the Consumer Bureau demonstrate that CRAs 
continue to skirt their obligations under the law. 
(2) INCORRECT INFORMATION ON CONSUMER RE-
PORTS.— 
(A) Consumers are entitled to dispute errors 
on their consumer reports with either the CRA, 
who issued the report, or directly with fur-
nishers, who supplied the account information to 
the CRA, and request that mistakes be deleted or 
removed. Consumers, who believe an investiga-
tion has not correctly resolved their dispute, how-
ever, have few options, other than requesting that 
a statement about the dispute be included with 
their future reports. 
(B) CRAs have a statutory obligation under 
the FCRA to perform a reasonable investigation 
by conducting a substantive and searching in-
quiry when a consumer disputes an item on 
their report. In doing so, CRAs must conduct an 
independent review about the accuracy of any 
disputed item and cannot merely rely on a fur-
nisher’s ‘‘rubber-stamp’’ verification of the integ-
rity of the information they have provided to 
CRAs. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(C) 
The 
Federal 
Trade 
Commission 
(‘‘FTC’’), in a ‘‘Report to Congress Under Sec-
tion 319 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Trans-
actions Act of 2003’’ released in December 2012, 
found that 26 percent of survey participants 
identified at least one potentially material error 
on their consumer reports, and 13 percent expe-
rienced a change in their credit score once the 
error was fixed. 
(D) Consumer Bureau examiners have iden-
tified repeated deficiencies with the nationwide 
CRAs’ information collection. In the summer 
2015 ‘‘Supervisory Highlights’’ released in June 
2015, the Consumer Bureau noted continued 
weaknesses with CRAs’ methods and processes for 
assuring maximum possible accuracy in their re-
ports. Examiners also found, with certain excep-
tions, no quality control policies and procedures 
in place to test consumer reports for accuracy. 
(E) In its ‘‘Credit Reporting Complaint 
Snapshot’’ released in February 2014, the Con-
sumer Bureau found that consumers were uncer-
tain about the depth and validity of the inves-
tigations performed about a disputed item. Con-
sumers also expressed frustration that, even 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
though they provided supporting materials that 
they believed demonstrated the inaccuracy of the 
information provided by furnishers, errors con-
tinued to remain on their reports. 
(F) In the winter 2015 ‘‘Supervisory High-
lights’’ released in March 2015, the Consumer 
Bureau reported that one or more nationwide 
CRAs failed to adequately fulfill their dispute- 
handling obligations, including by not for-
warding to furnishers all relevant information 
found in letters and supporting documents sup-
plied by consumers when they submitted disputes 
failing to notify consumers that they had com-
pleted investigations, and not providing con-
sumers with the results of the CRAs’ reviews 
about their disputes. 
(G) Consumer Bureau examiners also noted 
in the fall 2016 ‘‘Supervisory Highlights’’ re-
leased in October 2016 that one or more entities 
failed to provide adequate guidance and training 
to staff about how to differentiate FCRA disputes 
from general customer inquiries, complaints, or 
debt validation requests. Consumer Bureau su-
pervisors also directed one or more entities to de-
velop and implement reasonable procedures to 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
ensure that direct and indirect disputes are ap-
propriately logged, categorized, and resolved. 
(H) 
Consumers’ 
increasing 
frustration 
about the difficulties of trying to fix credit re-
porting errors, evidenced through the volume of 
consumer complaints related to errors submitted 
to the Consumer Bureau, are also echoed in an-
other FTC study issued in January 2015. In the 
‘‘Report to Congress under Section 319 for the 
Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 
2003’’, the FTC found that nearly 70 percent (84 
people) of participants from a previous survey 
that had filed disputes with CRAs continued to 
believe that at least some of the disputed infor-
mation remained inaccurate at the time of the 
follow-up survey. Despite these views, 50 percent 
(42 people) of the survey participants decided to 
just give up trying to fix the errors, with only 
45 percent (38 people) of them planning to con-
tinue to try to resolve their disputes. 
