Verizon Hardpull?

[Anonymous]

My wife just noticed that they hardpulled her EQ when we signed up for Verizon FIOS. I remember us entering the SSN, but that was it. Is it normal for Verizon and other cable companies to do hardpulls? This never happened to me with other cable providers like Optimum or Directv.

[tufa4311]

If you do a search on these forums they are abound with stories of hard pulls from Verizon as well specifically for FIOS.

[Anonymous]

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@tufa4311 wrote:

If you do a search on these forums they are abound with stories of hard pulls from Verizon as well specifically for FIOS.

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Thank you! And sorry for not thinking of the search function first. Are they allowed to hardpull you without directly asking?

[Anonymous]

Yes, Verizon Fios does a hp.  I found it no different than my current cable company so I cancelled it since our HOA's pay for basic, the price is cheaper.  Most cable companies don't do an hp.

[tufa4311]

Yes, they are allowed to do a hard pull without direct permission. It's called Permissable Purpose, FCRA 604, and deals with customer initiated applications. It was she who initiated the business transaction, the application, and that transaction falls under an area listed in FCRA 604 that allows a hard pull, it's basically implied consent.

FCRA 604 in general: ...consumer-inititated busness transactions that don't involve extension of credit can also provide permissible purpose to pull the consumer's credit report without their express authorization if the business transaction involves a legitimate business purpose to review a consumer's credit. Transactions such as requests for utilities, phones, apartment rental, etc., are included, as the consumer has the possibility of owing the business $$ that may not be collected.

Specifically, in part:

....has a legitimate business need for the information

(i) in connection with a business transaction that is initiated by the consumer; or

(ii) to review an account to determine whether the consumer continues to meet the terms of the account

[Anonymous]

I signed up for a Verizon cell phone contract and it was a hard pull.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I signed up for a Verizon cell phone contract and it was a hard pull.

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most cell carriers do a hp for initial service nowadays

[Anonymous]

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@tufa4311 wrote:

Yes, they are allowed to do a hard pull without direct permission. It's called Permissable Purpose, FCRA 604, and deals with customer initiated applications. It was she who initiated the business transaction, the application, and that transaction falls under an area listed in FCRA 604 that allows a hard pull, it's basically implied consent.

FCRA 604 in general: ...consumer-inititated busness transactions that don't involve extension of credit can also provide permissible purpose to pull the consumer's credit report without their express authorization if the business transaction involves a legitimate business purpose to review a consumer's credit. Transactions such as requests for utilities, phones, apartment rental, etc., are included, as the consumer has the possibility of owing the business $$ that may not be collected.

Specifically, in part:

....has a legitimate business need for the information

(i) in connection with a business transaction that is initiated by the consumer; or

(ii) to review an account to determine whether the consumer continues to meet the terms of the account

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Thank you for the detailed answer. Not that 1 hardpull is that bad anyway, but it seems weird that they don't have to ask for your permission first.

[RobertEG]

If a business or creditor were required to obtain explicit consumer authorization of each pull of their creidit report, then business transactions and credit apps would come to a crawl. 

Use of permissible purpose rather than express consumer authoriization thus promotes business efficiency.

[Anonymous]

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@RobertEG wrote:

If a business or creditor were required to obtain explicit consumer authorization of each pull of their creidit report, then business transactions and credit apps would come to a crawl. 

Use of permissible purpose rather than express consumer authoriization thus promotes business efficiency.

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You're right. I guess I didn't really think expect a cable or utility company pulling your credit report while it is very obvious that your credit report is being pulled when you apply for a credit card.