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15 U.S. Code § 1681b. Permissible purposes of consumer reports
(a) In generalSubject to subsection (c), any consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other:
(1)
In response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order, a subpoena issued in connection with proceedings before a Federal grand jury, or a subpoena issued in accordance with section 5318 of title 31 or section 3486 of title 18.
(2)
In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.
(3) To a person which it has reason to believe—
(A)
intends to use the information in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished and involving the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of, the consumer; or
(B)
intends to use the information for employment purposes; or
(C)
intends to use the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance involving the consumer; or
(D)
intends to use the information in connection with a determination of the consumer’s eligibility for a license or other benefit granted by a governmental instrumentality required by law to consider an applicant’s financial responsibility or status; or
(E)
intends to use the information, as a potential investor or servicer, or current insurer, in connection with a valuation of, or an assessment of the credit or prepayment risks associated with, an existing credit obligation; or
(F) otherwise has a legitimate business need for the information—
(i)
in connection with a business transaction that is initiated by the consumer; or
(ii)
to review an account to determine whether the consumer continues to meet the terms of the account.
(G)
executive departments and agencies in connection with the issuance of government-sponsored individually-billed travel charge cards.
(4) In response to a request by the head of a State or local child support enforcement agency (or a State or local government official authorized by the head of such an agency), if the person making the request certifies to the consumer reporting agency that—
(A)
the consumer report is needed for the purpose of establishing an individual’s capacity to make child support payments, determining the appropriate level of such payments, or enforcing a child support order, award, agreement, or judgment;
(B)
the parentage of the consumer for the child to which the obligation relates has been established or acknowledged by the consumer in accordance with State laws under which the obligation arises (if required by those laws); and
(C)
the consumer report will be kept confidential, will be used solely for a purpose described in subparagraph (A), and will not be used in connection with any other civil, administrative, or criminal proceeding, or for any other purpose.
(5)
To an agency administering a State plan under section 654 of title 42 for use to set an initial or modified child support award.
(6)
To the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Administration as part of its preparation for its appointment or as part of its exercise of powers, as conservator, receiver, or liquidating agent for an insured depository institution or insured credit union under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.] or the Federal Credit Union Act [12 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.], or other applicable Federal or State law, or in connection with the resolution or liquidation of a failed or failing insured depository institution or insured credit union, as applicable.