Companies are allowed to search and check a person's credit rating and status without first obtaining authorization from the person that the inquiry is about. Such searches and inquiries are done all the time and the information obtained is from public records and postings by credit reporting agencies and companies.The purpose of the inquiry is to assist in decsions for extending or revoking credit, marketing purposes, or simply to update a company's data base for a given customer.These inquries are part of the custom and practice of the credit industry. If you are not pleased about this inquiry without your authorization, you should write the company about it requesting reasons for it.Good luck.