Disclosure of Your Credit Information Under the FCRA – Understanding Your Rights

Consumer information is personal and sensitive. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) provides consumers with rights that must be respected by consumer reporting agencies and other furnishers of information. These consumer rights help ensure your personal credit and consumer information is not obtained or used without your consent. If you have a basic understanding of your rights under the FCRA, you will be in a better position to protect yourself if your information is ever obtained or used in an unauthorized manner.

What are your rights?

Your rights under the FCRA include, but may not be limited to, the following:

  • You must be informed if any information in your credit or consumer report was used against you in any way. This is called “adverse action” and the party or entity (such as a prospective employer or landlord) must provide you with notice of the adverse action as well as the name and address of the reporting agency that generated the credit or consumer report.
  • You are entitled to see the information contained in your credit report. Every person can receive one free copy of his or her credit report from each of the main credit reporting bureaus once per year (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax). There are other situations in which you may be able to obtain a copy of your credit report free of charge. Such situations include, but are not limited to, when you are denied credit, when your identity has been stolen, and when your credit report contains inaccurate information that is the result of fraud.
  • You have a right to obtain your credit score, but you may be charged for it.
  • You can dispute incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated information on your credit or consumer report.
  • Credit bureaus and other consumer reporting agencies must correct any errors on your reports, and must do so within thirty (30) days after it has been verified that certain information in your credit or consumer report is, in fact, erroneous.
  • In many circumstances, your credit and consumer reports cannot be obtained or used without your consent and can only be used for limited purposes, such as applying for a credit card or loan, seeking employment, or trying to rent an apartment or home.
  • You may be able to take legal action if your rights were violated under the FCRA.

Contact The Kim Law Firm, LLC Today to Speak with a Consumer Protection Attorney

If you believe your consumer rights under the FCRA have been violated, it is crucial to discuss the situation with a qualified Consumer Protection and FCRA Attorney. Contact The Kim Law Firm, LLC today by calling 855-996-6342 to schedule an initial consultation to speak with one of our attorneys.