FCRA Consumer Rights

Para información en español, visite
www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore
o escriba a:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
1700 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20552

A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) promotes the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information in the files of consumer reporting agencies.

There are many types of consumer reporting agencies, including credit bureaus and specialty agencies (such as agencies that sell information about check writing histories, medical records, and rental history records).

This is a summary of your major rights under the FCRA. For more information, including additional rights, visit
www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore
or write to:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
1700 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20552

Your Rights Under the FCRA

1. Right to Be Informed of Adverse Action

You must be told if information in your file has been used against you. Anyone who uses a credit report or another type of consumer report to deny your application for credit, insurance, or employment—or to take another adverse action—must tell you and provide the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting agency that supplied the information.

2. Right to Know What Is in Your File

You may request and obtain all information about you in the files of a consumer reporting agency (“file disclosure”). Proper identification may be required, including your Social Security number. In many cases, the disclosure is free.

You are entitled to a free file disclosure if:

  • Adverse action has been taken against you based on your credit report
  • You are a victim of identity theft, and place a fraud alert in your file
  • Your file contains inaccurate information due to fraud
  • You are on public assistance
  • You are unemployed but expect to apply for employment within 60 days

In addition, all consumers are entitled to one free disclosure every 12 months from each nationwide credit bureau and nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency.

3. Right to Request a Credit Score

Credit scores are numerical summaries of your creditworthiness. You may request a credit score from consumer reporting agencies that create or distribute scores used in residential real property loans, though a fee may apply. In some mortgage transactions, lenders provide credit scores for free.

4. Right to Dispute Incomplete or Inaccurate Information

If you identify incomplete or inaccurate information in your file and report it to the consumer reporting agency, the agency must investigate unless the dispute is frivolous.

5. Right to Correction or Deletion of Inaccurate Information

Consumer reporting agencies must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information, usually within 30 days. Verified information may continue to be reported.

6. Limits on Reporting Outdated Negative Information

In most cases, negative information older than seven years—or bankruptcies older than ten years—may not be reported.

7. Limited Access to Your File

Consumer reporting agencies may only provide your information to persons with a valid need, such as creditors, insurers, employers, landlords, or other businesses authorized under the FCRA.

8. Consent Required for Employer Reports

A consumer reporting agency may not provide information to an employer or potential employer without your written consent. Written consent is generally not required in the trucking industry.

9. Right to Limit Prescreened Offers

You may limit unsolicited prescreened offers of credit and insurance. These offers must include a toll-free number for opting out. You may opt out by calling
1-888-567-8688.

Security Freeze and Fraud Alerts

Consumers Have the Right to Obtain a Security Freeze

You may place a security freeze on your credit report, preventing the release of your information without express authorization. This helps prevent unauthorized credit approvals but may delay legitimate credit applications.

Fraud Alerts

  • Initial Fraud Alert: Free, lasts 1 year
  • Extended Fraud Alert: For identity theft victims, lasts 7 years

Security Freeze Exceptions

A security freeze does not apply to entities with which you already have an account when accessing your report for account review, maintenance, monitoring, credit line increases, or upgrades.

10. Right to Seek Damages

If a consumer reporting agency, information furnisher, or user of consumer reports violates the FCRA, you may sue in state or federal court.

11. Additional Rights

Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have additional protections.
States may also enforce the FCRA and may provide additional rights under state law.

Contact Information for Federal Rights Enforcement

Banks, savings associations, and credit unions (assets over $10B)

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
1700 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20552

Affiliates not listed above

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580
(877) 382-4357

National banks, federal savings associations, and foreign bank branches

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Customer Assistance Group
P.O. Box 53570
Houston, TX 77052

State member banks and certain foreign banks

Federal Reserve Consumer Help Center
P.O. Box 1200
Minneapolis, MN 55480

Nonmember insured banks and state savings associations

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection
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

Surface Transportation Board Creditors

Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20423

Packers and Stockyards Act Creditors

Nearest Packers and Stockyards Division Regional Office

Small Business Investment Companies

U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of Capital Access
409 Third Street SW, Suite 8200
Washington, DC 20416

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

Retailers, Finance Companies, and All Other Creditors

Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20580
(877) 382-4357

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