THE FEDERAL FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 comprises (Public Law 91-508) Title VI, sections 601 through 622.

The following are the major provisions of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970. Certain sections or subsections with more specific focus have not been included.


SYNOPSIS OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) covers all reporting on individuals as consumers, whether in connections with obtaining credit, insurance, or employment.  Credit or other reports on business firms, or the business activities of individuals, are specifically excluded from the coverage of the act.


The FCRA creates the following consumer rights:

(1)To be told the reasons for adverse action on an application for credit, insurance, or employment when a credit report was a factor, and to be given the name and address of the credit reporting agency.

(2)To be informed of the nature and substance of all information in one's credit file by the credit reporting agency.

(3)To have another person present at the credit reporting agency when one's file is discussed.

(4)To be told who has received credit reports during the preceding six months for credit or insurance purposes, and during the preceding two years for employment purposes.

(5)To have inaccurate or unverifiable information deleted from the file.

(6)To have the information in the file reinvestigated whenever its accuracy is disputed.

(7)To have the right to file a brief explanatory statement in connection with the disputed items, and to have that statement included in subsequent reports.

(8)To have the information in the file kept confidential and used only for legitimate business purposes.

(9)To have personal information in the file kept from governmental agencies unless otherwise ordered by a court.

(10)To be informed when adverse public record information is reported for employment purposes, or to have this information kept current.

(11)To have adverse information deleted from the file after seven years, or after ten years in the case of bankruptcy.

(12)To be informed of the scope and nature of investigative reports on one's personal life.

(13)To have adverse information contained in investigative reports reverified before it can be used again.

(14)To collect actual damages in civil actions against negligent credit reporting agencies, and punitive damages where the agency was willful in reporting inaccurate information.

Requirements for Consumer Reporting Agencies

Consumer reporting agency may furnish consumer reports only for permissible purposes including use in credit extensions or reviews and collections of accounts as well as responses to court orders or written consumer instruction; credit information must be current and accurate, and consumer can obtain contents of his file; agency must reinvestigate if information challenged, and disclose consumer's assertions if consumer supplies them; adverse information in investigative consumer reports must be reinvestigated every three months; government agencies can obtain only identifying information if request not for permissible purpose.


PROVISIONS OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT

Section 602. Findings and purpose

(b) It is the purpose of this title to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this title.

Section 603. Definitions and rules of construction

(b) The term "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity.

(c) The term "consumer" means an individual.

(d) The term "consumer report" means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer's eligibility for (1) credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, or (2) employment purposes, or (3) other purposes authorized under section 604....

(f) The term "consumer reporting agency" means any person which for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties, and which uses any means or facility of interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer reports.

(g) The term "file", when used in connection with information on any consumer, means all of the information on that consumer recorded retained by a consumer reporting agency regardless of how the information is stored.

Section 604. Permissible purposes of reports

A consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report under the following circumstances and no other:

(1) In response to the order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order.

(2) In accordance with the written instructions of the consumer to whom it relates.

(3) To a person which it has reason to believe--

(A) Intends to use the information in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer on whom the information is to be furnished and involving the extension of credit to, or review or collection of an account of the consumer; or

(B) Intends to use the information for employment purposes; or

(C) Intends to use the information in connection with the underwriting of insurance involving the consumer; or

(D) Intends to use the information in connection with a determination of the consumer's eligibility for a license or other benefit granted by a governmental instrumentality required by law to consider an applicant's financial responsibility or status; or

(E) Otherwise has a legitimate business need for the information in connection with a business transaction involving the consumer.

Section 605. Obsolete information

(a) Except as authorized under subsection (b), no consumer reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of information:

(1) Cases under Title 11 of the United States Code or under the Bankruptcy Act that, from the date of the entry of the order for relief or the date of adjudication, as the case may be, antedate the report by more than ten years.

(2) Suits and judgments which, from date of entry, antedate the report by more than seven years or until the governing statue of limitations has expired, whichever is the longer period.

(3) Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, antedate the report by more than seven years.

(4) Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which antedate the report by more than seven years.

(5) Records of arrest, indictment, or conviction of crime which, from date of disposition, release, or parole, antedate the report by more than seven years.

