The FCRA, permissible purpose, consent, the TCPA, credit freezes and your own credit rights, explained without the legalese.
One website or one phone call takes your name off the lists credit bureaus sell for pre-approved offers. How to opt out of prescreened offers, how long it lasts, and the things it won't stop that people expect it to.
A freeze and a lock both keep new lenders out of your file. The difference is the fine print: one is a federal right with deadlines and no fees, the other is a product governed by a company's terms. Here's what each blocks and how to pick.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act never asks who typed the request. When an assistant pulls a report for your business, your business is the user, and every duty that comes with that stays put. A section-by-section walk through what that means.
Every company that pulls your credit leaves a record, and you're entitled to see it. Where to find your inquiries, how to tell soft from hard, what the odd names mean, and what to do about one you don't recognize.
A single text to the wrong lead can cost $500, and a campaign can cost millions. Here's what the TCPA actually requires when you call or text leads, what changed in early 2025, and the habits that keep a small team out of trouble.
The simplest legal reason to check someone's credit is that they said yes in writing. Here's a copy-ready consent template, what each line is for, and how to collect consent by text, email or e-signature without making it awkward.
You can legally look up someone's credit score when the law gives you a reason to, and the simplest reason is their OK. Here's where the line sits, with real scenarios, the actual penalties, and how to get consent right.
The FCRA lists a handful of reasons you're allowed to pull someone's credit. What each one means in real life, which one fits your situation, and the simple record that protects you if anyone asks.
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