Does Check Fraud Affect Your Credit Report?

Information about your previous checking accounts, including fraudulent activity, isn't included in your standard credit reports.However, other consumer reporting agencies do track this information, and make it available to their subscribers.

Credit Reports

Your credit reports don't include information about how you manage your checking account, nor do they contain criminal records. If a potential creditor, landlord or employer pulls your standard reports from Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax, a criminal check fraud conviction or a negative report from your bank won't appear on the report.

Specialty Consumer Reports

Credit reports are only one type of consumer report. Companies that provide "specialty" consumer reports track information such as criminal records, rental history, use of a checking account and jobs that you have held. For example, ChexSystems provides banks with information on how you use your checking account, including information about account closures, repeated overdrafts or check fraud. Other companies provide criminal background reports, which include information about convictions including check fraud. If a tenant or employment screening service orders a comprehensive background report, information about check fraud may be included.

Effects of Check Fraud

While a criminal charge of check fraud won't show up on your credit report, the consequences of the fraud might. For example, if you bounced several checks and your bank turned your account over to a collection agency, this will show up on your credit report. If the bank successfully sues you to recover the money you owe, the judgment will likely end up on your credit report as well.

Checking Your Reports

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to view your standard credit reports as well as specialty reports. You can request one free copy of each credit and specialty report every twelve months by contacting the issuing company directly. After you receive your reports, you can dispute inaccurate information with each consumer reporting agency.

To get free copies of your credit reports, visit annualcreditreport.com, a site sponsored by TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. Otherwise, you'll need to call or visit the websites of specialty report companies to learn how to request your reports. Some companies, such as ChexSystems (a banking behavior reporting agency), allow you to request your report online. Other specialty reporting companies require you to mail them a request along with documentation confirming your identity.