Wait...is Enterprise really checking credit reports?

[Anonymous]

Thanks, TopGun!  I just ran across this article, which appears to be a thorough and very user-friendly summary of the policies of the major players:

https://www.moneyunder30.com/rental-car-debit-card

As far as our OP goes, looks like he will be fine, since he plans to always secure his reservation with a major credit card.

[A1Credit]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would imagine they could check any of your reports.  I'm sure if you researched Enterprise a bit you could find out which bureau they use for this.  I would imagine the company streamlines this and likely uses the same one, but I can't be certain of that.

Also, were you using a debit or credit card for the rental?  From what I understand, credit checks are much more common when a debit card is used, as the rental company can't put a hold on funds the way they can with a CC.  If you were to return the car damaged for example and you used a debit card, if you wiped your account clean the rental company wouldn't be able to collect for damages.

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Yup. 

I encourage our OP to pull his credit reports (free reports every month are available with all three bureaus) and let us know if he experienced a hard pull.  This article (and others I just read) imply that the inquiry could be a hard pull.

https://www.thrifty.com/Car_Rental_Information/content/Car_Rental_with_Credit_Card.aspx

My guess is that hard pulls, if they do indeed happen, are way more common when one is paying with a debit card.  As BBS says, frequent travelers use credit cards and presumably avoid hard pulls.

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Who gives free reports monthly for all 3 bureaus?

[Anonymous]

I don't know of a single entity that gives all three reports for free.  But the three reports are certainly available for free if you are willing to use two different sites.

Credit Karma will give you your TU and EQ reports as often as once a week, and https://www.creditscore.com will give you your EX report (and FICO 8) once per month.  Both of those tools are free.

Credit Check Total offers a $1 trial that gives you a 3B report along with your three FICO scores -- you just need to remember to cancel your trial.

WalletHub gives your TU report free daily.

I am doubtless forgetting other cost-free or ultra-low-cost options.

[A1Credit]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I don't know of a single entity that gives all three reports for free.  But the three reports are certainly available for free if you are willing to use two different sites.

Credit Karma will give you your TU and EQ reports as often as once a week, and https://www.creditscore.com will give you your EX report (and FICO 8) once per month.  Both of those tools are free.

Credit Check Total offers a $1 trial that gives you a 3B report along with your three FICO scores -- you just need to remember to cancel your trial.

WalletHub gives your TU report free daily.

I am doubtless forgetting other cost-free or ultra-low-cost options.

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Oh I see now.  Yes, I am aware of those sites and use them along with MyFico.  I thought you were saying that you could get all three free from one place each month.