Credit Checking Proceedure and notification.

Okay, what? That letter you receive is something AT&T, and most other providers, have to send out in the event they have to run a credit check.

From what you've described, they aren't placing any restrictions on your business account, which is a good thing.  As far as not seeing which credit agency they contacted; that's a little muddy, so to speak, but if you are monitoring your credit from all 3 credit agencies, you should at least see which one received the credit check request from AT&T.

As far as the letter telling you that you can dispute the results; again, something AT&T and other providers have to inform you of, (although there'd be no point in disputing the results since they came back good and thus the no restrictions bit on the account).

You might think it's a problem, but based on what you're sharing, you're coming off as being overly dramatic and expecting something for a problem that doesn't even exist.

Investigate other carriers all you want, but unless you're looking for prepaid, most will likely ask to run your credit before they can offer post paid service.

Its a standard form letter that every company in the us has to send to anyone they run a credit check on  with just a few modifications to suit the company stuff. i got the same letter from a credit card company saying congratulations on your new card then it followed up i can dispute their decision,

I disagree, the difference with this letter is:

1. It contains no message indicating your credit was approved.
2. It does not list the credit reporting agency used, even though it states it’s listed below.
3. It also goes on to say that due to the report AT&T has imposed certain restrictions on your service request. None were imposed.
4. I agree, the law requires the creditor to respond to the applicant within 30 days regardless if the decision is favorable or not, however the wording included in the letter from AT&T is only required when adverse action is taken.

Notifications – 12 CFR 1002.9

A creditor must notify an applicant of action taken on the applicant’s request for credit, whether favorable or adverse, within 30 days after receiving a completed application. Notice of approval may be expressly stated or implied (for example, the creditor may give the applicant the credit card, money, property, or services for which the applicant applied).  

Do you have AT&T service? If so, I’d say approval is implied. 

It it seems like the letter was confusing, but it’s not anything to be upset about. 

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. All of your comments are appreciated and well taken.

The point of my rant wasn’t that anyone was harmed in any way (they weren’t) or that AT&T ran a credit check. I would frankly be concerned if they didn’t run credit checks because they may be losing revenue to users that don’t pay their bill and passing the costs to other users that do.

Simply stated the letter looked like a credit rejection even though it wasn’t. It caused me to waste time searching for negative credit information that didn’t exist.  Worst of all the letter was not required under federal law as I quoted in one of the replies.  So why send it at all?

The purpose of the rant was to open AT&Ts eyes to the need to review the form letter, including its contents and construction to allow it to be less confusing and better received by customers.One last question to AT&T. If you’re are going to assign your own “points system rating” to your applicant’s credit rating that can’t be weighted and compared to the number used by major credit reporting agencies, would it be best not to mention it at all?