Credit Reports

Return to the FAQ Index

Information contained in the answers may not be accurate or current. Answers pertaining to matters of law may not be valid for your jurisdiction. Consult an attorney regarding laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

How long does it take to get a credit report?

In order to receive a credit report, you must first establish an account with us. After you have an account, requests for credit data will be processed as quickly as possible. Delivery time will vary with the method of delivery: results that are faxed or emailed back generally take less than ten minutes; results that require a callback may take a little longer, depending on the availability of a customer service representative.

What does it mean when the credit report says 'no record found'?

If a credit report comes back with "no record found," it may mean one of several things. Sometimes this is due to a typographical error in the data provided, so be sure to double-check the information before you submit it to us. Another reason for "no record found" is that the applicant may have no established credit of any kind. For example, if the applicant recently turned 18 or is a recent immigrant, he or she is likely to have no established credit record.

How do I read this credit report?

The CreditLink® Credit History includes a variety of information that can be of value to you. We've made a sample report available that explains all of the sections of the Credit History, and gives details about the codes used. This sample report is available for download or printing on our Forms and Sample Reports page, located here. If you have any questions about the specific Profile you received, please call us at 1-800-446-1421, and we'll be happy to assist you.

What do the codes in the Identity Integrity section mean?

There are many possible items returned in this section of the CreditLink® Credit History. The items we are called about most often are:

"SOME OR ALL DATA SUPPRESSED BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO PASS CALIFORNIA SUBJECT SELECTION CRITERIA - MORE IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS NEEDED" - There is a hold placed on the file by the credit bureau, and possibly identity fraud. The applicant should contact TransUnion Consumer Relations by calling 800-916-8800, option 3.

"CREDIT DATA SUPPRESSED" - There is a hold placed on the file by the credit bureau, and possibly identity fraud. The applicant should contact TransUnion Consumer Relations by calling 800-916-8800, option 3.

Other possible (self-explanatory) results include:

All data returned
No SSN on file
No credit data on file
Exact SSN Match
SSN Mismatch
SSN match differs by 1 digit
SSN match differs by 2 digits
Credit data frozen by individual. An authorized code is required.
Credit data might belong to a minor; verify individual
Credit data not returned per Georgia law about disputed data

Why doesn't my applicant have a FICO score?

The FICO score is a projection based on the last six months of activity on a person's credit report. If there has been no activity, there is nothing to base this projection on, resulting in no FICO score. If your applicant insists that they should have a FICO score check to see if they've just recently opened lines of credit. If the lines of credit are less than six months old, this can also result in no FICO score. In addition, some companies do not report credit activity to the credit bureaus, and therefore may not show up on a credit report.

My applicant is saying that the information on the credit report is incorrect. What should I do?

First, you want to verify all of the information that your applicant gave to you, to make sure you have the correct credit report. Check to see if your applicant has given you the correct SSN, address, and his or her full name. If all of this information is correct, then have your applicant call TransUnion at 1-800-916-8800 to speak with them about the information. If you are turning down your applicant because of this error, be sure to give them a completed Notice of Denial to Rent.

What should I do if my applicant tells me they have put a 'security freeze' on their credit report?

If your applicant has taken this action it will not be possible for you to obtain the credit report without having the freeze lifted. Your applicant will need to call the credit bureaus to ask for a temporary lift of the freeze (24 hours will do), after which you may submit your credit request as usual.

If you have already requested an applican't information and were not able to retrieve their report due to a security freeze, please do not resubmit your request or your account will be charged for a second report. Call our office at 800-446-1421 and let a representative know that you will need a profile reprocessed. There will be a $10 reprocessing fee assessed to your account.

Return to the FAQ Index