The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the federal law that governs credit reports in the United States. It controls who can see your report, how accurate it must be, how long negative information can stay, and what happens when you say something is wrong. Almost everything a legitimate credit service does rests on rights the FCRA already gives you for free.
This guide walks through those rights in plain English, with links to the statute itself. It's general education, not legal advice; CreditGod is not a law firm.
Key takeaways
- You can see what's in your file, free, from each nationwide bureau, and weekly access is now permanent.
- You can dispute inaccurate or incomplete information, generally for free, and the bureau must investigate, usually within 30 days.
- Furnishers (the companies that report to bureaus) have their own duties to report accurately and investigate.
- Most negative information can't be reported after 7 years; most bankruptcies after 10.
- You can freeze your credit for free, place fraud alerts, and block information that resulted from identity theft.
- If a bureau or furnisher violates the FCRA, you may be able to sue for damages. Many states add more protections.
What the FCRA is
The FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681 and following) was enacted in 1970 and has been amended many times since. It applies to consumer reporting agencies (including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), to the companies that furnish information to them (lenders, card issuers, collectors), and to the people who use reports (lenders, landlords, employers, insurers).
The CFPB and FTC share enforcement, and the CFPB publishes an official Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA. Consumer reporting agencies must give it to you with your file disclosures.
Your core rights at a glance
| Right | What it means | Where in the law |
|---|---|---|
| Know what's in your file | Each bureau must disclose the information in your file when you ask, with proper identification. | § 609 (1681g) |
| Free reports | Free annual reports by law; the nationwide bureaus now offer free weekly reports permanently. | § 612; FTC |
| Dispute inaccurate or incomplete information | The bureau must investigate, generally within 30 days, and fix or delete what's inaccurate or unverifiable. | § 611 (1681i) |
| Accurate reporting by furnishers | Furnishers can't knowingly report inaccurate information and must investigate disputes. | § 623 (1681s-2) |
| Outdated information removed | Most negative items: 7 years. Most bankruptcies: 10 years. | § 605 (1681c) |
| Limited access | Only people with a permissible purpose can get your report; employers need your written consent. | § 604 (1681b) |
| Be told when a report is used against you | If you're denied or offered worse terms based on your report, you must be told and can get a free copy. | § 615 (1681m) |
| Fraud alerts and free freezes | Place fraud alerts and security freezes at no cost. | § 605A (1681c-1) |
| Identity theft blocks | Bureaus must block information resulting from identity theft once you provide the required documents. | § 605B (1681c-2) |
| Seek damages | You may sue in state or federal court for violations. | §§ 616-617 |
The right to see your file
You're entitled to a disclosure of the information in your file, the sources of that information (in most cases), and who has requested your report recently. Get your reports from all three nationwide bureaus free at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only site authorized by federal law to fill free annual report orders. Beware of look-alike sites.
You're also entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you based on your report (you must ask within 60 days), if you're unemployed and plan to seek work within 60 days, if you're on public assistance, or if you believe your file is inaccurate because of fraud. Reading your report well is its own skill; see how to read your credit report.
The right to dispute
This is the right most people care about. If you dispute the completeness or accuracy of information in your file, the bureau must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation, free of charge, and record the current status or delete the item (15 U.S.C. § 1681i).
- Timing: generally within 30 days of receiving your dispute; up to 45 in some cases. Details and the full clock are in how credit disputes work.
- Notice to the furnisher: within 5 business days, the bureau must pass your dispute and all relevant information you provided to the company that reported it.
- Unverifiable means removed: if information is inaccurate, incomplete, or can't be verified, it must be deleted or modified.
- Results in writing: within 5 business days after completing the investigation, plus a free updated report if anything changed.
- Reinsertion rules: a deleted item can only come back if the furnisher certifies it's complete and accurate, and the bureau must notify you.
- Frivolous disputes: a bureau may decline a dispute it reasonably determines is frivolous or irrelevant (for example, lacking enough information), but it must tell you why within 5 business days.
- Your statement: if a dispute doesn't resolve it, you can add a brief statement to your file.
You can also dispute directly with the furnisher in many situations; see how to dispute with a furnisher. The step-by-step filing process is in our pillar guide: how to dispute credit report errors.
Disputing is free, and you can do it yourself directly with each bureau. A paid service can help organize and track the work, but it can't do anything legally that you can't.
- Day0You fileOnline, by mail, or by phone.
- Day5Furnisher notifiedWithin 5 business days.
- Day30Investigation dueThe general deadline.
- Day45Extended deadlineIf you add info mid-dispute, or after a free annual report.
Timelines from the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681i. Business days and edge cases vary.
What furnishers must do
Section 623 (1681s-2) puts duties on the companies that report to bureaus. They must not furnish information they know or have reasonable cause to believe is inaccurate, must correct information they learn is incomplete or inaccurate, must note when you dispute an item with them, and must investigate disputes forwarded by a bureau and report the results. Under Regulation V (12 CFR 1022.43), you can also dispute certain information directly with the furnisher.
