CRA reinvestigation
A consumer reporting agency generally must complete the reinvestigation within 30 days after receiving the dispute.
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1)Fair Credit Reporting Act
Select any section to read the current official text. The briefing beside each citation is a short educational orientation only; applicability, exceptions, dates, and remedies must be confirmed in the linked source and with qualified counsel when needed.
Scope at a glance
- Consumer reporting agencies, including nationwide and specialty reporting companies
- Companies that furnish information to reporting agencies
- Businesses and others that use consumer reports
- Consumers requesting files, disputing information, or using identity-theft protections
Key protections
- Access to specified file disclosures and consumer reports
- A reasonable reinvestigation process for disputed completeness or accuracy
- Limits on permissible purposes for obtaining consumer reports
- Duties for users and furnishers, plus fraud-alert, identity-theft-block, and disposal provisions
Start an evidence-based credit-report dispute
Dispute only information you genuinely believe is inaccurate or incomplete. Be specific and keep proof of everything submitted.
- 01
Get the relevant report and identify the reporting company, report number, account, field, and date at issue.
- 02
Compare the entry with reliable records and write a short factual explanation of what is wrong and what correction you request.
- 03
Send the dispute to the consumer reporting company and consider disputing directly with the company that furnished the information.
- 04
Include copies—not originals—of supporting records and retain the complete submission plus delivery proof.
- 05
Track the investigation deadline, review the written results and updated report, and preserve any reinsertion or frivolous-dispute notice.
- 06
If the problem remains, consider a CFPB complaint or legal advice; do not repeatedly submit the same unsupported dispute.
Timeline reference
Possible extension
The period may be extended when relevant additional information is received during the initial period, subject to the statute.
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(1)Notice to furnisher
The agency generally must notify the person that furnished the disputed information within five business days after receiving the dispute.
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(2)Results notice
The agency must provide written notice of the results within five business days after completing the reinvestigation.
15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(6)Read before acting
Important information
- Accurate, current negative information is not automatically removable.
- A reporting agency may treat a dispute as frivolous or irrelevant under the statutory standard and must provide notice.
- Identity-theft blocking under § 1681c-2 is a distinct process and should never be used for a false identity-theft claim.
- FDCPA debt-validation rights are separate from an FCRA credit-report dispute.
Related regulations
Regulation V — 12 CFR Part 1022→Official help
CFPB — How to dispute an error↗AnnualCreditReport.com↗IdentityTheft.gov↗Subchapter III
§§ 1681–1681xAll sections
15 U.S.C. § 1681
Congressional findings and statement of purpose
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning congressional findings and statement of purpose. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681a
Definitions; rules of construction
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning definitions; rules of construction. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681a at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681b
Permissible purposes of consumer reports
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning permissible purposes of consumer reports. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681b at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681c
Requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning requirements relating to information contained in consumer reports. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681c at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1
Identity theft prevention; fraud alerts and active duty alerts
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning identity theft prevention; fraud alerts and active duty alerts. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2
Block of information resulting from identity theft
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning block of information resulting from identity theft. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681c-3
Adverse information in cases of trafficking
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning adverse information in cases of trafficking. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681c-3 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681d
Disclosure of investigative consumer reports
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning disclosure of investigative consumer reports. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681d at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681e
Compliance procedures
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning compliance procedures. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681e at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681f
Disclosures to governmental agencies
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning disclosures to governmental agencies. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681f at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681g
Disclosures to consumers
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning disclosures to consumers. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681g at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681h
Conditions and form of disclosure to consumers
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning conditions and form of disclosure to consumers. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681h at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681i
Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning procedure in case of disputed accuracy. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681i at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681j
Charges for certain disclosures
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning charges for certain disclosures. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681j at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681k
Public record information for employment purposes
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning public record information for employment purposes. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681k at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681l
Restrictions on investigative consumer reports
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning restrictions on investigative consumer reports. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681l at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681m
Requirements on users of consumer reports
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning requirements on users of consumer reports. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681m at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681n
Civil liability for willful noncompliance
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning civil liability for willful noncompliance. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681n at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681o
Civil liability for negligent noncompliance
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning civil liability for negligent noncompliance. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681o at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681p
Jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning jurisdiction of courts; limitation of actions. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681p at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681q
Obtaining information under false pretenses
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning obtaining information under false pretenses. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681q at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681r
Unauthorized disclosures by officers or employees
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning unauthorized disclosures by officers or employees. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681r at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681s
Administrative enforcement
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning administrative enforcement. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681s at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681s-1
Information on overdue child support obligations
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning information on overdue child support obligations. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-1 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2
Responsibilities of furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning responsibilities of furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681s-3
Affiliate sharing
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning affiliate sharing. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-3 at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681t
Relation to State laws
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning relation to State laws. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681t at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681u
Disclosures to FBI for counterintelligence purposes
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning disclosures to FBI for counterintelligence purposes. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681u at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681v
Disclosures to governmental agencies for counterterrorism purposes
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning disclosures to governmental agencies for counterterrorism purposes. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681v at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681w
Disposal of records
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning disposal of records. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681w at the official U.S. Code ↗15 U.S.C. § 1681x
Corporate and technological circumvention prohibited
Provides the federal statutory framework concerning corporate and technological circumvention prohibited. Open the official U.S. Code text for the operative language, definitions, exceptions, and amendments.
Read 15 U.S.C. § 1681x at the official U.S. Code ↗