Leveraging Influence: Small Business Credit Scores Part IIFair Credit Reporting
Federal Trade Commission
March 1999
If you've ever applied for a charge account, a personal loan, insurance, or a job, there's a file about you. This file contains information on where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy.
Companies that gather and sell this information are called Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs). The most common type of CRA is the credit bureau. The information CRAs sell about you to creditors, employers, insurers, and other businesses is called a consumer report.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, is designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in consumer reports. Recent amendments to the Act expand your rights and place additional requirements on CRAs. Businesses that supply information about you to CRAs and those that use consumer reports also have new responsibilities under the law.
Here are some questions consumers commonly ask about consumer reports and CRAs -- and the answers. Note that you may have additional rights under state laws. Contact your state Attorney General or local consumer protection agency for more information.
Small Business Credit Scores Part III 
