source:
  type: statute
  id: fcra-15usc-1681i
  authority: 15 U.S.C. §1681i — Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
  description: 15 U.S.C. §1681i — Procedure in case of disputed accuracy.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: fcra-15usc-1681i-full
  canonical_id: fcra-15usc-1681i-full
  section: 15 U.S.C. §1681i — Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - federal-statute
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 15 U.S.C. §1681i — Procedure in case of disputed accuracy
    source_class: usc-statute
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1681i
    snapshot_id: 2070bcba976ef81c
    fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:26Z'
    content_hash: sha256:535111b23968fea2373a4bc8a3040cc49270ea1ad8dee87155d368658140e284
    paragraph_quote: (a) Reinvestigations of disputed information (1) Reinvestigation
      required (A) In general Subject to subsection (f) and except as provided in
      subsection (g), 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 directly, or indirectly through a reseller,
      of such dispute, the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable reinvestigation
      to determine whether the disputed information is inaccurate and record the current
      status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance
      with paragraph (5), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date
      on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer or
      reseller. (B) Extension of period to reinvestigate Except as provided in subparagraph
      (C), the 30-day period described in subparagraph (A) may be extended for not
      more than 15 additional days if the consumer reporting agency receives information
      from the consumer during that 30-day period that is relevant to the reinvestigation.
      (C) Limitations on extension of period to reinvestigate Subparagraph (B) shall
      not apply to any reinvestigation in which, during the 30-day period described
      in subparagraph (A), the information that is the subject of the reinvestigation
      is found to be inaccurate or incomplete or the consumer reporting agency determines
      that the information cannot be verified. (2) Prompt notice of dispute to furnisher
      of information (A) In general Before the expiration of the 5-business-day period
      beginning on the date on which a consumer reporting agency receives notice of
      a dispute from any consumer or a reseller in accordance with paragraph (1),
      the agency shall provide notification of the dispute to any person who provided
      any item of information in dispute, at the address and in the manner established
      with the person. The notice shall include all relevant information regarding
      the dispute that the agency has received from the consumer or reseller. (B)
      Provision of other information The consumer reporting agency shall promptly
      provide to the person who provided the information in dispute all relevant information
      regarding the dispute that is received by the agency from the consumer or the
      reseller after the period referred to in subparagraph (A) and before the end
      of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(A). (3) Determination that dispute
      is frivolous or irrelevant (A) In general Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a consumer
      reporting agency may terminate a reinvestigation of information disputed by
      a consumer under that paragraph if the agency reasonably determines that the
      dispute by the consumer is frivolous or irrelevant, including by reason of a
      failure by a consumer to provide sufficient information to investigate the disputed
      information. (B) Notice of determination Upon making any determination in accordance
      with subparagraph (A) that a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant, a consumer
      reporting agency shall notify the consumer of such determination not later than
      5 business days after making such determination, by mail or, if authorized by
      the consumer for that purpose, by any other means available to the agency. (C)
      Contents of notice A notice under subparagraph (B) shall include— (i) the reasons
      for the determination under subparagraph (A); and (ii) identification of any
      information required to investigate the disputed information, which may consist
      of a standardized form describing the general nature of such information. (4)
      Consideration of consumer information In conducting any reinvestigation under
      paragraph (1) with respect to disputed information in the file of any consumer
      , the consumer reporting agency shall review and consider all relevant information
      submitted by the consumer in the period described in paragraph (1)(A) with respect
      to such disputed information. (5) Treatment of inaccurate or unverifiable information
      (A) In general If, after any reinvestigation under paragraph (1) of any information
      disputed by a consumer , an item of the information is found to be inaccurate
      or incomplete or cannot be verified, the consumer reporting agency shall— (i)
      promptly delete that item of information from the file of the consumer , or
      modify that item of information, as appropriate, based on the results of the
      reinvestigation; and (ii) promptly notify the furnisher of that information
      that the information has been modified or deleted from the file of the consumer
      . (B) Requirements relating to reinsertion of previously deleted material (i)
      Certification of accuracy of information If any information is deleted from
      a consumer ’s file pursuant to subparagraph (A), the information may not be
      reinserted in the file by the consumer reporting agency unless the person who
      furnishes the information certifies that the information is complete and accurate.
