As a consumer, you should be aware of your rights to avoid being taken advantage of by companies in the credit reporting industry.
FCRA Rules for Consumer Reporting Agencies
According to the FCRA, consumer reporting agencies are companies that collect credit information about consumers for the purpose of selling it to third parties. The best-known examples of consumer reporting agencies are the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Under the FCRA, credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies are required to follow strict procedures.
Provide You With a Copy of Your Credit File at Your Request
You’ll have to provide personal identifying information so the credit bureau can confirm you’re the person requesting your credit report. There are certain times the credit bureaus have to provide you a free copy of your credit report:
Once annually, through the centralized website annualcreditreport.com. If a business has taken adverse action (denied your application or charged a higher. interest rate) because of information in your credit report. If you are unemployed and planning to look for a job within the next 60 days. If you are on welfare. If you have been a victim of identity theft. If your credit report contains inaccurate information resulting from identity theft.
Investigate Information You Dispute
The only times the agency may not investigate is if you do not provide enough information to investigate your dispute, you dispute everything on your credit report, or you re-dispute an item without offering additional information regarding your dispute.
Correct or Delete Information
Agencies are required to correct or delete inaccurate information within 30 days of your dispute, or up to 45 days if you send additional information after submitting your written dispute. Additionally, they should delete outdated (negative) information that is seven to 10 years old, depending on the type of information.
Limit or Grant Access to Your Information
Agencies should limit access to your file to those businesses that have a permissible purpose for viewing your credit report. They should also provide your credit report to employers only with your written consent, and provide you with a copy of your credit score upon your request. Agencies are also required to give you the opportunity to opt out of pre-screened credit offers.
Requirements for Information Furnishers
The FCRA applies to more than just credit bureaus. The businesses that provide information to the credit bureaus, or information furnishers, also have legal obligations:
They can’t report inaccurate information.They must promptly update and correct any inaccurate information previously. provided to the credit bureaus.They must tell you about any negative information reported to the credit bureaus within 30 days.They must let the credit bureaus know when you voluntarily close an account.They must have a procedure for responding to identity theft notices sent by the credit bureaus.They can’t report accounts that you have previously reported were the result of identity theft.
You have the right to dispute inaccurate credit report information directly with the information furnisher in writing. After receiving your dispute, the creditor must notify the credit bureau of your dispute, and it is not allowed to continue reporting inaccurate information until it has investigated your dispute.
Requirements for Businesses That Use Your Credit Report Information
Companies may request your credit report if they have a “permissible purpose”; for example, to grant credit to you after you’ve submitted an application. The FCRA requires that these businesses:
Let you know when you’ve been turned down because of information in your credit reportProvide you with the name and address of the credit bureau that supplied the report used in the decision to turn you down
Dealing With FCRA Violations
You can seek damages from a business that violates your rights under the FCRA, whether it’s the credit bureau, an information furnisher, or a user of your credit report information.