(I) The consistently high volume of con-
sumer complaints submitted to the Consumer 
Bureau about credit reporting errors, coupled 
with the largest CRAs’ repeated quality control 
weaknesses found by Consumer Bureau exam-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
iners, show that the nationwide CRAs have 
failed to establish and follow reasonable proce-
dures to assure maximum accuracy of informa-
tion and to conduct independent investigations 
of consumers’ disputes. These ongoing problems 
demonstrate the need for legislation to— 
(i) enhance obligations on furnishers to 
substantiate information and require fur-
nishers to keep records for the same amount 
of time that adverse information about these 
accounts may appear on a person’s con-
sumer report; 
(ii) eliminate CRAs’ discretion to de-
termine the relevancy of materials provided 
by consumers to support their dispute 
claims by instead requiring them to pass all 
material onto furnishers and eliminating 
CRA’s discretion to deem some disputes 
frivolous or irrelevant when a consumer re-
submits a claim that they believe has been 
inadequately resolved; 
(iii) enhance educational content on 
CRAs’ websites to improve consumers’ un-
derstanding of the dispute process and to 
make it easier for all consumers to initiate 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
claims, including by providing these disclo-
sures in other languages besides English; 
and 
(iv) create a new consumer right to ap-
peal reviews by CRAs and furnishers of the 
initial disputes. 
(3) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.— 
(A) Despite the fact that the FCRA cur-
rently provides implicit authority for injunctive 
relief, consumers have been prevented from exer-
cising this right. Legislation explicitly clarifying 
this right is intended to underscore congressional 
intent that injunctive relief should be viewed as 
a remedy available to consumers. 
(B) Myriad findings by the courts, regu-
lators, consumers, and consumer advocates make 
clear that CRAs have failed to establish adequate 
standards for the accuracy and completeness of 
consumer reports, yet the nationwide CRAs have 
demonstrated little willingness to voluntarily re-
tool their policies and procedures to fix the prob-
lems. 
(C) Providing courts with explicit authority 
to issue injunctive relief, by telling the CRAs to 
remedy unlawful practices and procedures, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
would further CRAs’ mandate under the FCRA 
to assure the maximum possible accuracy and 
completeness of information contained on credit 
reports. 
(D) Absent explicit authority to issue in-
junctions, history suggests that the nationwide 
CRAs are likely to continue conducting business 
as usual in treating any monetary settlements 
with individual consumers and fines imposed by 
State attorneys general and Federal regulators, 
simply as the ‘‘cost of doing business’’. 
(4) DECEPTIVE
AND
MISLEADING
MARKETING 
PRACTICES.— 
(A) The Consumer Bureau’s February 2015 
report titled ‘‘Consumer Voices on Credit Reports 
and Scores’’ found that some consumers did not 
obtain a copy of their consumer report due to 
concerns about security or of being trapped into 
purchasing unwanted products like an addi-
tional report or a credit monitoring service. 
(B) In January 2017, the Consumer Bu-
reau fined TransUnion and Equifax for decep-
tively marketing credit scores for purchase by 
consumers as the same credit scores typically 
used by lenders to determine creditworthiness 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
and for luring consumers into costly subscription 
services that were advertised as ‘‘free’’ or ‘‘$1’’ 
that automatically charged recurring fees unless 
cancelled by consumers. The Consumer Bureau 
also found that Equifax was illegally advertising 
its products on webpages that consumers accessed 
through AnnualCreditReport.com before con-
sumers obtained their free disclosures. Because of 
these troubling practices, TransUnion was or-
dered to pay $13.9 million in restitution to 
harmed consumers and a civil penalty of $3 mil-
lion to the Consumer Bureau. Equifax was or-
dered to pay more than $3.7 million to affected 
consumers as well as a civil money penalty of 
$2.5 million to the Consumer Bureau. As part of 
the consent orders, the CRAs are also supposed 
to change the way that they sell their products 
to consumers. The CRAs must also obtain con-
sumers’ express consent before enrolling them 
into subscription services as well as make it 
easer for consumers to cancel these programs. 
(C) The Consumer Bureau fined the other 
nationwide CRA—Experian—in March 2017 for 
deceiving consumers about the use of credit scores 
that it marketed and sold to consumers as credit 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
scores that were used by lenders and for illegally 
advertising its products on web pages that con-
sumers 
accessed 
through 
AnnualCreditReport.com before they obtained 
their free annual disclosures. Experian was or-
dered to pay more than $3.7 million in restitu-
tion to harmed consumers and a civil monetary 
penalty of $2.5 million to the Consumer Bureau. 
