Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) began accepting consumer complaints about credit reporting, giving consumers individual-level complaint assistance for the first time at the federal level. <P/>Credit reporting companies exert great influence over the lives of consumers. They help determine eligibility for loans, housing, and sometimes jobs, said CFPB XXXX XXXX XXXX. Consumers need an avenue of recourse when they feel they have been wronged. <P/>Consumer reporting agencies, which include what are popularly called credit bureaus or credit reporting companies, are private businesses that track a consumers credit history and other consumer transactions. The credit reports they generate and the three-digit credit scores that are based on those reports play an increasingly important role in the lives of American consumers. <P/>The largest credit reporting companies issue more than 3 billion consumer reports a year and maintain files on more than 200 million Americans. The consequences of errors in a consumer report can be catastrophic for a consumer, shutting him or her out of credit markets, jeopardizing employment prospects, or significantly increasing the cost of housing. <P/>Although a small number of large businesses dominate the credit reporting market, there are many consumer reporting agencies in the United States. The market includes : the three largest credit reporting companies that sell comprehensive consumer reports ; consumer report resellers that repackage information they buy from the largest companies ; and specialty consumer reporting companies that primarily collect and provide specific types of information like on payday loans or checking accounts. <P/>For consumers who believe that there is incorrect information on their credit reports or who have an issue with an investigation, before filing with the CFPB, they should first file a dispute and get a response from the consumer reporting agency itself. There are important consumer rights guaranteed by federal consumer financial law that may be best preserved by first going through the credit reporting companys complaint process. Once that process is complete, if the consumer is dissatisfied with the resolution or if the consumer reporting agency does not respond, the CFPB is available to assist. <P/>A consumer can come to the CFPB if he or she, for example, has issues with : Incorrect information on a credit report ; A consumer reporting agencys investigation ; The improper use of a credit report by Experian and request being unable to get a copy of a credit score or file. Previously, I had problems with credit monitoring or identify protection services. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, Please be advised my first name is incorrect with Experian and should be corrected. I understand the CFPB began taking credit card complaints when it launched on XX/XX/XXXX. Since then, it has expanded to take complaints on mortgages, bank accounts and services, consumer loans, and private student loans. <P/>Please be advised I reported all of the above issues, I requested to lift a freeze on XX/XX/XXXX, from my credit reports and requested tracking information after submitting a complaint with the Membership Department and Dispute Department. Also, I requested the remove freeze on line by several Consumer Services Representatives by logging on to the website. Additionally, I was requested to fax the information. After faxing the information I contact Experian to verify receipt. It took approximately 4 hours and I will like to filed a complaint regarding the process. I expected the consumer reporting agencies to respond to request in a timely manner. I was informed by several representative it would take 24 hours, 48 hours, 1 hour and a fee of {$8.00} for consumer residing in Louisiana. Also, I was informed he would take 5 minutes to receive my id pen number after completing the process over the internet. After the process on the website was inoperable I was inform it would take 10 t to 15 days with the steps they have taken or plan to take. Consumers should have the option to dispute the companys response to the uniform pratices. For additional information please contact me at XXXX to verify the documents fax from XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX # XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX, LA XXXX ( XXXX ) XXXX Date XXXX/XXXX/XXXX XXXX XXXX Version XXXX Store XXXX XXXX XXXX Transaction # XXXX Employee XXXX SALE