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15 U.S.C. § 1681j — Charges for certain disclosures
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Free annual disclosure**
(1) **Nationwide consumer reporting agencies**
(A) *In general* — All consumer reporting agencies described in subsections (p) and (w) 11 See References in Text note below. of [section 1681a of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681a&num=0&edition=prelim) shall make all disclosures pursuant to [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim) once during any 12-month period upon request of the consumer and without charge to the consumer.
(B) *Centralized source* — Subparagraph (A) shall apply with respect to a consumer reporting agency described in [section 1681a(p) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681a/p&num=0&edition=prelim) only if the request from the consumer is made using the centralized source established for such purpose in accordance with section 211(c) 1 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.
(C) *Nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency*
(i) *In general* — The Commission 22 So in original. Probably should be “Bureau”. shall prescribe regulations applicable to each consumer reporting agency described in section 1681a(w) 1 of this title to require the establishment of a streamlined process for consumers to request consumer reports under subparagraph (A), which shall include, at a minimum, the establishment by each such agency of a toll-free telephone number for such requests.
(ii) *Considerations* — In prescribing regulations under clause (i), the Bureau shall consider—
(I) the significant demands that may be placed on consumer reporting agencies in providing such consumer reports;
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_46c09eb5c3a6b20c25c253ad
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-15/section-1681j-charges-for-certain-disclosures--8ab253e123.md
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Source location: Title 15, Chapter 41, § 1681j; chapter-041-consumer-credit-protection.md
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**(a) Free annual disclosure**
(1) **Nationwide consumer reporting agencies**
(A) *In general* — All consumer reporting agencies described in subsections (p) and (w) 11 See References in Text note below. of [section 1681a of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681a&num=0&edition=prelim) shall make all disclosures pursuant to [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim) once during any 12-month period upon request of the consumer and without charge to the consumer.
(B) *Centralized source* — Subparagraph (A) shall apply with respect to a consumer reporting agency described in [section 1681a(p) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681a/p&num=0&edition=prelim) only if the request from the consumer is made using the centralized source established for such purpose in accordance with section 211(c) 1 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.
(C) *Nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency*
(i) *In general* — The Commission 22 So in original. Probably should be “Bureau”. shall prescribe regulations applicable to each consumer reporting agency described in section 1681a(w) 1 of this title to require the establishment of a streamlined process for consumers to request consumer reports under subparagraph (A), which shall include, at a minimum, the establishment by each such agency of a toll-free telephone number for such requests.
(ii) *Considerations* — In prescribing regulations under clause (i), the Bureau shall consider—
(I) the significant demands that may be placed on consumer reporting agencies in providing such consumer reports;
(II) appropriate means to ensure that consumer reporting agencies can satisfactorily meet those demands, including the efficacy of a system of staggering the availability to consumers of such consumer reports; and
(III) the ease by which consumers should be able to contact consumer reporting agencies with respect to access to such consumer reports.
(iii) *Date of issuance* — The Commission 2 shall issue the regulations required by this subparagraph in final form not later than 6 months after December 4, 2003.
(iv) *Consideration of ability to comply* — The regulations of the Bureau under this subparagraph shall establish an effective date by which each nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency (as defined in section 1681a(w) 1 of this title) shall be required to comply with subsection (a), which effective date—
(I) shall be established after consideration of the ability of each nationwide specialty consumer reporting agency to comply with subsection (a); and
(II) shall be not later than 6 months after the date on which such regulations are issued in final form (or such additional period not to exceed 3 months, as the Bureau determines appropriate).
(2) **Timing** — A consumer reporting agency shall provide a consumer report under paragraph (1) not later than 15 days after the date on which the request is received under paragraph (1).
(3) **Reinvestigations** — Notwithstanding the time periods specified in [section 1681i(a)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i/a/1&num=0&edition=prelim), a reinvestigation under that section by a consumer reporting agency upon a request of a consumer that is made after receiving a consumer report under this subsection shall be completed not later than 45 days after the date on which the request is received.
(4) **Exception for first 12 months of operation** — This subsection shall not apply to a consumer reporting agency that has not been furnishing consumer reports to third parties on a continuing basis during the 12-month period preceding a request under paragraph (1), with respect to consumers residing nationwide.
**(b) Free disclosure after adverse notice to consumer** Each consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on a consumer shall make all disclosures pursuant to [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim) without charge to the consumer if, not later than 60 days after receipt by such consumer of a notification pursuant to [section 1681m of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681m&num=0&edition=prelim), or of a notification from a debt collection agency affiliated with that consumer reporting agency stating that the consumer’s credit rating may be or has been adversely affected, the consumer makes a request under [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c) Free disclosure under certain other circumstances** Upon the request of the consumer, a consumer reporting agency shall make all disclosures pursuant to [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim) once during any 12-month period without charge to that consumer if the consumer certifies in writing that the consumer—
(1) is unemployed and intends to apply for employment in the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the certification is made;
(2) is a recipient of public welfare assistance; or
(3) has reason to believe that the file on the consumer at the agency contains inaccurate information due to fraud.