(D) The Consumer Bureau’s January and 
March 2017 consent orders with the three nation-
wide CRAs show that these CRAs have enticed 
consumers into purchasing products and services 
that they may not want or need, in some in-
stances by advertising products or services ‘‘free’’ 
that automatically converted into an ongoing 
subscription service at the regular price unless 
cancelled by the consumer. Although these CRAs 
must now change their deceptive marketing prac-
tices, codifying these duties is an appropriate 
way to ensure that these companies never revert 
back to such misleading tactics. 
(E) Given the ubiquitous use of consumer 
reports in consumers’ lives and the fact that con-
sumers’ participation in the credit reporting sys-
tem is involuntary, CRAs should also prioritize 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
providing consumers with the effective means to 
safeguard their personal and financial informa-
tion and improve their credit standing, rather 
than seeking to exploit consumers’ concerns and 
confusion about credit reporting and scoring, to 
boost their companies’ profits. 
(F) Vulnerable consumers, who have legiti-
mate concerns about the security of their per-
sonal and financial information, deserve clear, 
accurate, and transparent information about the 
credit reporting tools that may be available to 
them, such as fraud alerts and freezes. 
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 2 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. CONSUMER BUREAU RULEMAKING. 
Except as otherwise provided, not later than the end 
of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 
shall issue final rules to implement the amendments made 
by this Act. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
TITLE I—IMPROVEMENTS TO 
THE DISPUTE PROCESS 
SEC. 101. DISPUTE PROCEDURES AND DISCLOSURES RE-
LATING TO REINVESTIGATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 611(a) of the Fair Credit 
Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(a) REINVESTIGATIONS OF DISPUTED INFORMATION 
BY A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY.— 
‘‘(1) REINVESTIGATIONS REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subsection 
(f), if the completeness or accuracy of any item 
of information contained in a consumer’s file at 
a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the 
consumer and the consumer notifies the agency 
(either directly or indirectly through a reseller or 
an authorized third party) of such dispute, the 
agency shall, free of charge— 
‘‘(i) conduct a reasonable reinvestiga-
tion using the process described in para-
graph (3) to determine whether the disputed 
information is inaccurate, incomplete, or 
cannot be verified; 
‘‘(ii) notify the consumer that a nota-
tion described in section 605(e) will be 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
added to the consumer’s file until the re-
investigation has been completed and that 
such notation can be removed at the request 
of the consumer; and 
‘‘(iii) before the end of the 30-day pe-
riod beginning on the date on which the 
consumer reporting agency receives the no-
tice of the dispute from the consumer or the 
reseller— 
‘‘(I) record the current status of 
the disputed information; or 
‘‘(II) delete or modify the item in 
accordance with paragraph (3)(D). 
‘‘(B) EXTENSION OF PERIOD TO REINVES-
TIGATE.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(C), the 30-day period described in subpara-
graph (A) may be extended for period not to ex-
ceed 15 days if the consumer reporting agency 
receives additional information from the con-
sumer or the reseller regarding the dispute after 
the date on which the consumer reporting agency 
notified any person who provided any item of 
information in dispute under paragraph (2)(A). 
‘‘(C) LIMITATIONS ON EXTENSION OF PE-
RIOD
TO
REINVESTIGATE.—Subparagraph (B) 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
shall not apply to any reinvestigation in which, 
during the 30-day period described in subpara-
graph (A), the disputed information is found to 
be inaccurate or incomplete, or the consumer re-
porting agency determines that the disputed in-
formation cannot be verified. 
‘‘(2) PROMPT
NOTICE
OF
DISPUTE
TO
FUR-
NISHER OF INFORMATION; PROVISION OF INFORMA-
TION REGARDING DISPUTE PROVIDED BY THE CON-
SUMER OR RESELLER.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Before the end of the 
period of 5 business days beginning on the date 
on which a consumer reporting agency receives 
notice of a dispute from any consumer or reseller 
under paragraph (1)(A), the consumer reporting 
agency shall provide notification of the dispute 
to any person who provided any item of infor-
mation in dispute, at the address and in the 
manner established with such person. The notice 
shall include all information, including substan-
tiating documents, regarding the dispute that 
was submitted to the consumer reporting agency. 
‘‘(B) PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION REGARDING DISPUTE AFTER NOTIFICATION 
TO THE FURNISHER OF INFORMATION.—If a con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
sumer reporting agency receives additional infor-
mation regarding the dispute from the consumer 
or reseller after the agency provides the notifica-
tion described under subparagraph (A) and be-
fore the end of the 30-day period described in 
paragraph (1)(A), the consumer reporting agen-
cy shall, not later than 3 business days after re-
ceiving such information, provide such informa-
tion to the person who provided the information 
in dispute. 