How long information can be reported
Section 605 (1681c) sets the time limits:
| Item | General reporting limit |
|---|---|
| Late payments, charge-offs, collections | 7 years. For collections and charge-offs, the clock starts 180 days after the original delinquency. |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | Up to 10 years from the date of the order for relief or adjudication |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | Bureaus generally remove completed Chapter 13 cases after 7 years by policy; the law allows up to 10. |
| Hard inquiries | Typically about 2 years by bureau practice |
| Positive accounts | No federal limit; closed accounts in good standing often stay about 10 years by bureau practice |
There are exceptions for some large credit, insurance, or employment transactions. Paying a debt doesn't restart the reporting clock. More detail: how long negative items stay.
Who can see your report
A bureau can only provide your report to someone with a permissible purpose under § 604 (1681b), such as a creditor reviewing your application or account, an insurer underwriting a policy, or a landlord evaluating a rental application you submitted. Employers need your written permission. You can also opt out of prescreened credit and insurance offers for 5 years or permanently through the official site, OptOutPrescreen.com.
When a report is used against you
If a lender, landlord, insurer, or employer takes adverse action based on information in your report, such as a denial or worse terms, § 615 (1681m) requires them to tell you, give you the name and contact details of the bureau that supplied the report, and tell you about your right to a free copy and to dispute. Lenders that offer you worse terms than other consumers based on your report may owe you a risk-based pricing notice. These notices are a good prompt to check your reports.
Fraud alerts, freezes, and identity theft blocks
- Security freezes are free at each nationwide bureau and stop most new creditors from accessing your report until you lift the freeze. Compare options in credit freeze vs. credit lock.
- Initial fraud alerts last one year and require businesses to take reasonable steps to verify your identity before opening credit. Contact one bureau; it must tell the other two.
- Extended fraud alerts last seven years for identity theft victims who provide an identity theft report.
- Active duty alerts are available to service members on active duty.
- Identity theft blocks under § 605B (1681c-2) require a bureau to block information resulting from identity theft within 4 business days after you provide proof of identity, an identity theft report, the items to block, and a statement that they aren't yours.
If you're dealing with fraud now, start with what to do after identity theft and the broader identity theft protection guide.
If your rights are violated
- 1Keep records of every dispute, letter, confirmation number, and response.
- 2Escalate in writing to the bureau or furnisher with specifics and evidence.
- 3File a complaint with the CFPB. Companies generally respond, and complaints help regulators spot patterns.
- 4Talk to a lawyer about your options if a company won't correct an error. Under §§ 616 and 617, you may be able to recover actual damages, and statutory and punitive damages for willful violations, plus attorney's fees. Many consumer attorneys handle FCRA cases.
- 5Check state law. Many states have their own credit reporting protections.
Prefer help with the legwork? CreditGod reads all three reports, flags items that may be inaccurate, and drafts disputes for your approval. You can always dispute for free on your own.
Frequently asked questions
What does the FCRA protect?
It governs how consumer reporting agencies collect, share, and correct information about you; what furnishers must do; who can access your report; how long negative information can stay; and your rights to see, dispute, freeze, and block information.
Does it cost money to dispute under the FCRA?
No. Bureaus must investigate disputes free of charge, and you can file them yourself online or by mail.
How long does a bureau have to investigate a dispute?
Generally 30 days from receiving it, extendable to 45 days in some cases, such as when you send additional relevant information during the investigation.
Can accurate negative information be removed under the FCRA?
Generally no. The FCRA requires accuracy, not removal of accurate information. Accurate negative items can be reported for the legal time limits, usually 7 years.
Can I sue a credit bureau?
The FCRA lets consumers sue bureaus, furnishers, and users of reports for violations and recover damages and attorney's fees in some cases. Talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.
Is a section 609 letter a special way to delete items?
No. Section 609 gives you the right to see your file. It isn't a deletion tool. See our guide to 609 and 611 letters for what the law actually says.
Sources and further reading
- CFPB: A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (PDF)
- FTC: Fair Credit Reporting Act (full text)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681i (FCRA § 611): Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681g (FCRA § 609): Disclosures to consumers
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2 (FCRA § 623): Responsibilities of furnishers
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c (FCRA § 605): Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681b (FCRA § 604): Permissible purposes of consumer reports
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681m (FCRA § 615): Requirements on users of consumer reports (adverse action)
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1 (FCRA § 605A): Fraud alerts and security freezes
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2 (FCRA § 605B): Block of information resulting from identity theft
- CFPB: Regulation V § 1022.43, direct disputes with furnishers
- FTC: You now have permanent access to free weekly credit reports
- AnnualCreditReport.com (official free reports)
- CFPB: Submit a complaint
This guide is general educational information, not legal or financial advice, and CreditGod is not a law firm. You can dispute inaccurate information with the credit bureaus yourself, for free. Only inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information can be disputed; results vary. Rules change, so check the CFPB, FTC, or a qualified professional about your situation. Read our editorial standards.