How to report an FCRA violation

You can report a credit bureau, lender, or background check company to federal and state regulators for free. It can get a stuck dispute moving. It won't, by itself, get you compensated. Here's what each option does.

First: make sure you've disputed in writing

Regulators and courts both look at what you asked for and what the company did about it. Before you file a complaint, send a written dispute to the credit bureau that's reporting the error, explaining exactly what's wrong and including copies of your proof. Keep copies and mailing receipts.

If you disputed only with the lender, the lender's strongest legal duties haven't been triggered yet. Those start when the bureau forwards your dispute to the lender.

Where to report

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB is usually the most effective place to start. You file online at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, the company is asked to respond, and you can see and reply to what it says. Complaints often get a stalled dispute a real second look.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC doesn't resolve individual complaints, but it uses them to spot patterns and bring enforcement actions. For identity theft, use IdentityTheft.gov, which also generates the identity theft report you need to have fraudulent accounts blocked.

Your state attorney general

Most state attorneys general take consumer complaints about credit reporting and debt collection. In Texas, that's the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

What to put in the complaint

Who. The bureau and the company reporting the item, with the account name as it appears on your report.
What's wrong. One or two sentences: "This account is not mine," "This was paid in full on [date]," "This is older than seven years."
What you already did. Dates you disputed, how you sent it, and what came back.
What you want. Deletion, correction, or a description of how they verified it.
Attachments. Your dispute letter, their response, and your proof. Black out account and Social Security numbers except the last four digits.

A complaint isn't a claim

Regulators can pressure a company and penalize patterns of misconduct, but they don't award damages to individual consumers. If an error cost you money, a loan, a job, or an apartment, the FCRA lets you sue, and it has deadlines. See FCRA damages and deadlines.

Three ways to get this fixed

Everything on this site you can do yourself, for free. If you'd rather have help, pick the path that fits.

Have it handled for you

BCR Consulting prepares and sends disputes on your behalf and tracks every deadline.

See BCR Consulting

Do it yourself, with software

The Deletion Machine walks you through disputes step by step and keeps your paper trail organized.

See The Deletion Machine

Talk to a consumer attorney

If a violation cost you a loan, a job, or an apartment, or it keeps happening, a consumer attorney can tell you what the claim is worth.

Find an attorney (NACA)