‘‘(3) REASONABLE STANDARDS FOR CONSUMER 
REPORTING
AGENCIES
FOR
CONDUCTING
REINVES-
TIGATIONS AND RESOLVING DISPUTES SUBMITTED BY 
CONSUMERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In conducting a re-
investigation of disputed information, a con-
sumer reporting agency shall, at a minimum— 
‘‘(i) maintain sufficient resources and 
trained staff, commensurate with the volume 
and complexity of disputes received or rea-
sonably anticipated to be received, to deter-
mine whether the disputed information is 
accurate, complete, or can be verified by the 
person who provided the information; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(ii) ensure that all staff involved at 
any level of the reinvestigation process, in-
cluding any individual with ultimate au-
thority over determining whether the dis-
puted information is inaccurate, incom-
plete, or cannot be verified, are located 
within the United States; 
‘‘(iii) verify that the personally identi-
fiable information of the consumer submit-
ting the dispute matches the personally 
identifiable information contained in the 
consumer’s file, and that such information 
is accurate and complete; 
‘‘(iv) verify that the consumer report-
ing agency has a record of the information 
being disputed; and 
‘‘(v) conduct a reasonable review that 
considers all information, including sub-
stantiating documents, provided by the con-
sumer or reseller. 
‘‘(B) CONSUMER
REPORTING.—The con-
sumer reporting agency shall not impose any 
limitation or otherwise impede the ability of a 
consumer to submit information about the dis-
puted item. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(C) INDEPENDENT
ANALYSIS.—The re-
investigation conducted under subparagraph (A) 
shall be an independent analysis, separate from 
any investigation by a reseller or a person who 
provided the disputed information. 
‘‘(D) DELETION OR MODIFICATION OF IN-
FORMATION CONTAINED IN A CONSUMER FILE.— 
If the disputed information is found to be inac-
curate, incomplete, or cannot be verified, the dis-
pute resolution staff of the consumer reporting 
agency shall have the direct authority to delete 
or modify such information in the consumer’s 
file, as appropriate, during the 30-day period 
described in paragraph (1)(A), shall promptly 
notify the consumer of the results of the reinves-
tigation as described in paragraph (4), and shall 
promptly notify any person who provided such 
information to the consumer reporting agency of 
the modification or deletion made to the con-
sumer’s file. 
‘‘(4) NOTICE TO CONSUMER OF RESULTS OF RE-
INVESTIGATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 busi-
ness days after the conclusion of a reinvestiga-
tion conducted under this subsection, the con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(iv) a description of the procedure 
used by the dispute resolution staff of the 
consumer reporting agency to determine the 
accuracy or completeness of the information, 
including the business name, mailing ad-
dress, telephone number, and Internet 
website address (if available) of any person 
who provided information who was con-
tacted by the staff in connection with the 
determination; 
‘‘(v) a statement that the consumer has 
the right, free of charge, to add a narrative 
statement to the consumer’s file disputing 
the accuracy or completeness of the informa-
tion, regardless of the results of the reinves-
tigation by the agency, and the process for 
submitting such a narrative pursuant to 
subsection (b); 
‘‘(vi) a copy of all information relating 
to the consumer that was used by the con-
sumer reporting agency in carrying out the 
reinvestigation and relied upon as the basis 
for the determination about the accuracy 
and completeness of the disputed informa-
tion; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(vii) a statement that a consumer 
may, free of charge, challenge the results of 
the reinvestigation by appeal within 120 
days after the date the notice of the results 
of the reinvestigation was provided to the 
consumer and the process for submitting an 
appeal; 
‘‘(viii) a statement informing the con-
sumer that a notation described in section 
605(e) will be added to the file of the con-
sumer during the period in which the con-
sumer appeals the results of a reinvestiga-
tion and that such notation can be removed 
at the request of the consumer; and 
‘‘(ix) any other information, as deter-
mined by the Bureau. 
