Experian Free Credit Report Request
2010
Denying apartment applications based on credit report – denial letter?
At the rental agency where I work, we often turn down applicants because of delinquent credit. We just tell them over the phone that they are not approved, and we don’t discuss the specifics of their credit report. We tell them they can request a free credit report from Experian, which is the bureau we use.
Then I noticed this, from the Fair Credit Act:
“If a creditor turns down your request for a loan for whatever reason, he must send you a letter stating why and what reporting agency they used, to get the information from.”
Our company doesn’t send denial letters to the applicants. Do we not have to, because we are not technically a ‘creditor’ and they are not applying for a ‘loan’?
Correct- landlords are not creditors. Landlords are only required to provide that type letter if a denied tenant requests it or disputes their denial. We do not send them either. Here in Oregon we have a form for that if the tenant requests it.
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