When can I do a credit check?

The first thing you need to consider is why it is necessary for you to do a credit check − don’t forget that you should only collect the personal information when it’s necessary.

If you’re satisfied that you need to check someone’s credit (for instance because you’re considering offering someone a job and they’ll be responsible for dealing with significant amounts of money), you can generally only collect this information if you’ve got the person’s consent to do so.

However, there are some limited circumstances when you can collect this type of information without the individual’s consent(external link) − for instance, where the collection is necessary as part of court proceedings. Certain public sector agencies may also check someone’s credit without needing to get their consent.

Updated November 2025