give me a country in the first world that doesnt have credit checks

France

interesting. you dont get a credit rating but you have an effective credit check. nobody is giving money out to strangers hoping itll get paid back, theyre all checking your credit history - a mortgage is credit, mortgage defaults still count against your borrowing ability. Its a credit check in all but name

No. Landlords for example cannot request that information.

Actually same in Sweden. I never thought about it until now.

It's mostly for luxury items and services that they request credit checks.

Of course a landlord can still request you send in proof of employment and your salary specification.