ABA Family Legal Guide

Consumer Credit

Credit Records

Checking Your Credit Record

What does the law allow me to do if the credit bureau will not cooperate?

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may bring a lawsuit against any credit bureau or credit grantor who violates any provisions of the act. This includes any credit reporting agency that fails to observe the restrictions about who may access your credit file and any credit bureau that does not properly reinvestigate and correct inaccurate data in your file that you have disputed. However, if the agency has followed reasonable procedures, it has obeyed the law. If you win the lawsuit, you deserve to receive actual damages (which might include damages for emotional distress or lost wages for a job you did not get), as well as punitive damages if you prove the violation was intentional. If you are successful, you also will receive court costs and a reasonable amount for lawyer's fees.