Credit Repair
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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Will Your Credit Score Show Up on a Background Check?

Content was accurate at the time of publication.

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Key takeaways

  • Your three-digit credit score won’t appear on a background report or employment credit check. With that said, potential landlords may be able to see your credit score on certain reports.
  • Employment credit checks can show financial information like your payment history, current debts and bankruptcies. Some states limit employment credit checks or ban them entirely.
  • Potential employers and landlords need your written consent to run a background check and credit check.

Background checks reveal key details about your personal history that employers use to make hiring decisions. Depending on where you live and the job you’re applying for, your background report may contain different information than someone else’s.

Most states allow employer credit checks that show a summary of your financial history, but others have stricter rules. In Washington, for instance, employers can only check your credit report if it’s directly related to the job requirements or if the credit report is required by state or federal law.

Here’s a quick reference for what a standard background check and credit check shows, unless restricted by state law:

On a background check
Not on a background check
Your financial history from the past seven years (debts, payment history, bankruptcies, accounts in collections)

Your criminal record

Your work history

Your education

Your driving record
Your credit score

Your medical history

Your social media (but employers can look this up on their own or with a specialized check)

Misdemeanor convictions and charges over seven years old

 Credit report vs. credit score
Your credit score is a three-digit number that measures how well you handle your money, while your credit report is a document that summarizes your recent financial history. Learn more about credit scores and credit reports.

Background checks typically include a summary of what appears on your credit report — if they include any financial information at all. Certain groups and companies can request to see your credit report.

But only select people and groups can request to see your credit score. Here’s who can check your score:

  • Landlords. Your credit score may appear on a landlord’s credit check to help them gauge your ability to pay the rent.
  • Financial institutions. When you apply for a credit card, mortgage or personal loan, the company will likely run a credit inquiry that includes your credit score before offering you a loan or card.
  • Insurance companies. In certain states, car insurance companies can check your credit score. If you have bad credit, insurance companies generally consider you a risky borrower and are likely to offer you higher rates.
  • You. You can check your own credit score, and checking your own credit won’t damage it.
 Clueless about your credit?
Not sure what kind of credit you’re working with? Check your score for free with LendingTree Spring.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits who can see your credit and how they can use that information. Here’s what you need to know about your rights when it comes to background checks:

  1. You have the right to know if your credit is run. Employers have to tell you in writing if they plan to do a background check or run your credit.
  2. Your consent is required. Employers can’t run background or credit checks without your written permission.
  3. You have the right to know if the report is going to be used against you. The employer must tell you if they plan not to hire you based on the information in your report. You also have the right to dispute wrong information with the credit bureau and with the employer.

These are just three of your most important rights when it comes to background checks. Learn more about your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

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States that limit employment credit checks

State law limits employers from checking your financial history in the following states and districts: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C.

These states make it illegal for an employer to check or consider your credit, but they all have exceptions. Some of the most common exceptions are for law enforcement jobs, jobs at banks or other financial institutions, supervisor/management roles and jobs where you’ll have access to sensitive financial information or large sums of money.

What happens if you refuse a background check or credit check?

If you refuse a background check or credit check, the employer, landlord or financial institution can refuse to move forward with your application for a job, apartment or credit card.

If you’ve just learned that a new job or apartment requires a background check, you’re probably strapped for time. Here are three things to do to prepare — two of which you can do quickly.

1. Check your credit report. You can check your credit report for free once a week at AnnualCreditReport.com. This should only take a few minutes.

2. Dispute any errors. Errors like accounts in collections or unpaid bills can bring down your credit score dramatically. Dispute any errors you see. It can take over 30 to 45 days to fix an error on a credit report, but knowing that your report has inaccurate information will prepare you for any conversation with your prospective employer about your credit history.

3. Boost your credit score. Improving your credit score takes time, but getting started now can give you a leg up on any future background checks. You’ll save money, too — raising your score from “fair” to “very good” could help you save over $39,000 across different types of debt, like car loans, mortgages, credit cards and personal loans.

It can. Most states allow employers to see a summary of your credit report, and landlords can even see your credit score. Some states restrict this, so Google your state’s restrictions on background and credit checks to get timely information about your situation.

Yes. Bad credit can keep you from getting jobs, borrowing money and even qualifying for a lease. Learn more about how bad credit affects you.

It could. Depending on your state and the job you’re applying for, your prospective employer may be able to see a summary of your credit history, and a bad credit report could be a dealbreaker. Learn more about your rights when it comes to background checks.