Who actually looks at credit scores?

[genchan]

I know that if you apply for a home or car loan they will check your credit report, but I hear that other places also check it. Are there a lot of other places that check your credit report?

[jhd815]

Employers, insurance agencies, and credit companies also look at your reports.

Employers may look at your report to gain some perspective on how you handle yourself financially (which may or may not indicate how you will/could handle other aspects of your life such as a job, employment, etc).

Insurance agencies just started looking at credit reports and scores recently and are using them as another tool in determining what customers to offer their best rates.

Credit card companies will look at them to see if they want to offer you a line of credit and at what rate?

You should also check your credit report at least annually to check for errors and signs of identity theft.

[terry1156]

Oh, practically everyone and their mother these days. If you try and rent an apartment, they will check your credit. If you apply for a cell phone, they will probably check your credit. Now that utilities are in competition with each other, they often will check your credit. And it will most likely just keep on expanding.