What kind of information may an affiliate NOT share without consumer consent?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), certain types of information are protected and cannot be shared without the explicit consent of the consumer. Credit scores are one of these sensitive pieces of information. A credit score plays a crucial role in determining an individual's creditworthiness and is often used by lenders and other financial institutions to make decisions regarding loans or credit.

The FCRA establishes that while affiliates can share a broad range of data relevant to credit and financial transactions, they must obtain consumer consent before sharing credit scores. This requirement is in place to protect consumers from unauthorized access to their credit information, which could lead to potential harm or misuse.

Other types of information, such as identity verification, personal financial transactions, and employment history, may be shared without needing specific consumer consent, as they are typically not governed under the same strict regulations as credit scores. Therefore, the significance of protecting credit scores aligns with the overall goal of the FCRA to promote fair and accurate reporting of consumer information.