Can Debt Collectors make a Hard Inquiry to the Credit Bureaus, Without your consent?

Question

If they cannot, what can I do about it, if they did?

Answer 1

IF they own or was assigned the debt they have a legal right to pull either softs or hards.

If they do not own or was assigned the debt, or had owned/was assigned the debt at one time but no longer have it, you have a legal right to dispute the inquiry.
If it is not deleted, you have a legal right to sue them.

Answer 2

As it seems like you know, there are 2 types of inquiries for Credit Reports. One can be made without any consent, this is how you end up with a zillion credit card applications, because they do soft pulls which only give them access to limited information. Those pulls do not show up on your report, and don't affect your credit score.

If they do a hard pull, you would know because inquiries show up on your report. Visit annualcreditreport.com (NOT freecreditreport.com) to get your free report if you haven't already.

In order to pull a full credit report, you have to give permission - but, sometimes you unknowingly give more permission than you think. It is up to the original place you gave the right to pull credit on you. They disclose to you how they will pull credit and what they will do with it. It is also up to federal and state laws as to whether they could do more with it.

The debtor may have included whether they would disclose that report to a collection bureau should you fail to repay them.

Each institution is different. Where I work (a Credit Union), we only pull credit during the loan process, not later. We cannot pull credit later without a signed authorization. Some places have you sign up front to allow them to pull credit again later.

You would need to read your disclosure with the debtor to find out what you gave permission for. I do not know if they can transfer the right to pull credit or not. That is probably different depending on where you live, there are many states with different laws some of which supercede the federal code.

I would check with a local attorney. They will also tell you what recourse you would have if you can prove they pulled credit unlawfully. I would bet you could get that question answered for free.

Answer 3

All of these answers are incorrect. They cannot make a hard inquiry. They can check your credit report without your consent. It is called an account review credit check, and you will see it listed in the section of inquiries that does not affect your credit score. This is a soft inquiry.

Answer 4

That what credit bureaus are for. So that anyone can check credit ratings of anyone. And the only thing you can do about it is make sure that the credit bureaus have accurate information.

Answer 5

Only if they have permissible purpose to pull a hard.

Purchasing the debt, or already owning the debt is examples of permissible purpose.

Unfortunately, some collection agency's feel it is their duty to pull a hard inq. every month. I guess they get their jollies in screwing up your credit even more by pulling as often as they can.

Answer 6

Yes they can. they probably have signed over the debt to this collection agency. The agency has the same rights as the person/business you owed the money to.

Have you thought about making payments. No matter how small. this tends to appease the debt collectors.

If you are unable to pay, you probably should go to a finance management course to better learn how to manage your money.

Answer 7

inquries are disputable. Wtite them a letter informing them that you didnt authorize and for them to remove it. Makr sure you sen a certified copy to both bureau and debt collector.

Answer 8

Absolutely. They have every right to find out if you have the means to pay them and there is nothing you can do about it.