**(d) Free disclosures in connection with fraud alerts** Upon the request of a consumer, a consumer reporting agency described in [section 1681a(p) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681a/p&num=0&edition=prelim) shall make all disclosures pursuant to [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim) without charge to the consumer, as provided in subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) of [section 1681c–1 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681c-1&num=0&edition=prelim), as applicable.
**(e) Other charges prohibited** A consumer reporting agency shall not impose any charge on a consumer for providing any notification required by this subchapter or making any disclosure required by this subchapter, except as authorized by subsection (f).
**(f) Reasonable charges allowed for certain disclosures**
(1) **In general** — In the case of a request from a consumer other than a request that is covered by any of subsections (a) through (d), a consumer reporting agency may impose a reasonable charge on a consumer—
(A) for making a disclosure to the consumer pursuant to [section 1681g of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g&num=0&edition=prelim), which charge—
(i) shall not exceed $8; and
(ii) shall be indicated to the consumer before making the disclosure; and
(B) for furnishing, pursuant to [section 1681i(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i/d&num=0&edition=prelim), following a reinvestigation under [section 1681i(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i/a&num=0&edition=prelim), a statement, codification, or summary to a person designated by the consumer under that section after the 30-day period beginning on the date of notification of the consumer under paragraph (6) or (8) of [section 1681i(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681i/a&num=0&edition=prelim) with respect to the reinvestigation, which charge—
(i) shall not exceed the charge that the agency would impose on each designated recipient for a consumer report; and
(ii) shall be indicated to the consumer before furnishing such information.
(2) **Modification of amount** — The Bureau shall increase the amount referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(i) on January 1 of each year, based proportionally on changes in the Consumer Price Index, with fractional changes rounded to the nearest fifty cents.
**(g) Prevention of deceptive marketing of credit reports**
(1) **In general** — Subject to rulemaking pursuant to section 205(b) of the Credit CARD Act of 2009, any advertisement for a free credit report in any medium shall prominently disclose in such advertisement that free credit reports are available under Federal law at: “AnnualCreditReport.com” (or such other source as may be authorized under Federal law).
(2) **Television and radio advertisement** — In the case of an advertisement broadcast by television, the disclosures required under paragraph (1) shall be included in the audio and visual part of such advertisement. In the case of an advertisement broadcast by televison 33 So in original. Probably should be “television”. or radio, the disclosure required under paragraph (1) shall consist only of the following: “This is not the free credit report provided for by Federal law”.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Accuracy and fairness of credit reporting** The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The banking system is dependent upon fair and accurate credit reporting. Inaccurate credit reports directly impair the efficiency of the banking system, and unfair credit reporting methods undermine the public confidence which is essential to the continued functioning of the banking system.
(2) An elaborate mechanism has been developed for investigating and evaluating the credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, and general reputation of consumers.
(3) Consumer reporting agencies have assumed a vital role in assembling and evaluating consumer credit and other information on consumers.
(4) There is a need to insure that consumer reporting agencies exercise their grave responsibilities with fairness, impartiality, and a respect for the consumer’s right to privacy.
**(b) Reasonable procedures** It is the purpose of this subchapter to require that consumer reporting agencies adopt reasonable procedures for meeting the needs of commerce for consumer credit, personnel, insurance, and other information in a manner which is fair and equitable to the consumer, with regard to the confidentiality, accuracy, relevancy, and proper utilization of such information in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1681
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Definitions and rules of construction set forth in this section are applicable for the purposes of this subchapter.
**(b)** The term “person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, cooperative, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity.
**(c)** The term “consumer” means an individual.
**(d) Consumer Report.—**
(1) **In general.—** — The term “consumer report” means any written, oral, or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer’s credit worthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, character, general reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living which is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor in establishing the consumer’s eligibility for—
(A) credit or insurance to be used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes;
(B) employment purposes; or
(C) any other purpose authorized under [section 1681b of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681b&num=0&edition=prelim).
(2) **Exclusions.—** — Except as provided in paragraph (3), the term “consumer report” does not include—
(A) subject to [section 1681s–3 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681s-3&num=0&edition=prelim), any—
(i) report containing information solely as to transactions or experiences between the consumer and the person making the report;
(ii) communication of that information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control; or
(iii) communication of other information among persons related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control, if it
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1681a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** The definitions and rules of construction set forth in this section are applicable for the purposes of this subchapter.
**(b) Bureau.—** The term “Bureau” means the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
**(c)** The term “Board” refers to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
**(d)** The term “organization” means a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, trust, estate, partnership, cooperative, or association.