‘‘(5) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO REINSERTION 
OF PREVIOUSLY DELETED OR MODIFIED MATERIAL.— 
‘‘(A) CERTIFICATION OF NEW DETERMINA-
TION THAT ITEM IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.— 
A consumer reporting agency may not reinsert 
into a consumer’s file any information that was 
previously deleted or modified pursuant to para-
graph (3)(D), unless the person who provided the 
information— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) requests that the consumer report-
ing agency reinsert such information; 
‘‘(ii) submits a written certification 
that the information is accurate and com-
plete; and 
‘‘(iii) provides a statement describing 
the specific reasons why the information 
should be inserted. 
‘‘(B) NOTICE
TO
CONSUMER
BEFORE
RE-
INSERTION CAN OCCUR.—Upon receipt of a re-
quest for reinsertion of disputed information 
under subparagraph (A), the consumer reporting 
agency shall, not later than 5 business days be-
fore the consumer reporting agency reinserts the 
information into the consumer’s file, notify the 
consumer in writing of such request for reinser-
tion. Such notice shall include— 
‘‘(i) the business name, mailing ad-
dress, telephone number, and Internet 
website address (if available) of any person 
who provided information to or contacted 
the consumer reporting agency in connec-
tion with the reinsertion; 
‘‘(ii) a copy of the information relating 
to the consumer, the certification that the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
information is accurate or complete, and 
the statement of the reasons supporting re-
insertion provided by the person who pro-
vided the information to the consumer re-
porting agency under subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(iii) a statement that the consumer 
may obtain, free of charge and within the 
12-month period following the date the no-
tice under this subparagraph was issued, a 
consumer report and credit score or edu-
cational score (if applicable) from the con-
sumer reporting agency that includes the re-
inserted information, regardless of whether 
the consumer obtained or will obtain a free 
annual consumer report and credit score or 
educational credit score (if applicable) 
under section 612; 
‘‘(iv) a statement that the consumer 
may appeal the determination that the pre-
viously deleted or modified information is 
accurate or complete and a description of 
the procedure for the consumer to make such 
an appeal pursuant to subsection (h); and 
‘‘(v) a statement that the consumer has 
the right to add a narrative statement, free 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
of charge, to the consumer’s file disputing 
the accuracy or completeness of the disputed 
information and a description of the process 
to add such a narrative statement pursuant 
to subsection (b). 
‘‘(6) EXPEDITED
DISPUTE
RESOLUTION.—If a 
consumer reporting agency determines that the infor-
mation provided by the consumer is sufficient to sub-
stantiate that the item of information is inaccurate, 
incomplete, or cannot be verified by the person who 
furnished such information, and the consumer report-
ing agency deletes or modifies such information with-
in 3 business days of receiving notice of the dispute, 
the consumer reporting agency shall be exempt from 
the requirements of paragraph (4), if the consumer re-
porting agency provides to the consumer— 
‘‘(A) prompt notice confirming the deletion 
or modification of the information from the con-
sumer’s file in writing or by other means, if 
agreed to by the consumer when the information 
is disputed; 
‘‘(B) a statement of the consumer’s right to 
request that the consumer reporting agency fur-
nish notifications of a revised consumer report 
pursuant to subsection (d); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(C) not later than 5 business days after de-
leting or modifying the information, a copy of 
the consumer report and credit score or edu-
cational score (if applicable) that is based upon 
the consumer’s revised file; and 
‘‘(D) a statement that the consumer may 
obtain, free of charge and within the 12-month 
period following the date the notice under this 
paragraph was sent to the consumer, a consumer 
report and credit score or educational score (if 
applicable) from the consumer reporting agency, 
regardless of whether the consumer obtained or 
will obtain their free annual consumer report 
and credit score or educational score (if applica-
ble) under section 612. 
‘‘(7) NO EXCUSE FOR FAILURE TO CONDUCT RE-
INVESTIGATION.—A consumer reporting agency may 
not refuse to conduct a reinvestigation under this sub-
section because the agency determines that the dispute 
was submitted by an authorized third party, unless 
the agency has clear and convincing evidence that the 
third party is not authorized to submit the dispute on 
the consumer’s behalf. If the consumer reporting agen-
cy refuses to reinvestigate a dispute for these reasons, 
it shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice to the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
consumer explaining the reasons for the refusal and 
describing the specific information the consumer is re-
quired to provide for the agency to conduct the re-
investigation.’’. 
(b) ENSURING CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES FUR-
NISH CERTAIN NOTIFICATIONS WITHOUT CHARGE.—Sec-
tion 611(d) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 
1681i(d)) is amended by inserting ‘‘and without charge’’ 
after ‘‘request of the consumer’’. 
