A Blaine reader contacted Whistleblower with a gripe about two businesses that pulled credit reports on her and her husband after they made cash purchases. The couple had paid $15,000 for a car and another $2,000 for repair work at a second dealership. The two were unaware of the inquiries until a credit bureau sent them a warning letter and they checked to see who had made the requests. The bureau told the couple that too many inquiries could affect their credit score. The reader found that the inquiries lopped 15 point off their score. The companies told the pair that it's standard procedure to do a credit check. They denied checking without permission, but the pair found no such go-ahead in their paperwork. The reader told Whistleblower "there was no reason whatsoever for them to look into our credit history. It doesn't seem like honest practice. I feel kind of invaded." Have you found that businesses check your credit unnecessarily?