The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law or statute that promotes the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information in the files of consumer reporting agencies. Consumer reporting agencies include credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion), and specialty agencies that sell information about consumers' check writing histories, employment histories, insurance claims, medical records or payments, and residential or tenant history.

The FCRA is located in the United States Code at 15 U.S.C. §§1681-1681u. Banks and other financial institutions are generally not considered consumer reporting agencies under the FCRA—but depending on how similar their information-sharing practices are to those of a consumer reporting agency, they can be required to comply with the FCRA.

A consumer can exercise many of the rights provided by the FCRA through the websites of the three main credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. The toll-free telephone numbers for the credit reporting agencies are: Experian (1-888-397-3742); Equifax (1-888-548-7878); and TransUnion (1-800-916-8800).

States may enforce the FCRA, and many states have their own consumer reporting laws. In some states, consumers may have more rights under state law. For more information, contact your state or local consumer protection agency or your State Attorney General's office.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that ensures the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of consumer information held by credit reporting agencies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. While banks and financial institutions are not typically classified as consumer reporting agencies, they may be subject to the FCRA if their practices are similar to those of a consumer reporting agency. In Illinois, as in other states, consumers can exercise their rights under the FCRA by contacting the credit reporting agencies directly. Illinois may also enforce the FCRA and has its own consumer reporting laws that could provide additional rights to consumers. For specific information regarding Illinois state laws that complement or enhance the FCRA, individuals should contact the Illinois Attorney General's office or the state's consumer protection agency.