Dealers often ask how they should respond to people requesting information about why the dealership ran their credit. The nature of these requests is motivated by one of two things:

• Consumers demand to know why the dealership ran their credit, or
• Consumers are victims of identity theft.

The dealership may receive requests for information from a phone call, correspondence from the consumer, correspondence from an individual claiming to represent the consumer or law enforcement.

The response should be conditioned on whether the request is for identity theft information, or concerns previous credit inquiries by the dealership.

This article addresses the requirements the user of a consumer report must provide in response to consumer inquiries.