Your Rights Under FCRA
The Fair Credit Reporting Act has several important provisions that protect the rights of consumers. The act:
- Imposes a duty on credit bureaus and those who provide information to credit bureaus to include accurate information on credit reports
- Requires credit bureaus to investigate and correct inaccurate credit information
- Requires credit bureaus to provide a free credit report once a year, on request
- Protects victims of identity theft by requiring credit bureaus to remove inaccurate information resulting from the theft
If a credit bureau places information on a report it knows to be inaccurate, a consumer can claim up to $1,000 for each willful violation, plus attorney fees and legal costs. People who have suffered actual financial losses can claim the full amount of those losses, and in some cases, punitive damages can be awarded.