(6) Any other adverse item of information which antedates the report by more than seven years.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) are not applicable in the case of any consumer credit report to be used in connection with--

(1) A credit transaction involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a principal amount of $50,000 or more;

(2) The underwriting of life insurance involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a face amount of $50,000 or more; or

(3) The employment of any individual at an annual salary which equals, or which may reasonably be expected to equal $20,000, or more.

Section 607. Compliance procedures

(a) Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section 605 and to limit he furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section 604. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information shall be used for no other purpose.  Every consumer reporting agency shall be used for neither purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. NO consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section 604.

(b) Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates.

Section 609. Disclosures to consumers

(a) Every consumer reporting agency shall, upon request and proper identification of any consumer, clearly and accurately disclose to the consumer:

(1) The nature and substance of all information (except medical information) in its files on the consumer at the time of the request.

(2) The sources of the information (for regular consumer reports)....

(3) The recipients of any consumer report on the consumer which it has furnished--

(A) for employment purposes within the two-year period preceding the request, and

(B) for any other purpose within the six-month period preceding the request.

Section 610. Conditions of disclosure to consumers

(a) A consumer reporting agency shall make the disclosures required under section 609 during normal business hours and on reasonable notice.

(b) The disclosures required under section 609 shall be made to the consumer--

(1) In person if he appears in person and furnished proper identification; or

(2) By telephone if he has made a written request, with proper identification, for telephone disclosure and the toll charge, if any, for the telephone call is prepaid by or charged directly to the consumer.

(c) Any consumer reporting agency shall provide trained personnel to explain to the consumer any information furnished to him pursuant to section 609.

(d) The consumer shall be permitted to be accompanied by one other person of his choosing, who shall furnish reasonable identification. A consumer reporting agency may require the consumer to furnish a written statement granting permission to the consumer reporting agency to discuss the consumer's file in such person's presence.

(e) Except as provided in sections 616 and 617, no consumer may bring any action or proceeding in the nature of defamation, invasion of privacy, or negligence with respect to the reporting of information against any consumer reporting agency, any user of information, or any person who furnished information to a consumer reporting agency, based on information disclosed pursuant to section 609, 610, or 615, except as to false information furnished with malice or willful intent to injure such consumer.

Section 611. Procedure in case in disputed accuracy

(a) If the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in his file is disputed by consumer, and such dispute is directly conveyed to the consumer reporting agency by the consumer the consumer reporting agency shall within a reasonable period of time reinvestigate and record the current status of that information unless it has reasonable grounds to believe that the dispute by the consumer is frivolous or irrelevant.  If after such reinvestigation such information is found to be inaccurate or can no longer be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall promptly delete such information.  The presence of contradictory information in the consumer's file does not in and of itself constitute reasonable grounds for believing the dispute is frivolous or irrelevant.

(b) If the reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute, the consumer may file a brief statement setting forth the nature of the dispute. The consumer reporting agency may limit such statements to not more than one hundred words if it provides the consumer with assistance in writing a clear summary of the dispute.

(c) Whenever a statement of dispute is filed, unless there is reasonable grounds to believe that it is frivolous or irrelevant, the consumer reporting agency shall, in any subsequent consumer report containing the information in question, clearly note that it is disputed by the consumer and provide wither the consumer's statement or a clear and accurate codification or summary thereof.

(d) Following any deletion of information which is found to be inaccurate or whose accuracy can no longer be verified or any notation as to disputed information, the consumer reporting agency shall, at the request of the consumer, furnish notification that the item has been deleted or the statement, codification or summary pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) to any person specifically designated to the consumer who has within two years prior thereto received a consumer report for employment purposes, or within six months prior thereto received a consumer report for any other purpose, which contained the deleted or disputed information. The consumer reporting agency shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to the consumer his rights to make such a request. Such disclosure shall be made at or prior to the time the information is deleted or the consumer's statement regarding the disputed information is received.

Section 612. Charges for certain disclosures

A consumer reporting agency shall make all disclosures pursuant to section 609 and furnish all consumer reports pursuant to section 611(d) without charge tot he consumer if, within thirty days after receipt by such consumer of a notification pursuant to section 615 or notification from a debt collection agency affiliated with such consumer reporting agency may impose a reasonable charge on the consumer for making disclosure to such consumer pursuant to section 609, the charge for which shall be indicated to the consumer prior to making disclosure; and for furnishing notifications, statements, summaries, or codification to persons designated by the consumer pursuant to section 611(d), the charge for which shall be indicated to the consumer prior to furnishing such information and shall not exceed the charge that the consumer reporting agency would impose on each designated recipient for a consumer report, except that no charge may be made for notifying such persons of the deletion of information which is found to be inaccurate or which no longer be verified.

