Why Can't I View My Credit Reports Online?
Given the power of the Internet these days, many people wonder why it is still not possible for consumers to view their detailed credit reports online. Indeed, it seems bizarre that we are able to do almost everything else, including our banking, through the Internet - yet when it comes to something as simple as a credit report, it is impossible to view it online.
In actual fact, there is a reason for this confusing logic. In this article, we will explain exactly why viewing your credit reports online is not currently possible - and why it won't be possible for a long time into the future.
The Identification Game
One of the most pressing issues when it comes to the Internet is privacy. We've all heard about the privacy concerns surrounding sites such as Facebook, Yahoo, and even Google - and the fear that these organisations will use our data in an inappropriate manner.
In many ways, a credit reporting agency is similar to the giant organisations above, as they collect information about us from other sources, and hold it against our names.
Therefore, if credit reports were available to view online, the following problems would arise:
- Issues surrounding the provision of identification.
- Other people being able to access your credit reports.
- Sensitive details regarding you financial history.
- The possibility of identity theft arising.
As you can see, the internet is not the best place for someone's personal details to be revealed in exchange for viewing their ID, because it is very impractical to view that ID in the first place.
The Future of Online Credit Reports is Bleak
As we initially said, don't expect credit reports to become a mainstream feature of the internet in the near future, because it simply isn't on the cards to happen, and it is just not practical.
Whilst banking gets away with online servicing because of the ability to impose safeguards (such as tokens, double passwords, etc), it would be impossible for a credit reporting agency to provide you with a partial online credit report, because this would quite simply be completely useless - not only to the reporting agency, but also to you.
Hence - instead of waiting for your report to eventually become available on the internet, how about requesting it through the mail, or through a service instead. That way it'll be much more efficient.
