Legal Definitions - investigating bureau

An investigating bureau, also known as a credit-reporting bureau, is an organization that creates investigative reports on individuals' personal information, including their creditworthiness, gathered from various sources such as interviews with neighbors, friends, and coworkers. These reports are typically requested by employers, insurance companies, and landlords for prospective employees, applicants, and tenants, respectively.

For example, if a person applies for a job, the employer may request an investigative report from an investigating bureau to determine the person's creditworthiness and personal information. Similarly, if a person applies for an apartment, the landlord may request a report to determine the person's ability to pay rent and other personal information.

Overall, investigating bureaus provide a service that helps organizations make informed decisions about individuals based on their personal information and creditworthiness.