Notice after adverse action
If a consumer report is used to deny credit, insurance, employment, or another application, the company must tell you and identify the reporting agency that supplied the information.
Your Major Rights
Access to your file
You may request the information a consumer reporting agency has about you. In many situations, including identity theft, fraud-related inaccuracies, public assistance, unemployment, or recent adverse action, that disclosure may be free.
Credit score requests
You may request a credit score from agencies that create or distribute scores. Some score requests may involve a fee, while certain mortgage transactions may include score information at no cost.
Disputing inaccurate information
If information in your file is incomplete or inaccurate, you may dispute it with the consumer reporting agency. The agency generally must investigate unless the dispute is frivolous.
Correction or removal
Information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified must generally be corrected or removed, usually within 30 days.
Limits on outdated negative information
Most negative information cannot be reported after seven years. Bankruptcies generally cannot be reported after ten years.
Limited access to your file
Consumer reports may only be shared with people or businesses that have a valid need under the law, such as creditors, insurers, employers, landlords, or other permitted users.
Employment report consent
A consumer reporting agency generally cannot provide your report to an employer or potential employer without your written consent.
Prescreened offers
You may limit prescreened credit and insurance offers based on information in your credit report. The nationwide credit bureaus offer an opt-out phone number at 1-888-567-8688.
Security freezes and fraud alerts
You may place a security freeze on your credit report or use fraud alerts to help protect against identity theft and unauthorized new credit activity.
Damages and enforcement
If a reporting agency, report user, or information furnisher violates the FCRA, you may have the right to seek damages in state or federal court.
Additional protections
Identity theft victims, active duty military personnel, and consumers in certain states may have additional rights.
Federal Agency Contacts
The official CFPB summary includes agency contacts based on the type of business involved.
| Type of Business | Contact |
|---|---|
| Large banks, savings associations, credit unions, and certain affiliates | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552 |
| Other covered affiliates and many creditors not listed elsewhere | Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580 877-382-4357 |
| National banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches or agencies of foreign banks | Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Customer Assistance Group P.O. Box 53570, Houston, TX 77052 |
| State member banks and certain foreign bank branches or agencies | Federal Reserve Consumer Help Center P.O. Box 1200, Minneapolis, MN 55480 |
| Nonmember insured banks, insured state branches of foreign banks, and insured state savings associations | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation National Center for Consumer and Depositor Assistance 1100 Walnut Street, Box #11, Kansas City, MO 64106 |
| Federal credit unions | National Credit Union Administration Office of Consumer Financial Protection 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 |
| Air carriers | Department of Transportation Office of Aviation Consumer Protection 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 |
| Brokers and dealers | Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549 |
| Farm Credit System institutions | Farm Credit Administration 1501 Farm Credit Drive, McLean, VA 22102-5090 |