(c) INCLUDING SPECIALTY CONSUMER REPORTING 
AGENCIES IN REPORTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 611(e) of the Fair 
Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681i(e)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or 603(x)’’ after ‘‘section 603(p)’’ each 
place such term appears. 
(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (1) of 
such section (15 U.S.C. 1681i(e)(1)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘The Commission’’ and inserting ‘‘The Bu-
reau’’. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such Act is further 
amended— 
(1) in section 605B(c)(2), by striking ‘‘section 
611(a)(5)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 611(a)(5)’’; 
(2) in section 611— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘unless 
there is reasonable grounds to believe that it is 
frivolous or irrevelant,’’; and 
(B) in subsection (f)(3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (6), (7), or (8) of subsection 
(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (4) or (5) of 
subsection (a)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘in the manner required under paragraph 
(8)(A)’’; and 
(3) in section 623(b)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘rel-
evant’’ before ‘‘information’’. 
(e) GLOBAL
TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS
TO
REF-
ERENCES TO NATIONWIDE SPECIALTY CONSUMER REPORT-
ING AGENCY.—Such Act is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘section 603(w)’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 603(x)’’ each place such term appears; and 
(2) in section 612(a)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘(w)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(x)’’. 
SEC. 102. CONSUMER AWARENESS OF DISPUTE RIGHTS. 
Section 611 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 
U.S.C. 1681i) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) INCREASED CONSUMER AWARENESS OF DISPUTE 
RIGHTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this subsection, each 
consumer reporting agency described under subsection 
(p) or (x) of section 603 shall— 
‘‘(A) establish an Internet website accessible 
to consumers; and 
‘‘(B) post on the home page of such website 
a hyperlink to a separate webpage established 
and maintained solely for the purpose of pro-
viding information to a consumer about how to 
dispute an item of information in the consumer 
report of the consumer. 
‘‘(2) DISPUTE WEBPAGE REQUIREMENTS.—For a 
consumer reporting agency described under subsection 
(p) or (x) of section 603, the separate dispute webpage 
described in paragraph (1)(B)— 
‘‘(A) may not include any type or form of 
marketing, advertising, information, or material 
associated with any products or services offered 
or sold to consumers; 
‘‘(B) shall clearly and conspicuously dis-
close a concise statement regarding how to file a 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
dispute through the agency, free of charge, in the 
manner and format prescribed by the Bureau; 
‘‘(C) shall describe the types of documents 
that will be used by the agency in resolving the 
dispute, including the business name and mail-
ing address to which a consumer may send such 
documents; 
‘‘(D) shall include a clear and concise ex-
planation of and the process for using electronic 
or other means to submit such documents, free of 
charge, and without any character or data limi-
tation imposed by the agency; 
‘‘(E) shall include a statement that the con-
sumer may submit information, free of charge, 
that the consumer believes will assist the con-
sumer reporting agency in determining the re-
sults of the reinvestigation of the dispute; 
‘‘(F) shall clearly and conspicuously dis-
close a statement describing the procedure likely 
to be used by the consumer reporting agency in 
carrying out a reinvestigation to determine the 
accuracy or completeness of the disputed item of 
information, including the time period in which 
the consumer will be notified of the results of the 
reinvestigation, and a statement that the agency 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
may extend the reinvestigation period by an ad-
ditional 15 days if the consumer submits addi-
tional information after a certain date; and 
‘‘(G) shall provide translations of all infor-
mation on the webpage in each of the 10 most 
commonly spoken languages, other than English, 
in the United States, as determined by the Bu-
reau of the Census on an ongoing basis, and in 
formats accessible to individuals with hearing or 
vision impairments.’’. 
SEC. 103. MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS BY FURNISHERS. 
Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 
U.S.C. 1681s–2) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(f) DUTY OF FURNISHERS TO MAINTAIN RECORDS OF 
CONSUMERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A person who furnishes in-
formation to a consumer reporting agency relating to 
a consumer who has an account with that person 
shall maintain all information necessary to substan-
tiate the accuracy and completeness of the informa-
tion furnished, including any records establishing the 
liability and terms and conditions under which credit 
was extended to a consumer and any payment history 
with respect to such credit. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(2) RETENTION
PERIOD.—Records described 
under paragraph (1) shall be maintained until the 
information with respect to which the records relate 
may no longer be included in a consumer report pur-
suant to section 605. 