      (ii) Notice to consumer If any information that has been deleted from a consumer
      ’s file pursuant to subparagraph (A) is reinserted in the file, the consumer
      reporting agency shall notify the consumer of the reinsertion in writing not
      later than 5 business days after the reinsertion or, if authorized by the consumer
      for that purpose, by any other means available to the agency. (iii) Additional
      information As part of, or in addition to, the notice under clause (ii), a consumer
      reporting agency shall provide to a consumer in writing not later than 5 business
      days after the date of the reinsertion— (I) a statement that the disputed information
      has been reinserted; (II) the business name and address of any furnisher of
      information contacted and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably
      available, or of any furnisher of information that contacted the consumer reporting
      agency , in connection with the reinsertion of such information; and (III) a
      notice that the consumer has the right to add a statement to the consumer ’s
      file disputing the accuracy or completeness of the disputed information. (C)
      Procedures to prevent reappearance A consumer reporting agency shall maintain
      reasonable procedures designed to prevent the reappearance in a consumer’ s
      file, and in consumer reports on the consumer, of information that is deleted
      pursuant to this paragraph (other than information that is reinserted in accordance
      with subparagraph (B)(i)). (D) Automated reinvestigation system Any consumer
      reporting agency that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide
      basis shall implement an automated system through which furnishers of information
      to that consumer reporting agency may report the results of a reinvestigation
      that finds incomplete or inaccurate information in a consumer’ s file to other
      such consumer reporting agencies. (6) Notice of results of reinvestigation (A)
      In general A consumer reporting agency shall provide written notice to a consumer
      of the results of a reinvestigation under this subsection not later than 5 business
      days after the completion of the reinvestigation, by mail or, if authorized
      by the consumer for that purpose, by other means available to the agency. (B)
      Contents As part of, or in addition to, the notice under subparagraph (A), a
      consumer reporting agency shall provide to a consumer in writing before the
      expiration of the 5-day period referred to in subparagraph (A)— (i) a statement
      that the reinvestigation is completed; (ii) a consumer report that is based
      upon the consumer’ s file as that file is revised as a result of the reinvestigation;
      (iii) a notice that, if requested by the consumer , a description of the procedure
      used to determine the accuracy and completeness of the information shall be
      provided to the consumer by the agency, including the business name and address
      of any furnisher of information contacted in connection with such information
      and the telephone number of such furnisher, if reasonably available; (iv) a
      notice that the consumer has the right to add a statement to the consumer ’s
      file disputing the accuracy or completeness of the information; and (v) a notice
      that the consumer has the right to request under subsection (d) that the consumer
      reporting agency furnish notifications under that subsection. (7) Description
      of reinvestigation procedure A consumer reporting agency shall provide to a
      consumer a description referred to in paragraph (6)(B)(iii) by not later than
      15 days after receiving a request from the consumer for that description. (8)
      Expedited dispute resolution If a dispute regarding an item of information in
      a consumer ’s file at a consumer reporting agency is resolved in accordance
      with paragraph (5)(A) by the deletion of the disputed information by not later
      than 3 business days after the date on which the agency receives notice of the
      dispute from the consumer in accordance with paragraph (1)(A), then the agency
      shall not be required to comply with paragraphs (2), (6), and (7) with respect
      to that dispute if the agency— (A) provides prompt notice of the deletion to
      the consumer by telephone; (B) includes in that notice, or in a written notice
      that accompanies a confirmation and consumer report provided in accordance with
      subparagraph (C), a statement of the consumer’ s right to request under subsection
      (d) that the agency furnish notifications under that subsection; and (C) provides
      written confirmation of the deletion and a copy of a consumer report on the
      consumer that is based on the consumer’ s file after the deletion, not later
      than 5 business days after making the deletion. (b) Statement of dispute If
      the reinvestigation does not resolve the dispute, the consumer may file a brief
      statement setting forth the nature of the dispute. The consumer reporting agency
      may limit such statements to not more than one hundred words if it provides
      the consumer with assistance in writing a clear summary of the dispute. (c)
      Notification of consumer dispute in subsequent consumer reports Whenever a statement
      of a dispute is filed, unless there is reasonable grounds to believe that it
      is frivolous or irrelevant, the consumer reporting agency shall, in any subsequent
      consumer report containing the information in question, clearly note that it
      is disputed by the consumer and provide either the consumer’ s statement or
      a clear and accurate codification or summary thereof. (d) Notification of deletion
      of disputed information Following any deletion of information which is found
      to be inaccurate or whose accuracy can no longer be verified or any notation
      as to disputed information, the consumer reporting agency shall, at the request
      of the consumer, furnish notification that the item has been deleted or the
      statement, codification or summary pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) to any
      person specifically designated by the consumer who has within two years prior
      thereto received a consumer report for employment purposes, or within six months
