This page contains a summary of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. The FCRA gives you specific rights in dealing with consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) — the companies that compile and sell credit reports. This is a federally mandated disclosure required for all credit repair organizations.
You Must Be Told If Information Has Been Used Against You
Anyone who uses a credit report or another type of consumer report to deny your application for credit, insurance, or employment — or to take another adverse action against you — must tell you, and must give you the name, address, and phone number of the agency that provided the information.
Section 02Your Core Rights Under the FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives every American consumer the following rights with respect to their credit file and consumer reports:
Right to Know What's in Your File
You have the right to know what information is in your file at any consumer reporting agency at any time.
Right to Know Your Credit Score
You have the right to ask for your credit score. Consumer reporting agencies may charge a reasonable fee.
Right to Dispute Inaccurate Information
If you identify information in your file that is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to dispute it.
Right to Remove Outdated Information
In most cases, a CRA may not report negative information that is more than 7 years old (10 years for bankruptcy).
Right to Limit Prescreened Offers
You may opt out of unsolicited credit and insurance offers based on information in your credit file.
Right to Seek Damages
If a CRA or user of consumer reports violates the FCRA, you may seek damages in state or federal court.
Right to Place a Security Freeze
You have the right to place a security freeze on your credit file to prevent new credit from being opened in your name.
Identity Theft Protections
If you are a victim of identity theft, you have additional rights including blocking fraudulent information from appearing on your report.
Your Free Annual Credit Report
You have the right to receive one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major consumer reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — by visiting the official federally authorized source:
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AnnualCreditReport.com — The only federally authorized source for free credit reports from all three bureaus. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
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Equifax — P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 | (800) 685-1111 | equifax.com
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Experian — P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013 | (888) 397-3742 | experian.com
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TransUnion — P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 | (800) 916-8800 | transunion.com
Your Right to Dispute Inaccurate or Incomplete Information
Under the FCRA, both the consumer reporting agency and the information provider (i.e., the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to a CRA) are responsible for correcting inaccurate or incomplete information in your report.
To take advantage of all your rights under this law, contact the consumer reporting agency and the information provider directly. The process works as follows:
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Tell the CRA in writing what information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Include copies (not originals) of documents that support your position. The CRA must investigate your dispute within 30 days unless it considers your dispute frivolous.
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The CRA must forward all relevant information you provide about the dispute to the information provider. After the information provider receives notice of the dispute from a CRA, it must investigate and report the results back to the CRA.
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If the information is inaccurate or cannot be verified, the information provider must notify all nationwide CRAs to correct your file. Disputed information that cannot be verified must be deleted from your file.
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You may also add a statement (up to 100 words) to your credit file explaining any dispute that was investigated but not resolved to your satisfaction.
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If your dispute results in a change to your report, the CRA cannot reinsert into your file a disputed item unless the information provider certifies that it is accurate and complete. The CRA must also notify you in writing within 5 days of reinserting the item.
How Long Can Negative Information Remain on Your Report?
Under the FCRA, most negative information can only appear on your credit report for a limited period of time:
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Bankruptcy (Chapter 7) — Up to 10 years from the date of filing
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Bankruptcy (Chapter 13) — Up to 7 years from the date of filing
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Collections, Charge-Offs, Late Payments — Up to 7 years from the date of the first delinquency
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Judgments & Civil Suits — Up to 7 years or until the statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer
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Positive Information — Can remain on your report indefinitely and generally helps your credit profile
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Hard Inquiries — Up to 2 years from the date of the inquiry
Your Rights Regarding Credit Repair Organizations
Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA), credit repair companies are prohibited from taking certain actions and you have specific rights when working with them. These protections include:
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A credit repair organization cannot charge you any fees before the promised services have been fully performed.
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You have the right to cancel your contract with any credit repair organization within 3 business days without any penalty or obligation.
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Credit repair organizations must give you a copy of the "Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law" before you sign a contract — this document fulfills that requirement.
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All contracts with credit repair organizations must be in writing and must specify the services to be performed, the timeframe, total cost, and any guarantees.
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Credit repair organizations cannot make false claims about their services or your legal rights, or advise you to make untrue or misleading statements to a CRA.
Important Notice from 850 FICO Club
850 FICO Club provides credit education, credit report analysis, and dispute assistance guidance. We do not guarantee the removal of accurate information or specific credit score increases. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information directly with consumer reporting agencies at no cost.
No one — including 850 FICO Club — can legally remove accurate, timely negative information from a credit report. If you have questions about your rights or our services, please contact us directly.
Book a Free ConsultationWhere to File a Complaint
If you believe a consumer reporting agency or information provider has violated the FCRA, you may file a complaint with the following agencies:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552 | 1-855-411-2372 | consumerfinance.gov
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580 | 1-877-382-4357 | ftc.gov
- Your State Attorney General's Office Many states have additional consumer protection laws. Contact your state attorney general's office for state-specific rights and remedies.
This notice is provided in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Repair Organizations Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1679 et seq., and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. 850 FICO Club provides this disclosure as a federally required notice to all prospective clients. The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Results of credit repair services vary by individual and no specific outcome is guaranteed.