Lesson 19 min
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The FCRA governs how consumer reporting agencies collect and share your credit information. It gives you the right to a free report, to dispute inaccuracies, and to be notified of adverse actions. 'Furnishers' (lenders) must investigate disputes and report accurately. This is a genuine, court-enforced statute — the strongest real tool in the consumer toolkit.