Is this legal? Can I clear this up?

[aimn]

I was looking to buy a new truck. I went to several car lots and test drove many trucks. They had me fill out an application before I took the truck. I told each and every one of them "do not run a credit check unless I tell you I want to buy this truck." They all said that they wouldnt. Well, they all did. Now I have 8 hits on my credit record from all of these A-holes! Do you think if I write the credit companies they will take these off of there? Can the car lots legally do this? I know that it hurts my credit score anytime anyone checks on your credit, especially when 8 different dealers do this. I found out by finding a truck that I wanted to buy, and the credit guy coming out and saying "no one will give you credit huh?". I have no problem getting a loan, but now it looks like I do. WTF

 

[Linflas]

I would assume it is legal unless you have it in writing that they will not run a credit check. I bet the form you filled out and signed had something on it stating that they would run a credit check. Hopefully you learned a lesson from this on being firm with car dealers. There is 0 reason to fill out a credit app unless you have already made a deal with them to purchase a vehicle. They insist exercise your right to take your business elsewhere.

 

[aimn]

I didnt sign any of the credit apps, they said they needed the info incase I didnt return with the truck.

 

[Jfur]

what asses!!!! :|

 

[rudder]

You should have not filled out an application and made someone ride with you. And you actually beleived what a car salesman told you? Would you be interested in my copy of Napster I have for sale ... $45 shipped.


Edit - oh and I would not worry. I don't think it affects your credit score unless you are specifically applying for credit and get turned down. It shows up differently when someone is just viewing your credit history. They are actually just getting your credit score.

 

[Linflas]

If you didn't sign the app then you may have some recourse. Sadly it would probably cost you a visit to an attorney to find out. I do not see how they could legally run a credit check on you without your authorization.

 

[yakko]

<< I didnt sign any of the credit apps, they said they needed the info incase I didnt return with the truck. >>

Here they just get a copy of your drivers license and proof of insurance.

 

[BooneRebel]

You can also contact the credit bureaus and put a 'lock' on your credit report that says that they cannot release the information in it unless you give the approval first. This can make it a little more lengthy when you do go to apply for a loan, but it prevents crap like this from happening to you.

 

[aimn]

I filled out a form....with my name and address. They took a copy of my drivers license and ss card (my two forms of ID). I would sure think that if you didnt sign anything and you specifically told them to NOT run a credit check, that you could trust that they wont. If you think about it, it now costs them the sale of a truck, and a profit of several thousand dollars! So, Rudder I do not feel like a dope for doing this. I dont know where you live, but this is the process for test driving $35,000 vehicles where I live. Not all dealers pulled this scam. I would rather test a vehicle without a sales person with me, I can do more that way.

 

[Bozo Galora]

how does running a credit check - even seven times - translate into an eighth dealer saying you were turned down 7 times? Does this mean you were not qualified to buy the trucks you were testing?

 

[aimn]

Think about it.......if you qualified for a truck, why would you keep trying to get credit? I qualify to buy what I want. If I looked at someones credit, and it showed that they have applied for an auto loan 8 times, common sense tells me that they werent able to obtain a loan, otherwise why keep trying? I thought that was pretty obvious.

 

[351Cleveland]

Shoot, in Indiana, they just toss you the keys. I had one car we bougth that we test drove nearly all day, the salesman never blinked. He had our old car, it wasn't like he couldn't track us down if needed.

 

[bozo1]

You can dispute the entries with the credit reporting agencies if you wish. The dealers will have to prove within 30 days that you authorized them to do a credit check and if not, the entries will automatically be removed by the credit bureau.

Know how you feel. When I bought my last car I walked in there with my financing already approved thru my bank and the silly dealer still ran my credit. I had the credit bureaus remove it.

 

[Igore]

to answer your question in a ut shell from someone is just now getting their credit straightened out (finally!!). there really isn't much you can do. basically anyone (such as car dealer, credit card company, your employer..etc) can do a credit check for any reason at any time. why do you think that you get those &quot;pre-approved&quot; credit card offers in the mail....sorry to tell ya, its not b/c you are a nice guy. if you were to pull up your credit report you would probably have about a list about a page long of people checking you credit. (not all in the came day mind you) if nothing to worry about. always remember that if you are turned down for a loan (ie. from a car dealer) they HAVE to tell you why. so if that happens and they say &quot;b/c you had too many credit report requests&quot; you can tell them what is going on. but is not likely. and just b/c you have seven entries from other car dealers doesn't automatically imply that you turned down. hope this helps.

/edit also remember you did voluntarily (sp?) give them personal info....they can use it how they like once you give it to them. so expect something in the mail in about a week begging you to buy a car from them...

ig

p.s. maybe is the eight car dealers sees that seven other car dealers want your business....might help to get a 1k or 2k knocked of the price.

 

[Russ]

<< why do you think that you get those &quot;pre-approved&quot; credit card offers in the mail >>



The difference is that these are not initiated by the consumer, and therefore do not appear in the report provided to a potential creditor. They appear only in the report provided the individual on whom the request was run.

Russ, NCNE

 

[bozo1]

<< basically anyone (such as car dealer, credit card company, your employer..etc) can do a credit check for any reason at any time. why do you think that you get those &quot;pre-approved&quot; credit card offers in the mail....sorry to tell ya, its not b/c you are a nice guy. if you were to pull up your credit report you would probably have about a list about a page long of people checking you credit >>



That's not exactly true. For a merchant to pull up your credit history, you either have to have specifically authorized it (applying for credit, insurance, some preemployment screening, etc.) or you are an existing customer and they are just doing a routine check which is quite normal. The &quot;marketing&quot; credit checks that show up on your report are not actual credit checks - the merchant only gets your credit score, they do not see your actual credit report. These marketing or promotional inquires are only seen by you - when you apply for credit, other merchants DO NOT see those entries when looking at your report and they do not affect your credit score.

 

[gygheyzeus]

Or you do what I do.

I'm 17 and I went and test drove all of these a few days ago by telling a little fib:

1) 1994 Supra Twin Turbo
2) 2001 Audi TT Roadster
3) 2001 Honda 2000

All I did was: &quot;look, im 17, but I'm looking to drop $50,000 (cdn) on this vehicle, the thing is, I need to drive it first... because I'm considering two other cars as well... bla bla&quot;..

drove em all... they didn't get more than my first name.

 

[Igore]

well, reguardless of my degrees of &quot;wrongness&quot; (sorry i was trying to quote from memory the stuff isn't right here in front of me ) the fact remains: the personal info was handed to the car salesman. fact: car salesman (sorry if offend anyone) rank right up there with lawyers and mechanics in the trust department. so if you give someone your personal info, especially your social security number, you do so at your own risk. trust me on that one.

ig

 

[rundilEXE]

May I interject? Here it is. Credit checks do not, in any way, effect your actual credit-rating as such. Rejected credit-applications effect it.(by time-span) As does any failure to make repayment, number of current accounts, outstanding monies, etc. If they are going to reject your credit, they are going to reject it PRIMARILY on the grounds that you may not be able to pay for that which you are applying.
All you have to do to maintain a gold credit rating, is to make CONSTANT repayments on any items you purchase on credit, and never transgress against the credit institutions...Hell, my bank rings me every month or so to ask me how I am doin, and if I need any money for anything..They love me, and can't lend me enough money. It is all a matter of keeping an a1 credit rating, and having an income that exceeds your out-go!!

 

[przero]

That's not correct. Due to the way you are scored, the more credit checks, the lower the score. you could begin the day with perfect credit and go to say 10 car dealers. By the end of the day you would not qualify. What a great country!