‘‘(3) TRANSFER
OF
OWNERSHIP.—If a person 
providing information to a consumer reporting agen-
cy is acquired by another person, or if another person 
acquires the right to repayment connected to such in-
formation, the acquiring person shall be subject to the 
requirements of this subsection with respect to such 
information to the same extent as the person who ini-
tially provided such information to the consumer re-
porting agency. The person selling or transferring the 
right to repayment shall provide the information de-
scribed in paragraph (1) to the transferee or the 
acquirer.’’. 
SEC. 104. DUTIES OF FURNISHERS RELATING TO DISPUTE 
PROCEDURES, NOTICES, AND DISCLOSURES. 
(a) DUTY TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE IN-
FORMATION.—Section 623(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting 
Act (15 U.S.C. 1681s–2(a)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ‘‘AND 
COMPLETE’’ after ‘‘ACCURATE’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) by inserting ‘‘or incomplete’’ after ‘‘in-
accurate’’ each place that term appears; and 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘or 
completeness’’ after ‘‘accuracy’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (8)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘and 
completeness’’ after ‘‘accuracy’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ‘‘or 
completeness’’ after ‘‘accuracy’’. 
(b) NEGATIVE
INFORMATION
NOTICES
TO
CON-
SUMERS.—Section 623(a)(7) (15 U.S.C. 1681s–2(a)(7)) of 
such Act is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(7) DUTY
OF
FURNISHERS
TO
INFORM
CON-
SUMERS
ABOUT
REPORTING
NEGATIVE
INFORMA-
TION.— 
‘‘(A) GENERAL
NEGATIVE
INFORMATION 
WARNING NOTICE TO ALL CONSUMERS PRIOR TO 
FURNISHING SUCH INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Any person that 
regularly furnishes negative information to 
a consumer reporting agency described in 
subsection (p) or (x) of section 603 about 
activity on any accounts of a consumer held 
by such person or transactions associated 
with credit extended to a consumer by such 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
person shall provide a written general nega-
tive information warning notice to each 
such consumer before such person may fur-
nish any negative information relating to 
such a consumer. 
‘‘(ii) CONTENT.—Such notice shall— 
‘‘(I) be clear and conspicuous; 
‘‘(II) describe the types of activi-
ties that constitute negative informa-
tion; 
‘‘(III) inform the consumer that 
the person may report negative infor-
mation relating to any such accounts 
or transactions to a consumer report-
ing agency described in subsection (p) 
or (x) of section 603; 
‘‘(IV) state that the negative infor-
mation may appear on a consumer re-
port of the consumer for the periods de-
scribed in section 605 and that during 
such periods, the negative information 
may adversely impact the consumer’s 
credit score; 
‘‘(V) state that in some limited 
circumstances, the negative informa-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
tion may result in other adverse ac-
tions, including a denial of a new job 
or a promotion from existing employ-
ment; and 
‘‘(VI) state that the consumer has 
right to— 
‘‘(aa) obtain a copy of their 
consumer report and credit score 
or educational score (if applica-
ble), which in some instances can 
be obtained free of charge, from 
any consumer reporting agency to 
which negative information may 
be been sent; and 
‘‘(bb) dispute, free of charge, 
any errors on a consumer report 
relating to the consumer. 
‘‘(iii) TIMING OF NOTICE.—Such per-
son shall provide such notice to a consumer 
not later than 90 days before the date on 
which the person furnishes negative infor-
mation relating to such consumer. 
‘‘(B) SPECIFIC NEGATIVE INFORMATION NO-
TICE TO A CONSUMER.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Any person de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) that has fur-
nished negative information relating to ac-
tivity on any accounts of a consumer held 
by such person or transactions associated 
with credit extended to a consumer by such 
person to a consumer reporting agency de-
scribed in subsection (p) or (x) of section 
603 shall send a written notice to each such 
consumer. 
‘‘(ii) CONTENT.—Such notice shall— 
‘‘(I) be clear and conspicuous; 
‘‘(II) inform the consumer that 
the person has furnished negative in-
formation relating to such accounts or 
transactions to a consumer reporting 
agency described in subsection (p) or 
(x) of section 603; 
‘‘(III) identify any consumer re-
porting agency to which the negative 
information was furnished, including 
the name of the agency, mailing ad-
dress, Internet website address, and 
toll-free telephone number; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(IV) include the statements de-
scribed in subclauses (IV), (V), and 
(VI) of subparagraph (A)(ii). 
