

Continue readingCredit reports and scores key terms

There are federal limitations on how long information can be on your consumer reports, including your tenant screening report. Some states have additional limits. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act limits how long negative information like

Continue readingHow long can information, like eviction actions and lawsuits, stay on my tenant screening record?

If you filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapters 7, 11, 12, or 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, that information will remain in your credit report up to 10 years from the date of entry of

Continue readingI filed for bankruptcy. How long will that appear on credit reports?