**(e)** The term “person” means a natural person or an organization.
**(f)** The term “credit” means the right granted by a creditor to a debtor to defer payment of debt or to incur debt and defer its payment.
**(g)** The term “creditor” refers only to a person who both (1) regularly extends, whether in connection with loans, sales of property or services, or otherwise, consumer credit which is payable by agreement in more than four installments or for which the payment of a finance charge is or may be required, and (2) is the person to whom the debt arising from the consumer credit transaction is initially payable on the face of the evidence of indebtedness or, if there is no such evidence of indebtedness, by agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the case of an open-end credit plan involving a credit card, the card issuer and any person who honors the credit card and offers a discount which is a finance charge are creditors. For the purpose of the requirements imposed under part D of this subchapter and sections 1637(a)(5), 1637(a)(6), 1637(a)(7), 1637(b)(1), 1637(b)(2), 1637(b)(3), 1637(b)(8), and 1637(b)(10) of this title, the term “creditor” shall also include card issuers whether or not the amount due is payable by agreement in more than four installments or the payment of a finance charge
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1602
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Definitions.—** For purposes of this section—
(1) the term “agency” means agency as defined in section 552(e) 11 See References in Text note below. of this title;
(2) the term “individual” means a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;
(3) the term “maintain” includes maintain, collect, use, or disseminate;
(4) the term “record” means any item, collection, or grouping of information about an individual that is maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, his education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history and that contains his name, or the identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, such as a finger or voice print or a photograph;
(5) the term “system of records” means a group of any records under the control of any agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual;
(6) the term “statistical record” means a record in a system of records maintained for statistical research or reporting purposes only and not used in whole or in part in making any determination about an identifiable individual, except as provided by [section 8 of title 13](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title13-section8&num=0&edition=prelim);
(7) the term “routine use” means, with respect to the disclosure of a record, the use of such record for a purpose which is compatible with the purpose for which it was collected;
(8) the term “matching program”—
(A) means any computerized comparison of—
(i) two or more automated systems of records or a system of records with non-Federal records for the purpose
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 5 U.S.C. § 552a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Duties of users taking adverse actions on basis of information contained in consumer reports** If any person takes any adverse action with respect to any consumer that is based in whole or in part on any information contained in a consumer report, the person shall—
(1) provide oral, written, or electronic notice of the adverse action to the consumer;
(2) provide to the consumer written or electronic disclosure—
(A) of a numerical credit score as defined in [section 1681g(f)(2)(A) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g/f/2/A&num=0&edition=prelim) used by such person in taking any adverse action based in whole or in part on any information in a consumer report; and
(B) of the information set forth in subparagraphs (B) through (E) of [section 1681g(f)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681g/f/1&num=0&edition=prelim);
(3) provide to the consumer orally, in writing, or electronically—
(A) the name, address, and telephone number of the consumer reporting agency (including a toll-free telephone number established by the agency if the agency compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis) that furnished the report to the person; and
(B) a statement that the consumer reporting agency did not make the decision to take the adverse action and is unable to provide the consumer the specific reasons why the adverse action was taken; and
(4) provide to the consumer an oral, written, or electronic notice of the consumer’s right—
(A) to obtain, under [section 1681j of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1681j&num=0&edition=prelim), a free copy of a consumer report on the consumer
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1681m
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
(a) Information on file; sources; report recipients
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1681g
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 1593
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 1681j
1 See References in Text note below.
2 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘Bureau’’.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective upon the expiration of one hundred
and eighty days following Oct. 26, 1970, see section
504(d) of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 91–508, set
out as a note under section 1681 of this title.
PROMPT INVESTIGATION OF DISPUTED CONSUMER
INFORMATION
Pub. L. 108–159, title III, § 313(b), Dec. 4, 2003, 117 Stat.
1994, provided that:
‘‘(1) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Board and the Commis-
sion shall jointly study the extent to which, and the
manner in which, consumer reporting agencies and fur-
nishers of consumer information to consumer reporting
agencies are complying with the procedures, time lines,
and requirements under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
[this subchapter] for the prompt investigation of the
disputed accuracy of any consumer information, the
completeness of the information provided to consumer
reporting agencies, and the prompt correction or dele-
tion, in accordance with such Act, of any inaccurate or
incomplete information or information that cannot be
verified.
‘‘(2) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Before the end of the 12-
month period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act [Dec. 4, 2003], the Board and the Commission
shall jointly submit a progress report to the Congress
on the results of the study required under paragraph
(1).
‘‘(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing the report re-
quired under paragraph (2), the Board and the Commis-
sion shall consider information relating to complaints
compiled by the Commission under section 611(e) of the
Fair Credit Reporting Act [15 U.S.C. 1681i(e)], as added
by this section.
‘‘(4) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report required under
paragraph (2) sha
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 15 U.S.C. § 1681j
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.