‘‘(iii) TIME OF NOTICE.—Such person 
shall provide such notice to a consumer not 
later than 5 business days after the date on 
which the person furnished negative infor-
mation relating to such consumer. 
‘‘(C) NOTICE EFFECTIVE FOR SUBSEQUENT 
SUBMISSIONS.—After providing the notice de-
scribed in subparagraph (B), the person may 
submit additional negative information to a con-
sumer reporting agency described in subsection 
(p) or (x) of section 603 without providing addi-
tional notice to the consumer, unless another per-
son acquires the right to repayment connected to 
the additional negative information. The acquir-
ing person shall be subject to the requirements of 
this paragraph and shall be required to send 
consumers the written notices described in this 
paragraph, if applicable. 
‘‘(D) 
NON-TRADITIONAL
DATA
FUR-
NISHERS.—Any person that furnishes negative 
information to a consumer reporting agency de-
scribed in subsection (p) or (x) of section 603 re-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
lating to any accounts of, or transactions associ-
ated with, a consumer by such person involving 
non-traditional data shall be subject to the re-
quirements described in subparagraphs (A), (B), 
and (C). 
‘‘(E) MODEL NOTICES.— 
‘‘(i) DUTY
OF
BUREAU.—Not later 
than 6 months after date of the enactment 
of this paragraph, the Bureau shall issue 
model forms for the notices described in sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) that a person may 
use to comply with the requirements of this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(ii) USE OF MODEL NOTICE NOT RE-
QUIRED.—No provision of this paragraph 
may be construed to require a person to use 
the model notices prescribed by the Bureau. 
‘‘(iii) COMPLIANCE USING MODEL NO-
TICES.—A person shall be deemed to be in 
compliance with the requirements of sub-
paragraph (A)(ii) or (B)(ii) (as applicable) 
if the person uses the model notice pre-
scribed by the Bureau. 
‘‘(F) ISSUANCE
OF
GENERAL
NEGATIVE 
WARNING NOTICE WITHOUT SUBMITTING NEGA-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
TIVE INFORMATION.—No provision of this para-
graph may be construed to require a person de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) or (D) to furnish 
negative information about a consumer to a con-
sumer reporting agency described in subsection 
(p) or (x) of section 603. 
‘‘(G) SAFE HARBOR.—A person shall not be 
liable for failure to perform the duties required 
by this paragraph if the person reasonably be-
lieves that the person is prohibited, by law, from 
contacting the consumer. 
‘‘(H) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The requirements 
of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) shall 
not take effect until the date that is 6 months 
after the date of the issuance of model forms for 
notices under subparagraph (E). 
‘‘(I) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph, the 
following definitions shall apply: 
‘‘(i) 
NEGATIVE
INFORMATION.—The 
term ‘negative information’ means informa-
tion concerning a consumer’s delinquencies, 
late payments, insolvency, or any form of 
default. 
‘‘(ii) NON-TRADITIONAL
DATA.—The 
term ‘non-traditional data’ relates to tele-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
communications payments, utility pay-
ments, rent payments, remittances, wire 
transfers, and such other items as deter-
mined by the Bureau.’’. 
(c) DUTIES OF FURNISHERS AFTER RECEIVING NO-
TICE
OF
DISPUTE
FROM
A
CONSUMER.—Section 
623(a)(8)(E) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 
1681s–2(a)(8)(E)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(E) DUTIES OF FURNISHERS AFTER RE-
CEIVING
NOTICE
OF
DISPUTE
FROM
A
CON-
SUMER.—After receiving a notice of dispute from 
a consumer pursuant to subparagraph (D), the 
person that provided the information in dispute 
to a consumer reporting agency shall— 
‘‘(i) promptly provide to each con-
sumer reporting agency to which the person 
furnished the disputed information the no-
tice of dispute; 
‘‘(ii) review all information, including 
any substantiating documents, provided by 
the consumer about the disputed informa-
tion and conduct an investigation, separate 
from any reinvestigation by a consumer re-
porting agency or a reseller conducted with 
respect to the disputed information; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:14 Dec 23, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H3642.RH
H3642
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS