Credit Authorization
Your Authorization
By submitting a loan request through Ascend Lending, you authorize us and our participating lenders to obtain and review your credit information.
Types of Credit Checks
Soft Credit Check (Prequalification)
During the initial prequalification process:
- We or our lenders may perform a "soft" credit inquiry
- Soft inquiries do not affect your credit score
- This allows us to match you with potential loan offers
- You can check rates without impacting your credit
Hard Credit Inquiry (Loan Acceptance)
If you accept a loan offer:
- The lender will perform a "hard" credit inquiry
- Hard inquiries may temporarily lower your credit score
- This is a standard part of the formal loan approval process
- The impact is typically minor and temporary
What We May Access
Your authorization allows access to:
- Credit reports from one or more credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion)
- Credit scores
- Credit history and payment patterns
- Public records (bankruptcies, judgments, liens)
- Account information
Credit Bureaus
We and our lenders may obtain credit information from:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
- Alternative credit reporting agencies
Purpose of Credit Checks
Credit information is used to:
- Evaluate your creditworthiness
- Determine loan eligibility
- Set interest rates and terms
- Verify your identity
- Prevent fraud
- Comply with lending regulations
Information Sharing
By providing this authorization, you also consent to:
- Sharing your application information with lenders in our network
- Lenders obtaining their own credit reports
- Exchange of information for fraud prevention
- Reporting of your loan performance to credit bureaus (by your lender)
Duration of Authorization
This authorization remains in effect:
- For the current loan request and any future requests you submit
- Throughout the life of any loan you accept
- For ongoing account review and servicing
- Until you withdraw authorization in writing
Your Credit Rights
You have the right to:
- Receive a free copy of your credit report annually from each bureau at annualcreditreport.com
- Dispute inaccurate information on your credit report
- Know what information is being reported about you
- Place a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit file
Fair Credit Reporting Act
Your credit information will be obtained, used, and shared in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other applicable federal and state laws.
Withdrawing Authorization
You may withdraw this authorization at any time by contacting us in writing. However:
- Withdrawal will prevent processing of new loan requests
- Withdrawal does not affect credit checks already performed
- Existing loans remain subject to ongoing credit reporting
Questions?
If you have questions about credit checks or your credit rights, please contact us or visit consumerfinance.gov.