Section 615. Requirements on users of consumer reports

(a) Whenever credit or insurance for personal, family, or household purposes, or employment involving a consumer is denied or the charge for such credit or insurance is increased either wholly or partly because of information contained in a consumer report from a consumer reporting agency, the user of the consumer report shall so advise the consumer against whom such adverse action has been taken and supply the name and address of the consumer reporting agency making the report.

(b) Whenever credit for personal, family, or household purposes involving a consumer is denied or the charge for such credit is increased either wholly or partly because of information obtained from a person other than a consumer reporting agency bearing upon consumer's credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, or mode of living, the user of such information shall, within a reasonable period of time, upon the consumer's written request for the reasons for such adverse action received within sixty days after learning of such adverse action, disclose the nature of the information to the consumer. The user of such information shall clearly and accurately disclose to the consumer has right to make such written request at the time such adverse action is communicated to the consumer.

(c) No person shall be held liable for any violation of this section if he shows by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the alleged violation he maintained reasonable procedures to assure compliance with the provisions of subsections (a) and (b).

Section 616. Civil liability for willful noncompliance

Any consumer reporting agency or user of information which willfully fails to comply with any requirement imposed under this title with respect to any consumer is liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of--

(1) Any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure;

(2) Such amount of punitive damages as the court may allow; and

(3) In the case of any successful action to enforce any liability under this section, the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney's fees as determined by the court.

Section 617. Civil liability for negligent noncompliance

Any consumer reporting agency or user of information which is negligent in failing to comply with any requirement imposed under this title with respect to any consumer is liable to that consumer in an amount equal to the sum of--

(1) Any actual damages sustained by the consumer as a result of the failure;

(2) In the case of any successful action to enforce any liability under this section, the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney's fees as determined by the court.

Section 618. Jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions

An action to enforce any liability created under this title may be brought in any appropriate United States district court without regard to the amount in controversy, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, within two years from the date on which the liability arises, except that where a defendant has materially and willfully misrepresented any information required under this title to be disclosed to an individual and the information so misrepresented is mater to the establishment of the defendant's liability to that individual under this title, the action may be brought at any time within two years after discovery by the individual of the misrepresentation.

Section 619. Obtaining information under false pretenses

Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Section 620. Unauthorized disclosures by officers or employees

Any officer or employee of a consumer reporting agency who knowingly and willfully provides information concerning an individual from the agency's files to a person not authorized to receive that information shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Section 621. Administrative enforcement

(a) Compliance with requirements imposed under this title shall be enforced under the Federal Trade Commission Act by the Federal Trade Commission with respect to consumer reporting agencies and all other persons subject thereto, except to the extent that enforcement of the requirements imposed under this title is specifically committed to some other government agency under subsection (b) hereof....Any person violating any of the provisions of this title shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act as though the applicable terms and provision thereof were part of this title.

(b) Compliance with the requirements imposed under this title with respect to consumer reporting agencies and persons who use consumer reports from such agencies shall be enforced under--

(1) Section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, in the case of:

(A) National banks, by the Comptroller of the Currency;

(B) Member banks of the Federal Reserve System (other than national banks), by the Federal Reserve Board; and

(C) Banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (other than members of the Federal Reserve System), by the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance System.

(2) Section 5(d) of the Home Owners Loan Act of 1933, section 407 of the National Housing Act, and sections 6(i) and 17 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (acting directly or through the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation), in the case of any institution subject to any of those provisions;

(3) The Federal Credit Union Act, by the Administrator of the National Credit Union Administration with respect to any Federal credit union;

(4) The Acts to regulate commerce, by the Interstate Commerce Commission with respect to any common carrier subject to those Acts;

(5) The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 by the Civil Aeronautics Board with respect to any air carrier or foreign air carrier subject to that Act; and

(6) The Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (except as provided in section 406 of that Act), by the Secretary of Agriculture with respect to any activities subject to that Act.

Section 622. Relation to state laws

This title does not annul, alter, affect, or exempt any person subject to the provisions of this title complying with he laws of any State with respect to the collection, distribution, or use of any information on consumers, except tot eh extent that those laws are inconsistent with any provision of this title, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency.