Hiemstra

James Hiemstra appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of TRW, Inc. (TRW).

The facts are not disputed.

TRW, a consumer credit reporting agency, offers a computerized service to subscribers who provide to TRW certain credit information concerning consumers, which TRW evaluates and stores. Upon request of a subscriber, TRW disseminates a credit profile which contains private financial information. TRW receives, on an average, 200,000 such requests each day. Crocker Bank has been a contractual subscriber of TRW since 1973. At the time Crocker became a subscriber, it entered into a service agreement with TRW which provides, in pertinent part: “8. Subscriber Use Limitations. Subscriber hereby certifies and agrees that it will request and use credit data received from TRW solely in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer as to whom a credit profile is sought. . . .

In 1984, Margaret Hiemstra, James’s wife, applied for an extension of credit with Crocker. In connection with the application, she provided husband James’s name, address and social security number. Thereafter, Crock-er requested and received from TRW, credit reports on both…