      prior thereto received a consumer report for any other purpose, which contained
      the deleted or disputed information. (e) Treatment of complaints and report
      to Congress (1) In general The Commission [1] shall— (A) compile all complaints
      that it receives that a file of a consumer that is maintained by a consumer
      reporting agency described in section 1681a(p) of this title contains incomplete
      or inaccurate information, with respect to which, the consumer appears to have
      disputed the completeness or accuracy with the consumer reporting agency or
      otherwise utilized the procedures provided by subsection (a); and (B) transmit
      each such complaint to each consumer reporting agency involved. (2) Exclusion
      Complaints received or obtained by the Bureau pursuant to its investigative
      authority under the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 shall not be subject
      to paragraph (1). (3) Agency responsibilities Each consumer reporting agency
      described in section 1681a(p) of this title that receives a complaint transmitted
      by the Bureau pursuant to paragraph (1) shall— (A) review each such complaint
      to determine whether all legal obligations imposed on the consumer reporting
      agency under this subchapter (including any obligation imposed by an applicable
      court or administrative order) have been met with respect to the subject matter
      of the complaint; (B) provide reports on a regular basis to the Bureau regarding
      the determinations of and actions taken by the consumer reporting agency , if
      any, in connection with its review of such complaints; and (C) maintain, for
      a reasonable time period, records regarding the disposition of each such complaint
      that is sufficient to demonstrate compliance with this subsection. (4) Rulemaking
      authority The Commission 1 may prescribe regulations, as appropriate to implement
      this subsection. (5) Annual report The Commission 1 shall submit to the Committee
      on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial
      Services of the House of Representatives an annual report regarding information
      gathered by the Bureau under this subsection. (f) Reinvestigation requirement
      applicable to resellers (1) Exemption from general reinvestigation requirement
      Except as provided in paragraph (2), a reseller shall be exempt from the requirements
      of this section. (2) Action required upon receiving notice of a dispute If a
      reseller receives a notice from a consumer of a dispute concerning the completeness
      or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer report on such
      consumer produced by the reseller, the reseller shall, within 5 business days
      of receiving the notice, and free of charge— (A) determine whether the item
      of information is incomplete or inaccurate as a result of an act or omission
      of the reseller ; and (B) if— (i) the reseller determines that the item of information
      is incomplete or inaccurate as a result of an act or omission of the reseller
      , not later than 20 days after receiving the notice, correct the information
      in the consumer report or delete it; or (ii) if the reseller determines that
      the item of information is not incomplete or inaccurate as a result of an act
      or omission of the reseller , convey the notice of the dispute, together with
      all relevant information provided by the consumer, to each consumer reporting
      agency that provided the reseller with the information that is the subject of
      the dispute, using an address or a notification mechanism specified by the consumer
      reporting agency for such notices. (3) Responsibility of consumer reporting
      agency to notify consumer through reseller Upon the completion of a reinvestigation
      under this section of a dispute concerning the completeness or accuracy of any
      information in the file of a consumer by a consumer reporting agency that received
      notice of the dispute from a reseller under paragraph (2)— (A) the notice by
      the consumer reporting agency under paragraph (6), (7), or (8) of subsection
      (a) shall be provided to the reseller in lieu of the consumer; and (B) the reseller
      shall immediately reconvey such notice to the consumer, including any notice
      of a deletion by telephone in the manner required under paragraph (8)(A). (4)
      Reseller reinvestigations No provision of this subsection shall be construed
      as prohibiting a reseller from conducting a reinvestigation of a consumer dispute
      directly. (g) Dispute process for veteran’s medical debt (1) In general With
      respect to a veteran ’s medical debt, the veteran may submit a notice described
      in paragraph (2), proof of liability of the Department of Veterans Affairs for
      payment of that debt, or documentation that the Department of Veterans Affairs
      is in the process of making payment for authorized hospital care, medical services,
      or extended care services rendered to a consumer reporting agency or a reseller
      to dispute the inclusion of that debt on a consumer report of the veteran. (2)
      Notification to veteran The Department of Veterans Affairs shall submit to a
      veteran a notice that the Department of Veterans Affairs has assumed liability
      for part or all of a veteran’ s medical debt. (3) Deletion of information from
      file If a consumer reporting agency receives notice, proof of liability, or
      documentation under paragraph (1), the consumer reporting agency shall delete
      all information relating to the veteran’ s medical debt from the file of the
      veteran and notify the furnisher and the veteran of that deletion. ( Pub. L.
      90–321, title VI, § 611 , as added Pub. L. 91–508, title VI, § 601 , Oct. 26,
      1970 , 84 Stat. 1132 ; amended Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2409 , Sept.
      30, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3009–439 ; Pub. L. 105–347, § 6(5) , Nov. 2, 1998 , 112
      Stat. 3211 ; Pub. L. 108–159, title III , §§ 313(a), 314(a), 316, 317, Dec.
      4, 2003 , 117 Stat. 1994–1996 , 1998; Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1088(a)(2)(C)
      , (6), July 21, 2010 , 124 Stat. 2087 ; Pub. L. 115–174, title III, § 302(b)(3)
      , May 24, 2018 , 132 Stat. 1333 .) [1] So in original. Probably should be “Bureau”
      .
  judgment: false
