15 U.S.C. § 1681i
Reinvestigation of disputed consumer-report information
In plain English
If a consumer tells a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that information in their file is inaccurate or incomplete, the CRA must conduct a reasonable reinvestigation and generally must act within 30 days (with limited extensions for additional information). Inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information must be deleted or modified.
Relevant provisions
- § 1681i(a) — reinvestigation of disputed information (generally within 30 days)
- § 1681i(a)(2) — consumer reporting agency must forward the dispute to the furnisher
Applicability and limits
Applies to consumer reporting agencies and information in a "consumer report". It is an accuracy mechanism, not a general right to erase accurate information. It does not reach every database a company may keep about a person.
The FCRA’s dispute right is frequently misread as a deletion right. It is narrower and more precise.
Official source
- 15 U.S.C. § 1681i ↗Primary authorityhttps://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/t15/s1681i/
Verification: Official U.S. Code (OLRC) URL confirmed reachable on 2026-11-10.
Related authorities
- Responsibilities of furnishers of information — 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2
- Regulation V — Fair Credit Reporting (implementing rule) — 12 C.F.R. Part 1022