Credit education
What are my rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The FCRA gives you the right to see what is in your file, to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information and have it reasonably investigated, to have unverifiable information removed, to have most negative information removed after seven years, to block identity theft information, to know when a report was used against you, and to sue for violations.
Consumer law
A federal law that applies in every state
The FCRA governs Equifax, Experian, TransUnion, and every company that reports to them.
Many states add further protections on top of it.
The short answer
The FCRA gives you the right to see what is in your file, to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information and have it reasonably investigated, to have unverifiable information removed, to have most negative information removed after seven years, to block identity theft information, to know when a report was used against you, and to sue for violations.
Your core rights
The Federal Trade Commission and CFPB publish a Summary of Your Rights under the FCRA. The most important are listed here.
- Access to your file and free reports
- Dispute of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Reasonable reinvestigation within the statutory period
- Removal of unverifiable information
- Reporting time limits on negative information
- Identity theft blocks and fraud alerts
- Notice of adverse action based on a report
- Damages and attorney fees for violations
Can a credit bureau report incorrect information?
Bureaus must follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy under section 1681e(b). Errors still occur, and when a bureau or furnisher fails to correct them after a proper dispute, the statute provides remedies.
Common questions
Can I sue a credit bureau?
Yes. The FCRA allows consumers to sue bureaus and furnishers for negligent or willful violations. Whether a particular situation supports a claim requires review by an attorney.
Primary sources referenced on this page
Continue reading
Your rights under the FCRA
What the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires of bureaus and the companies that report to them.
FCRA attorney
How attorney advocacy fits into credit reporting disputes.
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